From the corporate that turned a Honda Civic right into a fake Dodge Challenger, right here comes a Toyota Corolla impersonating a British sedan from many moons in the past. Mitsuoka is at it once more, solely this time, it is taken a Toyota Corolla to provide it a British aptitude. The Ryugi has been round since 2014, and it is now getting a small replace with further tools whereas retaining the unusual exterior look.
Featuring an uncommon face reminding us of a Rover P5 from the late Nineteen Fifties or a Jaguar Mark II from the identical period, the Mitsuoka Ryugi is available in sedan and wagon flavors. Underneath that peculiar physique is a previous-generation JDM-spec Corolla (E160), which continues to be in manufacturing because the Corolla Axio sedan and Corolla Fielder wagon. That’s regardless of the actual fact the most recent era (E210) was launched again in 2018. Since 2022, Toyota has been making the previous one strictly as a fleet car, based on Best Car journal.
Ford has introduced its first-quarter gross sales for 2024, posting a modest 5.7-percent improve total versus 2023. Things look good on the floor, however a deeper dive reveals some fascinating tendencies. And frankly, we might be shocked if there is not somewhat little bit of concern swirling round Ford headquarters proper now.
The Bronco and Mustang are trending downward. The Bronco is manner off the mark, sliding 25.8 p.c with 24,066 gross sales in comparison with the identical interval final 12 months. Meanwhile, the Jeep Wrangler stepped as much as 38,308 items bought for 2024 to this point, a really minor 1-percent improve. It firmly establishes the Wrangler because the gross sales chief on this area of interest off-road phase.
It’s been almost seven years since Dodge ceased Viper manufacturing, however the model continues to promote the remaining inventory. Stellantis launched its first-quarter gross sales outcomes for 2024, and the info reveals the automaker bought one Viper within the first three months of the 12 months.
Dodge can also be already midway towards equalling the mannequin’s 2023 gross sales numbers. It sold two of them last year, each within the final quarter.
Automotive gross sales figures for Q1 2024 are pouring in, and BMW holds the excellence of getting the primary zombie automotive within the group. Amid all the info for sedans and SUVs sits a curious line for the i3, a automobile that went out of manufacturing for the US market in July 2021. At some level through the first three months of the 12 months, a brand-new i3 discovered a purchaser.
We do not know the place it was or the way it was outfitted. If you occur to be BMW’s latest i3 proprietor, drop us a remark or electronic mail our ideas account (tips@motor1.com) and inform us all about it. We’re inquisitive about how the battery’s held up and why it took so lengthy to promote. The final time we noticed i3 knowledge on a BMW gross sales chart was in 2022, when 9 had been offered. None had been offered in 2023, so we suspect this specific Bimmer has an attention-grabbing story to inform.
Now’s your likelihood to hold a chunk of hooning historical past in your storage wall. To profit the newly fashioned 43 Institute, eBay Motors will host an internet public sale full of Ken Block memorabilia. The public sale begins immediately and consists of automobile components sacrificed in making the blockbuster Gymkhana video series, plus collectibles from Ken Block’s rally profession. Damaged wheels, wrecked bumpers, you identify it.
“There’s still an ongoing reminder that pops up on my calendar,” Lucy Block mentioned. “It says ‘sit down with the kids and Ken and talk about what foundation we want to start.’ [The reminder] still pops up because it was something we intended to do for probably three years.”
Following her husband’s tragic passing in January, 2023, and a interval of grieving, Lucy Block determined it was time to observe by means of. But as a substitute of a basis devoted to slaying tires, or delivering all-wheel drive drift missiles to underprivileged youngsters, the 43 Institute’s mission cuts to a core facet of Ken Block—the particular person—that almost all of his followers by no means noticed.
“As we had Ken’s celebration of life last January, everyone that came together, it really was a different form of what I thought Ken’s legacy would’ve been for these people,” Lucy Block mentioned. “So many of the people brought up how Ken said or did something that pushed them to do more than they thought they could… He pushed them to take chances to do something bigger than they thought was possible.”
The 43 Institute doesn’t create its personal applications, Block mentioned, however as a substitute makes use of Ken’s appreciable attain and fan base to fund different organizations. Their objective on the institute is to supply alternative and mentorship to younger people who find themselves exceptionally pushed, identical to Ken had finished so many occasions. For instance, the institute has already worked with Stoked, an sports-oriented program that provides entry to actions like snowboarding and skateboarding to underprivileged youngsters, then gives mentorship for the youngsters who take to these motion sports activities.
Funds generated by this public sale will probably be put towards applications like Stoked, Lucy Block mentioned, with a concentrate on creating psychological and bodily well being, two pursuits Ken valued tremendously.
