Motor News

Hyundai has shared a first glimpse at the Kona N, this time without camouflage.
This high-performance version of the small SUV will have the same powertrain as the Veloster N.
The Kona N will debut within the next few weeks and should arrive in the U.S. by the end of the year.
Hyundai is about to take the Kona into the high-performance sphere, where no subcompact crossover has gone before. This is our best look yet at the Kona N, which will be the latest car to receive Hyundai’s racy treatment. From what we can see, it looks the part, and the specs are enticing too.

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Like the Veloster N with which it shares its 275-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four engine, the Kona N has red accents, extra vents and scoops, and an intense-looking rear diffuser with dual exhaust tips. There’s an F1-style triangular brake light by the rear spoiler, and the 10-spoke wheels look sporty, too. The interior will likely feature aggressively bolstered seats and plenty of N badges.

Hyundai

Sadly, the Kona N won’t offer a manual transmission like its hot-hatch stablemate. Instead, it will come only with the eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that was added to the Veloster for 2021. Hyundai hasn’t said yet whether the Kona N has front- or all-wheel drive. We can expect strong acceleration given that the Veloster N with the dual-clutch got to 60 mph in a scant 4.8 seconds in our testing.
Look for Hyundai to share full info on the Kona N within the next few weeks.
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The ultra-luxury Mercedes-Maybach S-class sedan will arrive at U.S. dealerships this summer with a starting price of $185,950.
Based on the Mercedes-Benz S-class luxury sedan, the Maybach version sports styling embellishments, a longer wheelbase, and a decadent interior.
The new Maybach S-class is powered by a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 which is shared with the Benz model and makes 496 horsepower.
Although it’s far from the most expensive car Mercedes offers, the 2021 Mercedes-Maybach S580’s asking price still dwarfs that of its Benz-branded analogue. Starting at $185,950, the sumptuously appointed luxury sedan is set to go on sale this summer and is even more expensive than the similarly posh Mercedes-Maybach GLS600 SUV as well.

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Mercedes-Benz

The $75,000 price hike over the Benz S-class gets you plenty of equipment, including a standard 496-hp twin-turbo V-8 engine, a roomier rear seat thanks to the Maybach’s stretched wheelbase, and a host of deliciously decadent features such as plush pillowed headrests, a 30-speaker Burmester audio system, massaging front seats, and an in-cabin fragrance system which offers both floral and leather aromas.

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The price tag can be jacked up even higher, too. Many of the Maybach’s best features are reserved as options, including the massaging executive rear seats and the integrated beverage cooler with matching champagne flutes. Mercedes-Maybach will also offer a host of personalization options to allow buyers to spec their ride to their exacting standards—for a price. We don’t yet know what that price is, however, as Mercedes has yet to release full option pricing.
The Maybach S-class, despite its six-figure price tag, is still a relative bargain in the ultra-luxury marketplace. Consider that its closest rivals, the Bentley Flying Spur and the Rolls-Royce Ghost both cost more to start. The Bentley’s opens at $219,425 and the Rolls, which has recently been redesigned as well, is expected to start at over $300,000.
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In a letter to the California DMV, Tesla admits that FSD is not full self-driving.
The correspondence between Tesla and the California DMV notes that FSD and Autopilot are both SAE Level 2 automation.
The automaker does say that it is working toward deploying autonomous features to its vehicles.

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Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been promising FSD (Full Self Driving) software for years. For owners, opting for the chance to have their Tesla drive them to work and back mostly on its own has set them back to the tune of up to $10,000. But according to a letter that Tesla sent to the California DMV about FSD’s capability, acquired by PlainSite via a public records request, the dream of a self-driving car from the automaker this year might be just that, a dream.
The key correspondence comes from December 28, 2020, between Tesla’s associate general counsel Eric C. Williams and California DMV’s chief of the autonomous vehicles branch, Miguel D. Acosta. A letter details the capabilities of both Autopilot and FSD: “Currently neither Autopilot nor FSD Capability is an autonomous system, and currently no comprising feature, whether singularly or collectively, is autonomous or makes our vehicles autonomous,” Williams states.
This a departure from Musk’s messaging about FSD’s capabilities. During a July 2020 video interview with the World Artificial Intelligence Conference, the CEO stated, “I think at Tesla, I feel like we are very close to level 5 autonomy. I think I remain confident that we will have the basic functionality for level 5 autonomy complete this year.”
But Williams paints a different picture of FSD’s capabilities in his letter to the California DMV. “As you know, Autopilot is an optional suite of driver-assistance features that are representative of SAE Level 2 automation (SAE L2). Features that comprise Autopilot are traffic-aware cruise control and autosteer. Full Self-Driving (FSD) capability is an additional optional suite of features that builds from Autopilot and is also representative of SAE L2.”

