Motor News

Tesla halted the Model 3 production line at the Fremont factory for two days due to parts shortages.
Other automakers have been feeling the pinch of a semiconductor shortage that’s caused production delays.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk shared information about the shutdown via Twitter but did not elaborate on what parts may have caused the issue.

Semiconductor Shortage Is Halting Car Production

Tesla isn’t immune to supply-chain issues. On Twitter, CEO Elon Musk announced that the Model 3 line at the Fremont, California, facility had been shut down for two days, Monday and Tuesday of this week, and had restarted production on Wednesday, February 24. The reason for the shutdown, according to Musk, was “parts shortages.”
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The Tesla CEO didn’t elaborate on what parts had caused the Model 3 line to stop producing vehicles. But supply chain issues involving semiconductors have caused delays in production for many automakers. Whether this was the issue that halted the Model 3 line or was something else is unknown.
A story in Automotive News earlier on Thursday reported that Tesla was halting the Model 3 line from February 22 until March 7 and that employees were told they would not be paid for four of those days and to use vacation time if they had it.

Musk Explains the Fate of 244-Mile Range Model Y

Tesla Adjusts Prices on Model 3 and Y

At the end of 2020, Tesla brought the Model S and Model X line to a stop for 18 days while it was retooled to build the updated Model S and Model X that were introduced on January 27.
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The updated 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander plug-in hybrid comes with a more powerful 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine plus more battery capacity at the same base price of $37,490.
The updated PHEV crossover is not based on the Nissan Rogue–based Outlander, which is coming this spring as a 2022 model.
The 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is available in U.S. showrooms now.

2022 Mitsubishi Outlander Gets a Distinctive Look

2019 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Updates Powertrain

Tested: Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-In Hybrid

The updated 2021 Outlander PHEV might look the same on the outside, but just like our mothers used to say, “it’s what’s inside that counts.” The updated PHEV gets a nice powertrain boost thanks to a larger 2.4-liter cylinder engine vs the previous 2.0-liter engine and a more powerful 70-kW rear electric motor. The updated powertrain has increased the SUV’s output by 31 horsepower to 221 horsepower. Mitsubishi added the extra power without padding the starting price which is unchanged at $37,490.
On the battery front, capacity has jumped from 12.0 kWh to 13.8 kWh, resulting in an increase in all-electric driving range from 22 to 24 miles with an EPA-estimated 74 MPGe and 26 mpg. Charging is taken care of via one of two ports available on the vehicle, a DC fast-charging CHAdeMO port (a standard seen more often in Japan) or Level 2 charging port.
For those interested in traction in the winter, the 2021 Outlander PHEV comes standard with Mitsubishi’s S-AWC all-wheel-drive system and two new modes: Snow and Sport. Mitsubishi also announced a new LE trim, starting at $39,190, that comes with a sunroof, blacked-out grille, Mitsubishi Power sound system, and dark chrome dual-spoke 18-inch wheels.
The updated Outlander PHEV has some stiff hybrid competition. Potential buyers will likely be pitting it against the impressive 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime PHEV starting at $39,275 and the non-plug-in 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid, starting at $31,735.
It is important to note that this vehicle is not a plug-in-hybrid version of the new 2022 Outlander (available in April 2021) that’s been redesigned inside and out and uses the Nissan-Mitsubishi platform that also underpins the Nissan Rogue.
A plug-in hybrid version of the new 2022 Outlander is expected sometime in the future, although its timeline to market is unknown. But for now, the 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is available now in U.S. showrooms.
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President Biden signed an executive order Wednesday evening to review the semiconductor supply chain in order to address the current shortage and prevent future supply shocks.
The president said that the administration hopes to expand domestic production of semiconductors so the U.S. is less reliant on foreign suppliers.
Other goods will also have their supply chains examined as a part of the executive order, including large-capacity batteries for electric vehicles, critical and strategic earth minerals, and pharmaceuticals.
The problem of a global shortage of the semiconductors that are crucial in producing computers, electronic devices, and cars has now reached the Oval Office. President Biden last night signed an executive order launching a 100-day review of the semiconductor supply chain to address the shortage. His stated goal is to increase U.S. domestic supply of the tiny objects, which are needed everywhere that electronics is present in a vehicle, so as to avoid this kind of bottleneck in the future.
Three other goods will also have their supply chains reviewed: large-capacity batteries for electric vehicles, critical and strategic earth minerals, and pharmaceuticals.

