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Ford unveiled a mid-size car called the Evos at the Shanghai auto show today.Although details are scarce, from the photos the Evos has an appearance with elements of a wagon, a sedan, and a crossover.This China-only model could signify what Ford’s long rumored Subaru Outback–inspired wagon for the U.S., the Fusion Active, might look like.Ford’s new mid-size car for China is the Evos, a name it used 10 years ago on a concept car that now signifies a possible replacement for our market’s Fusion sedan, perhaps in the form of the Fusion Active wagon that has been expected for a few years now.

Ford won’t say much about the Evos other than that it’s “aligned with Chinese aesthetics” and was specifically developed for that market. From the three photos Ford made available, one of which depicts it on the stand at the Shanghai auto show, the open-mesh grille and the rev counter on the instrument panel indicate the Evos is not a battery-electric car like the Mustang Mach-E. But the body proportions, from the car’s shoulder height and fastback profile to the interior’s door panels and center console, are reminiscent of that car.

Ford

As to whether you’d call it a sedan or a crossover, that’s difficult to say for certain, but it’s a good-looking vehicle. It’s not surprising that there’s quite a lot of resemblance to the concept Evos, which in 2011 previewed many styling elements of the 2013 Fusion. On the production Evos, the muscled stance and super-thin headlights from the concept look very natural on this higher-riding vehicle.

Ford

The Evos will feature Ford’s newly announced Level 2 self-driving feature called BlueCruise. Ford says it will activate on “prequalified sections of divided highways,” which is exactly how Cadillac’s Super Cruise is designed to function (by using laser-scanned 3D maps). Ford didn’t say how many miles of road in China are set up for hands-free driving. The same technology will be available in the U.S. on the Mach-E and the F-150 pickup later this year. The Evos also gets a new Ford Virtual Personal Assistant, which uses a human-machine interface to customize interior conditions. In contrast to the Mach-E’s 15.5-inch vertical display and teensy instrument panel, the Evos spans 43 inches of screens in one horizontal sweep. The VPA has a “co-driver” mode in which one side of the screen can be set up to show navigation, traffic signs, and road conditions while the passenger can look at entertainment on the other side. It also has a “relax” mode in which lighting, seat positions, and audio can be adjusted to taste. The software is modified by the Chinese tech giant Baidu and therefore unlikely to show up in other markets.Ford also hasn’t given any details about the powertrain, chassis, or anything as it relates to a potential U.S. or European version.
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The Lincoln Zephyr name is back on a concept sedan called the Zephyr Reflection Preview, which debuted at the Shanghai auto show today.Style points to notice include the fastback-style rear end and the wall-to-wall interior screens.This Zephyr could be a Continental replacement, or it could be an MKZ-size smaller sedan, but either way it’s very unlikely to come to the United States.Lincoln is bringing back the historic Zephyr name for a new concept car specifically for the China market. While the luxury brand recently canceled its MKZ and Continental models in the U.S. and now only sells SUVs here, customers in China are far more interested in the four-door-sedan body style.

Lincoln

This concept appears to be an indicator of what a new Lincoln luxury sedan for China could look like. We doubt it means much for the U.S., but it’s interesting to envision an alternate trajectory for Lincoln. We don’t know many details about the Zephyr concept, so it’s hard to know if it’s sized like a replacement for the Continental or if it’s a smaller entry similar to the now defunct Fusion-based MKZ. Its styling is reminiscent of what we’ve seen on the Aviator and Corsair SUVs and has a fastback-like greenhouse in the rear. Inside, it has wall-to-wall screens, as is the current trend.

Lincoln

Lincoln also has given no indication of the Zephyr concept car’s underpinnings or powertrain. We’d guess that the eventual production car will use some sort of plug-in-hybrid or electric drivetrain. We discovered a few years ago that Lincoln still held the trademark for the Zephyr name in the U.S. and speculated that a new rear-wheel-drive sedan model bearing that name could eventually arrive to replace the MKZ. At this point that seems like an unlikely scenario given that Ford has dropped all passenger-car models and is focusing only on trucks and SUVs going forward. So we doubt that we’ll ever see anything like this Zephyr for the U.S. market.

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Subaru has announced that the 2022 Legacy sedan is priced starting at $23,955, a $150 increase from last year, and the 2022 Outback wagon starts at $28,070, up $150 from 2021. Most trim levels’ prices are unchanged or rise no more than $100.The newly introduced 2022 Outback Wilderness model (pictured above) starts at $38,120.The 2022 Legacy and Outback will arrive in dealers this summer.Subaru has announced a full price list for the 2022 Legacy and Outback, which are getting a few new features with prices that remain the same or have increased by $100 or less, depending on trim level. In 2021, Subaru added steering-responsive LED headlights, and this year it also gives every Outback standard LED fog lights. On the Legacy, it makes 17-inch black-finished aluminum wheels standard on the base model. In 2021, they were a $350 option. Both 2022 models will arrive at dealerships this summer, Subaru said.

The 2022 Legacy sedan comes in six trim levels, all with EyeSight driver-assist technology and all-wheel drive as standard. The base, Premium, Sport, and Limited models have a 182-hp 2.5-liter boxer-four engine teamed with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and all-wheel drive. Their prices range from $23,955 for the base model to $30,905 for the Limited. The more energetic Limited XT ($35,455) and Touring XT ($37,155) have a 260-hp turbocharged 2.4-liter engine, also paired with a CVT.

2022 Subaru Legacy Touring XT.
Subaru

There are only three option packages on the 2022 Legacy. The first adds blind-spot detection with rear cross-traffic alert, push-button start, keyless entry, and LED fog lights ($1000), while a second adds a power sunroof and an 11.6-inch touchscreen with navigation, an improvement over the standard 7.0-inch touchscreen ($2595). The third package, which is also available on the Outback, includes a heated steering wheel, Subaru’s Driver Focus distraction alert system, the nav screen, and the sunroof ($2045). The 2022 Outback is interesting because of the newly revealed upper trim level called the Wilderness, which is priced at $38,120. Its features are based on those of the Onyx Edition XT ($36,270), which includes a hands-free power tailgate, a 180-degree front-view camera, and a full-size spare matching the Wilderness’s Yokohama Geolandar all-terrain tires, and Subaru’s dual-function X-mode with hill-descent control. The Wilderness differs with its higher ground clearance, at 9.5 inches versus the regular Outback’s 8.7 inches, plus special suspension tuning to make it more rugged and model-specific cosmetic touches inside and out.The Outback comes with a 2.5-liter boxer-four making 182 horsepower, with a 260-hp turbo on the Wilderness and the top Limited XT and Touring XT models. There are now eight trim levels from the base Outback at $28,070 through the Touring XT at $41,070. The base model has Subaru’s EyeSight driver-asssist technology with adaptive cruise control, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability with the standard 7.0-inch touchscreen, and a rearview camera as standard. Four option packages range from $1400 to $2045 and add features including blind-spot detection with rear cross-traffic alert, rear automated emergency braking, a hands-free power tailgate, keyless access with push-button start, an 11.6-inch navigation screen, and a power moonroof.Subaru said the two 2022 models will be available at dealerships this summer.

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