SAE

The SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) says that Level 5 autonomy technology “can drive the vehicle under all conditions,” and that it can drive everywhere. Level 2 provides steering, braking, and acceleration support for the driver but requires that the driver be constantly supervising the vehicle and features. It’s akin to what’s currently available on many new vehicles with advanced driver-assistance packages.
In the letter, Williams does leave open the possibility for the system to mature. “Please note that Tesla’s development of true autonomous features (SAE Levels 3+) will follow our iterative process (development, validation, early release, etc.) and any such features will not be released to the general public until we have fully validated them and received any required regulatory permits or approvals.”
But for now, Tesla says “we do not expect significant enhancements” to the system that would shift responsibility away from the driver, meaning that the final software release will be SAE Level 2.
That regulatory approval process is what started the entire conversation between Tesla and the California DMV. Acosta emailed Williams after seeing a tweet from CEO Elon Musk concerning the December 2020 holiday update that Musk said would have a FSD sneak peek. Acosta informed Williams that deploying an autonomous vehicle on California roads requires a permit—a permit that Tesla did not have.
Tesla’s deployment of FSD has been mired in delays from the beginning. It was supposed to be deployed by the end of 2019 and then by the end of 2020. Now, in 2021, the claimed timeline has again shifted to the end of this year. Meanwhile, the automaker has pushed a beta of the system to a small group of privately owned vehicles. That collection of Tesla owners testing out FSD is likely to grow in the next two weeks according to Musk with a download button being deployed to supported vehicles likely by the end of March.
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Like previous beta releases of FSD, it’ll warn participants to keep their hands on the wheel and their eyes on the road. According to the letter sent to the state of California, Tesla owners should also expect that when the final software is deployed and they enable their $10,000 option, the car will give them the same warnings.
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Kia has issued a recall for 379,931 of its vehicles, including the 2017 to 2019 Cadenza and the 2017 to 2021 Sportage due to the risk of a fire coming from the engine compartment.
The fire can result from an electrical short, and before owners bring their vehicles in to dealers to have the part replaced, Kia says the vehicles should be parked outside.
Kia, as well as Hyundai, has recalled many other vehicles for fire risk and was recently fined for moving too slowly on recalling certain vehicles.
Kia has issued a recall for 379,931 of its vehicles, including the 2017 to 2019 Cadenza sedan and the 2017 to 2021 Sportage due to the risk of an electric short-circuit in the engine compartment leading to a fire, according to documents on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website. Kia recommends that before owners are able to get the affected part replaced, they should park their vehicles outside and away from structures. Kia Cadenza and Sportage owners can check the NHTSA recalls website to find out if their vehicle is affected.

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The electric short occurs within the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit, but the exact cause of the short is unknown. Owners could see the pressure warning light, ABS warning light, or MIL warning light illuminate on the dashboard before the fire starts, or possibly smell or see smoke. Kia will begin notifying owners of the recall beginning on April 30 and dealers will remedy the recall through replacing fuses in the electrical junction box.
Kia said that it is unaware of any fires resulting from the electrical short in the affected Cadenzas and Sportages, but the potential for fires has become a common reason Kia and Hyundai vehicles have been recalled. In the fall of last year, Hyundai and Kia recalled 591,000 vehicles for a brake-fluid leak which could result in a fire. And earlier in the 2020, Hyundai recalled 430,000 Elantra sedans for the potential of water entering the ABS module and starting a fire.
The Associated Press estimates that six million vehicles built by Hyundai and Kia have been recalled for risk of catching fire or engine failure since 2015. Back in 2019, NHTSA launched an investigation into three million Hyundai and Kia vehicles for their risk to catch fire. The vehicles included in the investigation were 2010 to 2015 Hyundai and Kia models with 2.0-liter and 2.4-liter engines. In addition to recalls, that investigation resulted in Hyundai and Kia being fined $210 million for moving too slowly on recalling certain vehicles.
Kia denied the allegations that they moved too slowly but agreed to pay the fine and avoid a legal fight, according to the AP.
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The updated 2022 Volvo XC60 features a new infotainment system and a tweaked design.
The touchscreen now runs the company’s Android-based connectivity software.
Expect to see the 2022 XC60 arrive at U.S. dealers this summer.
Volvo is freshening up the XC60 for 2022 with design and technology updates. The compact SUV looks slightly different than before and has a new infotainment system, and there are minor changes to the driver-assistance systems and interior trim as well.