A Microchip Shortage Is Disrupting Production

Semiconductor Shortage Is Halting Car Production

Since early 2021, the worldwide semiconductor shortage has sent shock waves throughout the automotive industry. GM, Ford, Stellantis, Toyota, VW, Honda, Nissan, and Subaru have all had to adjust production at assembly plants in North America to properly allocate an inadequate supply of semiconductors, the parts that make up microchips and are used all over a vehicle, notably for infotainment and driver-assist technology.
Under the executive order, policy recommendations will be made to strengthen the supply chain for semiconductors and the other named products. The goal, President Biden said at a press conference last night, is to implement those recommendations and expand domestic semiconductor production. Currently, a vast majority of semiconductors are made outside of the U.S.
“Diverse, resilient, and secure supply chains are going to help revitalize our domestic manufacturing capacity,” Biden said. Nonetheless, he added, “We all recognize that the particular problem won’t be solved immediately. In the meantime, we’re reaching out to our allies—semiconductor companies and others in the supply chain—to ramp up production to help us resolve the bottlenecks we face now.”
The executive order was well-received by Autos Drive America, an industry trade group representing automakers including Toyota, Volkswagen, Hyundai, and others. “We applaud the administration’s Executive Order that will review U.S. supply chains to identify ways to avoid future shortages of critical products and help grow our economy and America’s workforce,” Jennifer Safavian, president and CEO of the group, said in a statement.
The shortage of semiconductors has begun to impact industries beyond autos, now reaching companies such as Apple and Sony. However, automakers were first to feel the supply crunch. That’s in part because the companies themselves cut their semiconductor orders when new-vehicle demand collapsed at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in spring 2020. Then, when demand recovered quickly and the automotive industry ordered semiconductors again, the consumer electronics industry was already ahead in line for the parts and took precedence. That, along with a lack of production capacity to meet current demand, has led to the shortage.
Earlier this month, trade groups representing industries including autos and tech sent a letter to the president asking him to work with Congress to invest in semiconductor manufacturing in the U.S. “Given the central role of semiconductors, strengthening the U.S. position in semiconductor research, design, and manufacturing is a national priority,” the letter says. “To be competitive and strengthen the resilience of critical supply chains, we believe the U.S. needs to incentivize the construction of new and modernized semiconductor manufacturing facilities and invest in research capabilities.”
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If you’re a Jeep Wrangler shopper and you want the openness of a half-door, with a lower opening and removable windows, it’s time to head over to the 2021 Wrangler configurator.
The cost for the half doors depends on how many you need (two or four) as well as whether you choose the base or premium upper half. Not all paint colors are available with the half door, either.
The Dual-Door Group option has been available to order since the fall, but deliveries are just now starting, as Jeep forum users are quick to point out.
If you’re shopping for a 2021 Jeep Wrangler, you can now pay more to get less. Less door, anyway, which some people think means more fun.

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Jeep has added half doors to the configurator for the new Jeep Wrangler JL. True to form, Jeep has kept the names for these options as byzantine as its trim designations, so for the curious, the key things to look for on the website are the terms “Dual-Door Group,” which come with either “Premium Uppers” or “Base Uppers.” As Jeep fans know, the term Dual Door is used because when you add this Group option, you actually get two sets of doors: the standard pair and a set of half doors where the metal is actually lower for a larger opening and removable windows. You can swap them out any time you want.
Jeep knows how to promote its half-door option, saying on the Wrangler configurator site that half doors are “not as confining as full doors” (points for honesty) and that they offer “a different driving experience.” For example, in case the windows get muddy or broken or otherwise obscured when driving on a trail, “half doors give you unobstructed views to ensure you are staying on course,” Jeep says, without mentioning that when you use a half door, you don’t have windows that simply roll down.

Stellantis

The difference between the two kinds of half doors is that the Premium style uses a fabric similar to the Jeep’s soft top, while the Base half doors are more of a plasticky vinyl to again match the base top. The Premium half doors also come with heated mirrors and speed-sensitive power locks, while the Base half doors do not.
Adding half doors isn’t free, to be sure. The lowest-cost way to get them is on a two-door Wrangler, where the Base Uppers cost $2350 and the Premium Uppers are $2550. On the four-door Wrangler, the costs are either $3995 (Base) or $4395 (Premium) but playing around with the configurator shows that not every 2021 Wrangler paint color is available with the half door option. Specifically, the Dual-Door Group is available with the following exterior colors: Billet Silver, Black, Bright White, Firecracker Red, Granite Crystal, HellaYella, Hydro Blue, Sarge Green, Snazzberry, and Sting Gray. It is not available with Chief Blue and Nacho exterior colors.
People have been able to order the half-door option since the fall, and JL Wrangler forums are full of people patiently—or impatiently—waiting for their vehicles to arrive as Jeep Wrangler models with the new Dual-Door Group are only being delivered to dealers now, Jeep has confirmed to Car and Driver.

