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    Watch a Buick Grand National with 56 Miles Get Its First Wash in 34 Years

    Professional detailer Larry Kosilla gets to play with some seriously cool metal. He’s been tasked with cleaning, detailing, and restoring countless classic cars, including our Road & Track deputy editor Bob Sorokanich’s two-door Jeep Cherokee. His latest project? A virtually new Buick Grand National barn find with just 56 miles on the clock.

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    No, that’s not a typo. This 1987 Grand National was purchased by the original owner in Columbus, Ohio, driven home, and parked in a barn for 34 years. It was recently purchased by its new owner and trailered to Brooklyn, New York, where Kosilla picked it up.
    Despite its age and lack of attention over the past three decades, the car was in pretty good shape. There were neither rat nests nor excessive mold inside, and because it was kept inside a dry, well-kept building, there’s no rust or paint damage (aside from some scratches on the passenger side caused by the previous owner’s dog).
    Kosilla, with his array of pro-level tools and chemicals, is able to make quick work of the paint swirls and scratches, bringing the 56-mile Grand National back to showroom condition without ruining any of its originality. Every step of the process is documented in great detail, and it’s incredibly satisfying to watch.

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    Toyota Eases into EVs with an Ultra-Compact Two-Seater for Japan

    The ultra-compact Toyota C+pod EV is currently available for corporate and local government fleets.
    Toyota plans to offer the 12-horsepower two-seater to consumers before 2022.
    Totota recently announced plans to bring 60 new electrified vehicles to market by 2025 including a solid-state-battery–powered EV.
    Toyota has long had the technology for battery electric vehicles. In addition to its highly successful hybrid vehicles, the automaker built and sold two generations of the very limited edition RAV4 EV back in 1997. Still, the company has been slow to adopt EVs for the masses. Even the automaker’s president, Akio Toyoda, believes that electric vehicles are overhyped and has warned against countries banning gas-powered automobiles.
    But that hasn’t stopped Toyota from announcing the diminutive C+pod for Japan. This tiny EV will initially be available for corporate and local government fleets during its current limited launch. Those looking for an eensy-weensy EV to cruise around Tokyo don’t fret, as the automaker intends to offer the vehicle to consumers by 2022.
    According to Toyota, the electric C+pod will have a WLTP range of 93 miles thanks to a 9.1-kWh battery pack. Its single 12-horsepower electric motor will push the tiny vehicle to a top speed of 37 mph, so don’t expect to see it on the freeway anytime soon. It’s smaller than a Smart Fortwo and lines up more with the weird but enjoyable Renault Twizy.

    Toyota

    The C+pod is part of Toyota’s desire to expand partnerships in the mobility and electrification world. In addition to making the C+pod a go-to vehicle for car-sharing programs in a dense urban environments, it’s also launching Toyota Green Charge with Chubu Electric Power Miraiz Co. to create a single point of contact for corporations to adding electric charging infrastructure.

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    Toyota has stated recently that it intends to introduce 60 new electrified vehicles by 2025 that include EV, hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles. We’re also expecting the company to unveil an electric SUV for Europe in 2021. The Japanese automaker has also stated that it intends to introduce a vehicle equipped with a solid-state battery sometime in the first half of this decade.
    So while its leadership isn’t keen on EV regulations, Toyota is making inroads to getting EVs on the road—even diminutive ones.
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    2021 Kia Rio U.S. Specs and Pricing Detailed

    The 2021 Kia Rio has revised styling and newly available features.
    The sedan model starts at $17,015 and the hatchback starts at $17,955.
    It’s on sale at U.S. dealerships now.
    An updated version of the Kia Rio subcompact has arrived in the U.S. with a slightly freshened look and new features. It starts $200 higher than before, at $17,015, and is still available in sedan and hatchback body styles. It’s one of the cheapest cars on the market, and even comes in under $20,000 fully loaded.

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    The front and rear bumpers are reshaped, and new 15-inch wheels and LED headlights are available as options. Inside, there’s a larger 8.0-inch touchscreen standard across the board that now offers wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capabilities. Kia hasn’t released photos of the U.S. model’s interior yet, but the Europe-spec car gives a good indication of what it’ll look like.

    Kia

    Kia

    The sedan comes in LX and S ($17,655) trim levels, while the hatchback comes in S trim ($17,955) only. An $1800 tech package is now available for the S that includes automatic climate control, proximity-key entry, a few driver-assistance features, and the aforementioned LED headlights and 15-inch wheels. All Rios come standard with a 1.6-liter inline-four with 120 horsepower and a continuously variable automatic transmission. It’s rated at 36 mpg combined by the EPA.
    The 2021 Kia Rio is already arriving at dealerships now.
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