The Hyundai Santa Fe offers up to three rows of seats, providing ample space for all occupants. The middle row can be adjusted to allocate room accordingly. Each passenger has access to their own USB socket and two cupholders. In the rear, there is a mains-voltage socket, air vents with individual flow control, and a moderate amount of space behind the third row. The boot opening is exceptionally wide, making it a standout feature of the car.
Additionally, the Santa Fe is designed with practicality in mind, featuring a panel on the exterior upper flank that functions as a grab handle for accessing the roof rack.
While emphasizing utility, the Santa Fe also offers a touch of class and ambience. The perceived material quality is generally good, with various metal-like finishes and a bamboo-like trim option. The interior design includes a curved instrument binnacle and touchscreen within easy reach of the driver, complemented by separate buttons for key driving controls and climate management.
Furthermore, there is ample storage space in the front, including a deep central cubby. However, some may find the center armrest positioned a bit far back for optimal comfort.
In the right amount, fresh engine oil will better protect against excess friction during cold starts while offering maximum lubrication during extreme hot weather. Every gas or diesel engine can only accommodate a prescribed amount of oil, and pouring too much into the crankcase will cause the oil to foam or thicken, essentially disabling the oil’s ability to flow in hot or cold operating conditions.
If the oil can’t flow, it cannot pass through the tiny oil passages to lubricate the valvetrain, combustion chamber, pistons, and other internal components. It’s no different from vigorously churning milk and turning it into butter, and a thicker, buttery consistency is not what an engine needs to prevent it from breaking down.
Moreover, more oil means raising the oil pressure unnecessarily, which leads to leaky gaskets and oil seals. If your vehicle suddenly has an illuminated check engine light after an oil change and has symptoms like blue or white smoke, subpar performance, or unusual engine noises, it could mean the engine is drowning in oil.
The Toyota C-HR may not be the best choice for adults who spend a lot of time in the back seat. The rear legroom is limited, and the sloping roofline affects headroom. However, this hasn’t deterred buyers, especially those with young families. Additionally, Toyota now offers the slightly larger Corolla Cross in Europe for those who prioritize space over style.
To enhance the feeling of spaciousness in the back, engineers have introduced a new tinted panoramic roof that adds an extra 30mm of headroom. The C-pillar now has new window cut-outs for improved views. Furthermore, the rear door handles have been moved to a more conventional position on the rear doors based on customer feedback. These handles sit flush with the bodywork and pop out when pressed.
The boot size remains small, and Toyota has not provided specific details on its capacity or how much space is lost in the PHEV version due to the electric components beneath the floor.
In the front cabin, Toyota has focused on improving the perceived quality. The updated C-HR features a new 12.3-inch digital dial display and a new touchscreen infotainment system (8.0-inch as standard or 12.3-inch on higher-end models). The driver’s seating position is raised, typical of a crossover, and visibility is good. The seats in different trims incorporate recycled materials and are comfortable.
We spend a fair amount of time nosing through the online files at the US Patent and Trademark Office. That’s because automakers file new ideas on a daily basis, and many of them are terrifically complicated. Every so often, however, we come across something exceedingly simple that leads us to wonder why someone didn’t think of it sooner.
That’s what we have here with patent number 11,780,302 BS, dated October 10, 2023. It comes from Ford, and to sum up a five-page description in five words or less, this sun visor breaks glass. Okay, it’s a bit more complicated than that, but honestly, not much.
Several images in the patent show a normal-looking sun visor you’d find in any vehicle. It’s mounted onto a metal rod, which lets you flip the visor around as needed to block the sun. Instead of being permanently mounted on the rod, the sun visor can be removed to reveal a pointed end, or the impact point as mentioned in the patent description. The rod is also removable from its mount on the roof, giving you a small tool that, in theory, can shatter a window. It’s that simple.
But is it practical? Most glass shattering tools are in the shape of a small hammer, or are built into something a person can grip with some measure of strength. The patent doesn’t talk about the size of this built-in glass breaker, but it does make considerable mention of the L-shaped bend in the design. Whether that would offer enough grip for a person to shatter a window is, frankly, something we hope we never have to find out.
What about accidentally shattering windows? Sun visors are mounted near windshields after all, and while the patent doesn’t specifically address anything about accidental contact, it does give us all kinds of wonderful legal-esque phrases about using “vehicle-downward force” and applying “lateral force that is opposite the terminal end” to remove the rod from the visor. As far as we can tell, that means it snaps into place.
It’s one of those simple ideas that seems like a no-brainer, and it just could save a person’s life. Of course, we see many patents that never progress beyond this phase, so there’s no telling if this will ever see life in a production vehicle.
If you spend time in Bangkok, Thailand, you’ll notice a lot of Honda Wave bikes. These small bikes and scooters are popular for getting around crowded cities. The Honda Wave 110i is more common than its slightly larger sibling, the Wave 125i, mainly due to the price difference. However, for riders who want to travel the world on a small adventure bike, the Honda Wave 125i is the choice. Australian rider Tom Kaczmarczyck is doing just that and has made detailed modifications to his bike, which he discusses in a video.