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The 2022 Land Rover Defender V8 is out this spring, and it comes with a 518-hp supercharged 5.0-liter V-8 engine.
The V-8 engine will be available in both two-door Defender 90 and four-door Defender 110 models, and with it, the two-door will reach 60 mph in 4.9 seconds, Land Rover says.
Defender V8s have a specially tuned suspension, quad exhaust tips, 22-inch wheels with blue front calipers, and an Alcantara steering wheel with chrome paddle shifters.
We’re in a seemingly golden age of powerful off-road vehicles. There’s a 702-hp Hellcat-powered Ram 1500 TRX. Ford is debuting a higher-performance F-150 Raptor R next year that’s expected to have more than 700 horsepower. The Jeep Wrangler now has a 470-hp V-8-powered Rubicon 392 model. And the Hummer is back as a 1000-hp off-road-focused electric pickup on 35-inch tires. It’s only getting better, because the Land Rover Defender, now in its third model year in the U.S., is adding a supercharged V-8 model.

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Land Rover

Jaguar Land Rover’s supercharged 5.0-liter V-8 makes up to 575 horsepower in the Land Rover Range Rover SVR and the Jaguar F-Type R. In the 2022 Land Rover Defender, it’ll spit out 518 horsepower and 461 pound-feet of torque—the same output as the Range Rover Sport Autobiography. The blown V-8 will be available in both two-door 90 and four-door 110 models, and it’s mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission with four-wheel drive. Land Rover says the two-door will hit 60 mph in 4.9 seconds with a top speed of 149 mph. The Defender’s standard engine is a turbocharged four-cylinder, and a 3.0-liter inline-six is also available. In our previous test of the 3.0-liter Defender 110 SE, the sprint to 60 mph required 6.3 seconds.

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Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 Has a 470-HP V-8

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Land Rover specifically tuned the Defender V8’s spring and damper rates and equipped larger anti-roll bars to account for the bigger engine. The active electronic rear differential that is optional on other Defenders is standard on the V-8 model, and a retuned yaw controller increases cornering performance. A new Dynamic mode in the Defender V8’s Terrain Response drive mode system stiffens the suspension and sharpens the throttle response.

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Land Rover

Passersby will know a supercharged V-8 is under the hood by the rumble resonating from the Defender V8’s quad-tip exhaust, but there’s also V8 badging on the front fender and tailgate to alert them. Defender V8s ride on standard 22-inch wheels with blue front brake calipers and 15-inch rotors, although 20-inch wheels wrapped in all-terrain tires are optional—and the better choice.
Only the Urban and Country accessory packs are available on the Defender V8. Sadly, the overlanding-focused Adventure and Explorer packs, which add such features as a roof rack, snorkel, and cargo box, are absent from the options. Three color choices are available: Carpathian Gray, Yulong White, and Santorini Black. There’s also a special Carpathian Edition that’s finished in the gray paint with a black roof and tailgate, “V8 Carpathian Edition” badging, and black trim pieces, and everything is finished in Land Rover’s satin protective film.

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Land Rover

The Defender V8’s interior has unique black leather seats with suede inserts and an Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel with chrome paddle shifters. Its illuminated door sills are also adorned with Defender V8 script. All 2022 Defenders introduce the option of a new, even larger curved 11.4-inch touchscreen (pictured above), and wireless charging is standard on all models. A 10.0-inch screen remains standard.
We expect that the 2022 Land Rover Defender V8 will start around $85,000 for the two-door 90 and around $90,000 for the four-door 110 model.

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The 2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 is arriving in the spring as a fully loaded launch edition model.
It’ll start at $74,995 and includes a hood scoop, body-colored fenders and hardtop, leather seats, and lots of standard equipment.
The Wrangler Rubicon 392 is powered by a 470-hp V-8, and it’s only available as a four-door model.
The V-8–powered Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 will go on sale by the end of the spring, initially available as a fully loaded launch edition (pictured above). This 470-hp version of the Wrangler is only available with four doors, and the launch edition will start at $74,995. Cheaper models should follow soon after. (If you were wondering, Ford said that the 2021 Ford Bronco, the Wrangler’s new competitor, won’t offer a V-8.)

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Jeep

The Wrangler Rubicon 392 sits 2.0 inches taller than the standard Rubicon, and the launch edition is equipped with a hood scoop, body-colored fender flares and hardtop, and an dual-mode exhaust system. Loads of features such leather seats, an upgraded infotainment system, and driver-assistance features are all standard. Half doors, a power softtop, an off-road camera, and a trailer package are optional. Inside, the launch edition features bronze Rubicon 392 stitching on the seats.

Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 Has a 470-HP V-8

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Under the hood of all 392 models is a naturally aspirated 6.4-liter V-8, also found in 392 versions of the Dodge Challenger, Charger, and Durango. It produces 470 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque and comes standard with four-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission with steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters. Jeep says it’ll do 60 mph in 4.5 seconds and run the quarter-mile in 13.0 seconds.
A set of 17-inch beadlock-capable wheels are standard, and they’re wrapped with standard 33-inch BFGoodrich K02 all-terrain tires, though Falken Wildpeak mud-terrain rubber is available. Rubicon 392s also get a two-speed transfer case, Dana 44 axles with electronic locking differentials, Fox shocks, an electronic front sway-bar disconnect, and a 3.73 final-drive ratio.

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Jeep

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 will arrive in dealerships by the end of spring, and it will initially be available only in this fully equipped trim. We expect cheaper models to be available later this year.
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Ford is adding a luxurious King Ranch trim level to the 2021 Explorer SUV, and it’ll be available in the spring.
The King Ranch has been available on the F-series trucks for 20 years, and on the Explorer it adds features including 20-inch wheels, a Mahogany leather interior, and King Ranch emblems.
The Explorer King Ranch will be available with either rear- or all-wheel drive Explorers, priced starting at $53,595.
The 2021 Ford Explorer is adding a King Ranch model to its lineup. The luxurious package, named for an actual ranch in Texas, has been offered on Ford’s F-series trucks for 20 years as well as on the Expedition full-size SUV. The Explorer could see an off-road-focused model called Timberline soon as well. The Explorer King Ranch will sit just under the Explorer Platinum 4WD as the second most expensive model in the Explorer’s lineup when it goes on sale in the spring starting at $53,595. The 2021 Explorers recently received price cuts and now start at $33,470.

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Ford

King Ranch Explorers get a gray grille insert, four chrome exhaust tips, King Ranch badging, and 20-inch wheels with the King Ranch “Running W” logo, which is said to represent either a rattlesnake or the Santa Gertrudis Creek near the actual King Ranch. Both rear- and four-wheel drive models are available, powered by Ford’s twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter EcoBoost V-6 that makes 365 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque. This is the first time rear-wheel drive has been teamed with Ford’s 3.0-liter EcoBoost, the automaker said. A 10-speed automatic transmission sends power to the wheels, and King Ranches can tow up to 5600 pounds.

2022 Ford Explorer to Add Off-Road Package

The King Ranch’s seats and center console are wrapped in Mahogany leather with the Running W logos, and the dash is trimmed with sapele wood. The steering wheel is also wrapped in leather with a wood insert and a King Ranch logo. Ford’s premium technology package is available, adding massaging front seats, a 10.1-inch vertically oriented touchscreen (an 8.0-inch screen is standard), and a Bang & Olufsen sound system.

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Ford

The 2021 Ford Explorer King Ranch starts at $53,595 for rear-wheel-drive models, while selecting four-wheel drive increases the price to $55,595. It will arrive in showrooms in the spring.
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The U.S. Postal Service has awarded Oshkosh Defense the contract to replace the aging Grumman LLV trucks that are currently delivering mail across the country.
The contract includes an initial $482 million investment from the USPS to finalize the design of the Next Generation Delivery Vehicle (NGDV).
The new vehicles will include both battery-electric vehicles and those with low-emission internal-combustion engines. They are expected to be delivering mail by 2023.

USPS Again Delays Awarding Delivery Truck Contract

U.S. Postal Service Trucks Keep Catching on Fire

The United States Postal Service, after over five years of searching, has awarded Oshkosh Defense of Wisconsin with the contract to replace its aging fleet of mail-delivery trucks. The contract includes an initial $482 million investment from the USPS in Oshkosh to finalize the design of the Next Generation Delivery Vehicle (NGDV) and to begin the tooling of an assembly plant.

USPS

The NGDVs will replace the Grumman LLVs which currently serve as the USPS’s mail-delivery trucks. The trucks currently in service were manufactured between 1987 and 1994 and were intended to only have 24-year life spans; all have passed that age. The trucks built by Oshkosh are estimated to be delivering mail by 2023.

Sam Mintz via Twitter

The NGDVs that Oshkosh will build will include both battery-electric vehicles and low-emission internal-combustion-engine vehicles, both of which will be able to be retrofitted to keep up with the latest EV tech. They will also have air conditioning and airbags—both of which the current trucks lack—as well as heat, a 360-degree camera, a front and rear collision avoidance system, and automated emergency braking.
Oshkosh agreed to what is called an indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract, meaning that the USPS will be able to order more of the vehicles throughout the 10-year contract. During that time, the contract stipulates that the USPS will order anywhere between 50,000 and 165,000 of the vehicles.
Oshkosh Defense is known for the vehicles it manufactures for the military and was selected over Karsan and Workhorse.
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