If you’re a fan of the Gymkhana sequence (and who isn’t?), it’s a goldmine. In true Ken Block trend, practically each merchandise bore the brunt of his handiwork: There are sequential transmission gears from the Hoonicorn V1, broken past perception. A ben Fifteen52 wheel from Gymkhana Ten, and burnt clutch plates from Climbkhana: Pikes Peak.
For pure rally followers, there are a lot extra public sale objects, like a door from the 2015 GRC season and my private favourite, a turbofan-style wheel from Ken’s notorious Ford Escort Cossie. Assorted memorabilia abounds, like race fits, a Modernica Chair, a signed poster, and even a Specialized bike.
Take a take a look at the public sale and decide a spot on the storage wall the place you may have the ability to dangle a dented wheel or a warped entrance bumper. The cash goes to a great trigger and celebrates the reminiscence of our all-time favourite tire slayer.
Volvo just lately constructed its last car with a diesel engine, however Toyota sees issues in another way. Although the recognition of the oil-burner has gone down in recent times, the Japanese automaker claims this kind of engine nonetheless has an extended future. Toyota Australia gross sales and advertising boss Sean Hanley believes that “diesel, despite popular commentary, is not dead. It’s got a while to go, diesel, so it’s not going to die off anytime soon.”
Speaking with Australian journal Drive, the chief stated diesel stays “a very credible fuel source” particularly within the case of heavy autos corresponding to vans and huge SUVs. However, Hanley reckons the diesel engine must adapt to more and more stricter emissions laws to outlive. It’s why Toyota just lately launched a Hilux with a mild-hybrid version of the two.8-liter, four-cylinder turbodiesel engine.
Judging by the newest gross sales report from Mazda, it seems as if the Miata is not at all times the reply. The petite sports activities automobile had a weak first quarter of the yr contemplating deliveries plummeted by 45.5 % in comparison with Q1 2023. Only 1,411 Americans purchased the tossable roadster by means of March 2024.
It was notably dangerous for the soft-top model since demand declined by 66 % to 457 models whereas the hardtop RF went down by 23.5 % to 954 models. Yes, the RF deliveries have been greater than double these of the usual Miata. Looking on the larger image, the scenario is just not that dangerous contemplating 2023 was a wonderful yr for the MX-5 after shipments grew by 45.4 percent.
Volkswagen of America had a robust Q1 2024 as deliveries jumped by 21 %, and whereas SUVs predictably fueled the expansion, the recent hatches additionally performed an necessary position. Demand for the GTI jumped by a formidable 156 % to 2,412 models from January by June. Golf R gross sales elevated by 125 % in comparison with Q1 2023, reaching 1,233 models.
What may have presumably been the driving pressure behind the gross sales surge? Maybe it is the upcoming demise of the guide gearbox. The Golf GTI and R Mk8.5 arriving later this 12 months will eliminate the three-pedal setup. When the GTI 380 was unveiled final August, VW introduced the tip of the run for the GTI and R with a stick shift. From the 2025MY, all Golfs bought within the US will obtain the seven-speed, dual-clutch automated transmission.
The GMC Hummer EV was General Motors’s first Ultium-powered passenger car. The automaker went all out for the mannequin, packing it with an obnoxious quantity of energy and cutting-edge options. And gross sales are lastly beginning to take off in 2024. They are up a whopping 83,330 % within the first quarter of this yr, however that quantity requires some context.
Digging by means of the info reveals why the EV noticed such a wild enhance. The firm bought simply two Hummers by means of the primary three months of 2023 because it was ramping up Hummer EV SUV manufacturing. That’s overshadowed by the 1,668 Hummers it bought for a similar interval in 2024. GMC ended 2023 with 3,260 items bought, and the corporate is on observe to beat that determine this yr, however not by 80,000 %.
Toyota on Tuesday introduced gross sales figures for the primary quarter of 2024, and the most important information comes from gross sales of the Prius. The firm’s iconic hybri is as standard as ever, with a year-over-year enhance of 138.6 % by means of the primary three months of the yr. That interprets to 13,327 items offered versus 5,586 items in 2023. While the Prius remains to be removed from being Toyota’s hottest automobile, it is a clear indication that hybrids aren’t fading away anytime quickly.
By comparability, the all-electric Toyota bZ4X gross sales reached 1,897 items for a similar interval. That’s a rise of 11.7 %, however nonetheless far under Prius ranges. Its up-market Lexus RZ sibling logged 1,603 gross sales, which means Toyota offered 3,500 EVs at a time when many of us believed absolutely electrical automobiles can be taking off. To be honest, Toyota hasn’t taken main strides towards EV manufacturing as different manufacturers have, and that is mirrored in lackluster reviews for each the bZ4X and RZ.
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