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The XC60’s vertically oriented touchscreen now runs Volvo’s Android-based infotainment system, as first seen in Polestar models and the electric XC40 Recharge. This software runs apps such as Google Maps for navigation and Google Play for music. Other tech upgrades include upgraded sensors, radars, and cameras for the various driver-assistance systems.

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Volvo

Visual changes are subtle and include a reshaped grille and front bumper, along with new wheel designs and newly available exterior colors. There are new interior materials available as well.
We don’t expect to see any changes to the XC60’s available powertrains. In the U.S. it offers T5, T6, and T8 models, all of which are powered by a 2.0-liter inline-four. The T5’s version of this engine has a turbocharger and makes 250 horsepower; the T6 adds a supercharger for a total of 316 horsepower; and the T8 is a plug-in hybrid with electric motors that produces a total output of 400 horsepower.
Pricing for the 2022 XC60 is not yet available but it will likely rise slightly compared with the current model, which starts at $42,795 and ranges up to $70,595 for a T8 with Polestar performance upgrades.
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Kia has shared the first images of its upcoming electric vehicle, the EV6.
It’ll use Hyundai Motor Group’s E-GMP electric platform, which is shared with the recently unveiled Hyundai Ioniq 5 that uses a 77.4-kWh battery and offers either rear- or all-wheel drive.
The EV6 will be the first of 11 promised new electric vehicles from Kia by 2026, and it should go on sale this fall starting around $45,000.
Kia says it’ll have 11 new electric vehicles by 2026. Of those 11 new EVs, seven will be built on the Hyundai Motor Group’s E-GMP (electric vehicle platform) architecture, and this will be the first one to arrive. The Kia EV6, which we expect to be Kia’s version of the recently unveiled Hyundai Ioniq 5, will be fully shown by the end of the month and join the Soul EV and the Niro EV in the Korean automaker’s current electric lineup.

Kia

Kia says that its forthcoming electric vehicles will follow a simple, numbered naming scheme. Each car’s name will start with “EV” and be followed by a number. Hyundai is taking a similar approach by using the Ioniq subbrand for its electric vehicles and following it by a number. The Ioniq 5 will be on sale in the fall and the Ioniq 6 sedan and Ioniq 7 SUV are set for 2022 and 2024 arrivals.

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We expect that the EV6 will share a 77.4-kWh battery with the Ioniq 5 with an operating voltage of 800 volts. A single electric motor powering the rear wheels should be the standard option on the Kia. Similarly equipped Ioniq 5s make 215 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque in this configuration. A dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup should be optional, with 302 horsepower and 446 pound-feet of torque. The Hyundai is rated at up to 300 miles on the WLTP rating system, but EPA estimates are usually lower. We can expect similar numbers for the EV6.
The EV6 also looks to have daring styling, just like Hyundai’s new EV. It’s a mix between a hatchback and crossover with four doors and a futuristic look. The interesting-looking roofline flows back into a ducktail spoiler with slim taillights that jackknife down the quarter panel. You’ll have to get used to this look because Kia says it’s the “embodiment” of its new design language.

Kia

We’ll know more about Kia’s new electric vehicle by the end of the month, and it should go on sale alongside the 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 this fall starting around $45,000. Kia hopes that by 2030, EVs, hybrids, and plug-in hybrids will make up 40 percent of all its sales.
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Audi has released information about its upcoming 2022 Q4 e-tron compact electric SUV, wrapped in camouflage ahead of its full unveiling in April.
The Q4 e-tron offers an augmented-reality head-up display. cargo space behind the front seats nearly as large as that of the 2021 Audi Q5, and the choice of sustainable materials for the interior.
The 2022 Q4 e-tron will go into production by the end of this year and land in U.S. showrooms in early 2022.
Audi’s on a roll with the e-tron line. The 2022 Q4 e-tron is the fourth e-tron electric vehicle from the German automaker coming to the United States, and it’s entering the coveted compact-SUV space. Based on the Volkswagen Group’s MEB platform, the electric SUV boasts cargo space behind the front seats that’s nearly on par with the 2021 Audi Q5 and has a new augmented-reality HUD system with a flying arrow that assists with navigation.

