Auto News

Most automotive enthusiasts have played with-- or still do play with-- radio-controlled (RC) vehicles. A beautiful niche has been carved out in the place where rock crawling and RC overlap, and it’s a booming subset of a resurging hobby. Self-admitted off-roading nerds like myself want to explore every nook and cranny of the space, so it was only a matter of time before I-- and countless others-- took advantage of emulating the full-size thing on a small scale. I’ve been dipping my toes in the RC world a bit, and the full-size world a lot, so the kind folks at RC4WD sent over a C2X 1/10 scale crawler to see how the hobbies stack up.

NOTE: This is sponsored content produced in partnership with Toyota Motor North America.

Pricing for the 2024 Subaru WRX has been announced. The base, six-speed ‘Rex sees a solid price bump, up $2,230 over last year’s model, to a cool $33,855 including $1,120 for destination. Stepping up to the WRX Premium will cost buyers $35,755, or $37,105 for the automatic. Limited models start at $40,135 with the stick, and $41,685 with the auto. The top trims of the lineup now easily clear $40K, with the WRX TR priced at $42,775, and the auto-only GT at $45,335.

Bigger, with more tech and better range

Another moose hunting season, another truck, and another 24-hour roundtrip drive. All for the chance of glory, and meat in the freezer. Luckily, this year we got to do it all in style with the 2024 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro. There was plenty we liked about the truck, but also things we did not. I’ll get the negatives out of the way first, then move on the positives.

For 2025, Lexus’ smallest hybrid SUV gets an all-new powertrain. While the UX doesn’t appear to be boasting any aesthetic updates, Lexus also says the lineup now includes a new Copper Crest color, available on all models, and a handful of changes to the car’s safety systems.

The Blue Oval's latest is now the most powerful gas-powered truck.

Although we have speculated this would be the case, filings with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) indicate that the upcoming Mazda CX-70 will indeed share powertrains with the larger CX-90. The CX-90, Mazda’s full-size SUV, is powered by either a 3.3-liter turbocharged inline-six engine mated to a 48-volt mild hybrid system, or a 2.5-liter four-cylinder paired to a plug-in hybrid system. Both units use an 8-speed automatic transmission.

Subaru EyeSight is an advanced driver-assist system developed by Subaru to assist with vehicle safety and driver convenience. This technology, which is available in many Subaru models, utilizes a set of dual, or trio, color cameras placed near the rearview mirror to monitor traffic movement, optimize cruise control, and warn the driver of potential hazards. This article aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of Subaru EyeSight, detailing its functions, components, and benefits. The focus is on presenting this information in a straightforward and factual manner, accessible to those who may not be deeply familiar with automotive technologies.

Or, the grass is always greener.

Speaking with Road & Track, a Chevrolet spokesperson confirmed what everyone knew was coming: the last sixth-generation Chevy Camaro has been made, and production ended the week of December 11. Right now, there are no concrete plans for a seventh-generation model. Chevy has said before that this isn’t the end of the Camaro, but from the outside looking in, things aren’t looking good for the model, which has been around in some form since 1967.

There’s a lot of gross, nasty stuff on the road. We’re not just talking about poorly modified Jeeps and de-catted Mustangs here, either. The road is a dirty place, and that’s obviously why your car needs a wash every so often. Little bits of dirt, debris from trash, tarmac, and even organic um… “material” can stick to your paint and make your car dirty. Just like dry-shampooing every so often isn’t as good as a real shower, eventually your car will need more than just a wash.

The Lexus GX configurator is up, and pricing is officially out. The new GX offers six trim levels, starting with the Lexus GX 550 Premium, priced $65,600 MSRP including destination. All GX models come with the same drivetrain as standard: a 379-hp twin-turbo 3.4-liter V-6 mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission with four-wheel drive.

Recently, I spent a week with the Kia Stinger and were reminded of all the things we appreciate about Kia’s sporty fastback. But its demise is right around the corner as Kia is pulling the plug at the end of this model year. This has me wondering, once production finally ceases, just how will the sporty fastback be remembered?

In a comprehensive examination of the internal combustion engine vehicle market's mobile applications, the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. OEM ICE App Report offers a nuanced look at the highs and lows of user satisfaction. Celebrating the apps that excel while also acknowledging those that fall short, the report benefits from the expansive insights of 1,504 ICE vehicle owners across the United States. These participants have helped pinpoint essential areas ready for advancement. Through this approach, the report not only honors top-performing apps but also provides visibility to those needing improvement.

In a patent filed with the European Patent Office on June 6th of this year, Ferrari is proposing an entirely new way to operate a traditional sports car. The patent shows a driver leaning forward, in a very motorcycle-like position, although Ferrari refers to it as ‘horseman-like’, which is on brand for a manufacturer featuring a prancing horse logo.

Cadillac has announced the Vistiq, an electric vehicle designed to sit between the Lyriq and Escalade IQ. Details are sparse for the moment, aside from the photos shared by Cadillac. What we do know is that the Vistiq will be a three-row SUV “designed for the modern family.” It’s also the third EV Cadillac has announced this year alone.

Subaru is a company that always seems to find a niche. Twenty years ago, everything the brand made had a bit of rally racing baked in. But sadly, times have changed and so have consumer tastes. Crossovers and SUVs are all the rage now, especially those that are ruggedized and exude an active lifestyle. Subaru has jumped right in on this trend, finding a new sub-market with the Wilderness line of vehicles.

Tesla has recalled more than 2 million cars, according to NHSTA documents, to add warnings and alerts to users of the brand’s Autopilot software. In some cases, Tesla will now restrict areas where some versions of Autopilot can operate. Tesla’s entire lineup is affected: any Model Y, 3, X, or S made from October 5, 2012 to December 7, 2023 will get an over-the-air update as part of the recall. Autopilot allows Tesla owners to let the car match the speed of traffic around it, steer (with hands on the wheel), and more. It has also been under investigation by the NHTSA after a string of crashes, some fatal.

If you’re going to survive as a brand, that means offering an SUV.

The PowerCo plant at St. Thomas, Ontario, is the Volkswagen Group’s first overseas gigafactory for battery cell manufacturing. If you buy a VW Group EV in North America after the plant is up and running, its batteries will come from here. The pant is now ready to begin construction starting in 2024.

STI, which stands for Subaru Tecnica International, is a term synonymous with performance in the Subaru brand. It represents the high-performance division of Subaru. This article aims to provide a detailed understanding of what STI means for Subaru, the history behind this division, its impact on Subaru's vehicles, and the characteristics that set STI models apart from the standard Subaru lineup. This explanation is tailored for those who may not be deeply familiar with automotive terms, offering a clear and factual overview.

After a long wait, Porsche’s second pure electric vehicle, the Macan EV, is finally set to arrive next year. 

Say hello to the most powerful production SL ever.

The Hyundai Kona Electric is some $800 or so cheaper than last year, despite updates to the lineup. The base, 133-hp front-driven Kona Electric SE starts at just $34,010 including destination. For reference, last year’s Kona Electric SE was $34,845 including destination. Stepping up to the 201-hp SEL model raises pricing to $38,010, with the Limited trim topping the lineup at $42,380.

Drawing from a survey of 1,504 internal combustion engine vehicle owners in the U.S., approximately one-third have encountered issues with their vehicle manufacturer's mobile apps, particularly with slow connections. Despite this, a consistent app usage rate of 73% demonstrates a resilient user engagement. These are all findings from the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. OEM ICE App Report that casts a spotlight on the user experience with mobile apps designed for internal combustion engine vehicles.

The phrase “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” has about 4 billion applications in the automotive world. One of them is driving during winter. While how you prepare your car for snowy (and salty) conditions is one thing, what you keep in it can be just as important. Here, we’ll go over all the supplies you might need in an emergency, plus some nice comfort items to make the season a little more bearable. Depending on your vehicle, we’d also recommend storing all these items inside a single “Oh S@#%” bag for easy access. If you’ve got a smaller car, distribute them throughout the interior, keeping essentials nearest to you.