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As is their modus operandi, the production version of the 2022 Q4 e-tron is initially being shown off covered in camouflage. But even with all the orange and white, it’s clear the exterior design of the vehicle is extremely close to the Q4 e-tron concept the automaker showed off in 2019. With a wheelbase of 108.7 inches and a length of 180.7 inches, the Q4 e-tron has nearly the same exterior dimensions as the 2021 Volkswagen ID.4, which also rides on the MEB platform, although the Audi is about one inch shorter.
But while VW is going for a more minimalist approach, Audi’s Q4 e-tron interior is reflective of the luxury brand. The Q4 e-tron has a 10.3-inch instrument cluster housing the all-digital “virtual cockpit” we’ve seen from the automaker for the past few years. In the dash, the latest version of the automaker’s MMI infotainment system is housed in either a standard 10.1-inch display or an optional 11.6-inch display. Fans of actual tangible buttons will be happy to know that the climate controls are operated via physical buttons directly below the infotainment screen while the gear shifter, drive mode, and media control buttons are housed in a floating center console with room underneath for storage.

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Audi

On the windshield, Audi is introducing an augmented-reality head-up display (HUD) similar to what Mercedes has added to the latest version of MBUX. In addition to the usual projected driving information, the Q4 e-tron will superimpose navigation elements onto the windshield. Information about upcoming intersectoins will be projected in addition to a dynamic floating arrow that appears ahead of route actions. For example, it will appear ahead of a turn at an intersection to help the driver stay on the correct route. It should be helpful particularly in roundabouts and at complex intersections with more than the typical four roads.
The interior will be available in the traditional leather/faux-leather mixture with the option of nappa leather throughout. As with nearly all EVs, there is a more sustainable interior solution, a mixture of faux eather and Dinamica microfiber, which is made from 45 percent recycled textiles and plastic bottles. Audi says the result is a material that looks and feels like suede.

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Audi

Cargo-wise, with the rear seats down, the 2022 Q4 e-tron has 52.6 cubic feet of space, which is nearly on par with the larger 2021 Audi Q5’s 53.1 cubic feet of cargo space behind the front seats. With the rear seats up, the Q4 e-tron has 18.4 cubic feet of cargo space.
While pricing and range information haven’t been shared yet, the 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge is likely the closest competitor to the Q4 e-tron in the luxury compact electric SUV space. The Audi is 6.5 inches longer and has 5.2 inches more total cargo space than the electric Volvo.
Audi didn’t share motor or battery specs. It’s likely saving that information for the reveal of the vehicle next month. Pricing information is also unavailable, but we predict that the 2022 Audi Q4 e-tron will start at around $55,000. Audi is expected to place the Q4 e-tron into production by the end of this year with vehicle deliveries expected to begin in early 2022.
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The new 2022 Hyundai Tucson starts at $26,135 for the base SE trim level.
The hybrid model starts at $30,235 and is a new addition to the lineup.
2022 Tucsons will start arriving at dealerships within the next few months.
The redesigned 2022 Hyundai Tucson appears to offer more than its predecessor, so it’s no surprise that pricing is up for the new model. It starts at $26,135, a $1250 increase from last year’s Tucson, and prices range up to above $38,000 for a loaded version of the new hybrid variant. A plug-in-hybrid version of the Tucson is also on its way, but Hyundai has not yet released pricing.

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All nonhybrid versions of the 2022 Tucson come with a 2.5-liter inline-four with 187 horsepower and an eight-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is a $1400 option for all trims. In addition to the base SE ($26,135), options include include the SEL (starting at $27,685), N-Line (starting at $31,785), and Limited (starting at $35,885). Unlike the Sonata and Elantra N-Line models, the Tucson N-Line does not have any performance upgrades and instead amounts to an appearance package.
The Tucson hybrid comes standard with all-wheel drive and a gas-electric drivetrain that uses turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-four gasoline engine and a six-speed automatic transmission. It’s more expensive than the nonhybrid, starting at $30,235 for the base Blue model. It also offers better-equipped SEL ($32,835) and Limited ($38,535) models. EPA fuel-economy estimates are not yet available, but we expect a combined rating of around 36 mpg.
Hyundai already began production of the 2022 Tucson in Alabama, which means that units should start arriving at dealerships soon. Reservations are now open on the Hyundai website.
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