When it came to the North American automotive market, Korean brands spent the first few decades primarily focusing on family-first, value-packed offerings. Sure, the brands dabbled with performance vehicles like the Hyundai Genesis Coupe, Veloster Turbo, and Kia Forte SX Koup, and with various levels of success, but it hadn’t changed the perception of the manufacturers.

We’re going to be driving the EV9 next week. Here’s what we’re most excited for.

That's double the angular truck's starting price.

Dodge offers up a tease of its next production model this holiday season.

Speaking at the Automotive Press Association in Detroit, GM CEO Mary Barra told the crowd she’s heard just how much customers love their Chevy Bolts."That's been something that has been really great this year, and that informed the decision that we'll have that back again in '25," Barra said.

We recently spent a week with the 2023 Honda Ridgeline and found it would suit a lot of potential mid-size pickup truck buyer’s needs. One of the big hesitations we’ve heard from shoppers though is if it’s ‘truck’ enough. Being a unibody construction, there are some drawbacks to this platform such as lower towing capacity.

The holiday season is a time of joy, celebration, and gift-giving. During this festive time, the iconic marketing image of a brand-new car adorned with a giant red bow waiting in the driveway as a surprise gift is a common sight. Many wonder just how often this dream becomes a reality for everyday Americans — is receiving a car for the holidays just a marketing fantasy or a cherished tradition? To shed light on this, a study authored by ExtremeTerrain, a website specializing in aftermarket off-road parts and accessories, surveyed over 1,000 Americans to understand the sentiments, aspirations, and practical aspects of this extravagant gift-giving practice

Honda will unveil a new “global” EV at CES 2024 in Las Vegas on January 9th. Honda says that the announcement is part of the brand’s carbon neutrality goals and that a total of 30 new EVs will be introduced “globally by 2030.” Honda predicts sales volume of these EVs will be somewhere around 2 million units. Eventually, the brand hopes to have 100% zero-emission car sales by 2040. Interestingly, the brand also said in its release that the plan “includes battery electric and fuel cell electric powered models.”

The American and Canadian automotive markets are very similar. The vehicles sold in both countries are near identical, but there are a few differences, usually dictated by climate and geography.

The CLE-Class now has an AMG variant, the AMG CLE 53 Coupe. Like the non-AMG car, it aims to blend C-Class sportiness with the space and luxury of the E-Class. The new AMG coupe will be powered by AMG’s take on Mercedes’ 3.0-liter turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine. In addition to turbocharging, the engine is equipped with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system that can provide up to 23 hp and 151 lb-ft of torque. Total output is  443 hp and 413 lb-ft of torque, the latter of which can rise to 443 lb-ft for 12 seconds with an overboost function. All this is hooked to AMG’s 9-speed automatic gearbox and standard all-wheel drive with four-wheel steering.

Subaru's X-MODE technology is a feature integrated into Subaru SUVs, aimed at enhancing their performance, particularly in challenging and diverse driving conditions. This technology operates along with Subaru's Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system to augment the vehicle's traction, control, and stability, especially in situations where the driving conditions are less than ideal. The purpose of this article is to provide an in-depth, factual understanding of Subaru X-MODE, its functioning, benefits, and usage scenarios.

Want an Air Grand Touring with the metal roof? Massage seats in a Pure? You got it.

The electrified 500 is finally coming to Canada and the US early next year.

Going Skiing (or snowboarding, if that’s your jam) takes a lot more than just the gear you need on the mountain. With resort prices soaring lots of folks are resorting (get it?) to making their cars their primary base camp while on the mountain. That means you’ll want lots of the comforts of the lodge in your car, in addition to your gear. Today, we’ll take a look at all the skiing (or snowboarding) essentials you’ll need for your car this season.

Wild supercar debuts in Gran Turismo 7, and players can get it for free.

Yesterday, Tesla held a delivery event- hosted by Elon Musk, of course- for the long-awaited Cybertruck. Pricing and hard specs were announced in tandem, with the base, rear-wheel drive Cybertruck starting at an estimated $60,990 MSRP before taxes, delivery, and incentives. It offers a claimed 250-mile range, a 7,500-pound towing capacity, and a 0-60 mph time of 6.5 seconds. There is a catch. These won’t be out until 2025, and the pricing makes this a full $20,000 off the Elon’s claimed $40K price point from 2019.

The latest annual auto reliability brand rankings from Consumer Reports (CR) for 2023 have been released. For those unfamiliar, the report provides insights into the current state of the automotive industry. Owners that purchased a new vehicle during the past year are asked a series of questions to determine the overall reliability of each model. CR's then totals up the scores and presents their findings.

We’ve just driven the 2024 Toyota Tacoma and come away impressed.

Pricing for the 2025 Volvo EX90 has been announced. The base EX90 Plus 7-seater starts at $77,990 MSRP including $1,295 for destination charges. The brand’s range-topping SUV will be offered in either a six- or seven-seat configuration with two trim choices: Plus or Ultra. Additionally, a seven-seat Performance version of the EX90 is available, starting at $82,990 which, among other changes, bumps power up to 496 horsepower from 408 hp. Moreover, Volvo gives the same 300-mile range figure for either version.

When it comes to washing my car, I prefer using a pressure washer, but I'm well aware that isn't feasible for everybody. One of the main reasons why I enjoy using a pressure washer is because of the foam cannon, which blankets my car with a nice layer of soapy car wash. But if you aren't able to use a pressure washer with a foam cannon, the Foam Blaster 6 from Chemical Guys is a great alternative.

Reliability is a paramount consideration when buying a new car, and staying informed about the most dependable vehicles is crucial. The latest annual auto reliability brand rankings from Consumer Reports (CR) for 2023 have been released, with some surprising findings when it comes to hybrid and electric vehicles (EVs).

Stellantis has issued a recall for 32,125 2021-2024 Jeep Wrangler 4xe models, asking customers not to charge their batteries. The plug-in hybrid off-roader has fallen victim to eight total vehicle fires, and each happened while the vehicle was parked and turned off. Six occurred while vehicles were charging. As such, Stellantis is telling owners that while the cars can be driven, they should be parked outside away from other cars and structures. Owners of 4xe models can check their VIN against the recall database online.

There are also big screens, naturally. Everything's bigger!

Hyundai’s production facility in Ulsan, South Korea is a colossal affair, made up of five factories, which are soon to be six, with the recent groundbreaking of a new EV production facility said to have the capacity to produce 200,000 EVs a year. The facility has the feeling of a village unto itself. Indeed, you get the impression that if you live in Ulsan – a city with a population of just over one million – you either work at the plant, or know someone who does.

New Kona has a lot of good going for it—and a few oversights.

Until now, the only way to buy a Rivian R1T was to buy a Rivian R1T. Whether buyers paid in cash or financed, the company did not offer a lease for its popular electric truck. Now, a total of 14 states will serve as the basis for the company’s new leasing program. Buyers can choose from 24 or 36-month lease terms. Moreover, the $7,500 federal EV tax credit still applies, netting buyers further savings on their lease.

A slightly smaller Raptor pickup is coming, and Ford details how it's so capable out on the dunes.

The 2024 Acura TLX doesn’t look very different from its predecessor, but Acura has nonetheless introduced a load of meaningful changes to its midsize sedan entrant. On the whole, the lineup is far more streamlined. The front-wheel-drive-only TLX Technology is now the entry point to the lineup, priced at $46,195 MSRP with destination included. It now features 19-inch wheels, and inside buyers will find an ELS sound system, ambient lighting, and leather seats.

The Chrysler 300 is soon to be no more. The brand’s big, retro inspired sedan has enjoyed moderate success over the past two decades, but all good things come to end. Of course, this isn’t the first time the 300 has been discontinued, and it may not be the last time we see the 300 moniker either.