The stock Wave 125i has a few notable features. It is fuel-injected and has 17-inch wheels rather than smaller scooter wheels. The bike comes with a choice of alloy or spoked wheels, with the latter being the less expensive option. It also has tubed tires, which may not suit all riders but are favored by adventure riders. The Wave 125i shares a small air-cooled 125cc engine with the Grom and is known for its simplicity and availability of parts. It has a four-speed gearbox and a solid mount, minimizing vibrations on long journeys.
The 2022 Wave 125i weighs just over 227 pounds and is praised for its lightweight and low center of gravity. Tom has added various practical accessories to enhance his bike’s overlanding capabilities, including OEM Honda accessories designed for the Wave 125i and other Honda models modified to fit his bike. He has also made aftermarket additions such as a modified windscreen, heated grips, and hand guards. Additionally, Tom has modified the electrical system of the bike to better handle its requirements.
Tom has already traveled over 49,709 miles across Southeast Asia and Australia and plans to take his Wave 125i around the world. You can follow his adventures on his Facebook page.
In the 1970s, truck bed campers gained significant popularity. These campers provided an impressive amount of space and amenities in a compact design, making them a great option for individuals who didn’t want to tow a trailer or drive a motorhome. Even today, modern truck bed campers are highly sought-after for overlanding. The 1970s versions, with their retro charm, have also become collectors’ items.
One such vintage camper is the 1976 Chevrolet Blazer Cheyenne Chalet that was recently featured on Bring A Trailer. Unlike a standard pickup truck, this camper is built on a Chevrolet Blazer K5 platform. It’s one of approximately 1,800 Chalet campers produced during a two-year production run. The vehicle has only 57,000 miles on it and has been freshly refinished with a two-tone tan and bronze paint job. Under the hood, it retains its original 350 cubic-inch V8 engine paired with a three-speed automatic transmission. The engine, rated at 165 horsepower, comes equipped with a four-barrel carburetor, an HEI-style distributor, tubular exhaust headers, and Flowmaster mufflers.
When it comes to classic car engines, the Chevy Small Block stands out as one of the most popular choices. This engine has been used to power numerous muscle cars and is known for its versatility across different car brands. Whether it’s Ford, Chevy, or Dodge, you can find a small block engine under the hood. What makes the small block impressive is its ability to generate high horsepower without falling apart.
One advantage of the Chevy Small Block is the abundance of parts. While you can buy a new 350 cubic inch small block from Chevy, many aftermarket companies offer their own complete engine assemblies. If you’re on a budget, you can also find various versions of the Chevy small block on platforms like Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Craigslist, and other online marketplaces specializing in car parts. With six decades of production, you’re likely to find Chevy small block parts in your local junkyard.
Between April and June of this year, a total of 43 completely new passenger vehicles were introduced. These figures only include new generations or models launched during that period, excluding facelifts or major restylings, and disregarding the specific date of the vehicle’s presentation.
Half Are Chinese
Nearly half of the new reveals in the second quarter came from China, with a total of 19 presentations. This is an increase of two cars compared to the first quarter. It comes as no surprise, considering the numerous brands in the Chinese car market, that the country has a significantly higher number of new car introductions compared to other countries.
Following China, Germany had the second highest number of new car unveilings in Q2 2023, with five. Sweden followed with two. Overall, Europe presented a total of nine new cars: Renault Rafale (France), Smart #3, Volkswagen ID.7, Mercedes E-Class sedan and wagon, BMW 5 Series (Germany), Cupra Tavascan (Spain), and Polestar 4 and Volvo EX30 (Sweden).
India presented four new cars, while Japan presented five. The United States had only two cars, namely the Lincoln Nautilus and Toyota Tacoma. Mexico also launched two cars: the Chevrolet Aveo sedan and hatchback. Finally, Indonesia and Brazil each revealed one model, namely the Toyota Yaris Cross for Southeast Asian markets and the Ram Rampage.
Toyota Reveals Seven
As the world’s largest automobile manufacturer, Toyota is one of the busiest in terms of product presentations. In Q2 2023, they unveiled a total of seven new models. Toyota continues to renew and expand its range in order to maintain its position as the global sales leader.
During this period, Toyota introduced the fourth-generation Tacoma for the North American market and the Yaris Cross for emerging markets. Lexus, Toyota’s premium division, also revealed new models. They unveiled the second generation of the LM, a luxury minivan for Asian and European markets, the Lexus LBX for Europe and select Asian markets, the Lexus TX for the North American and Middle Eastern markets, the third generation of the Lexus GX mainly for North America and the Middle East, and finally the fourth generation of the Alphard for Asian markets.
General Motors followed Toyota with five new introductions, three for China and two for Mexico. Geely, a Chinese automaker with multiple brands, presented four new models, including the Geely Boyue, Lynk & Co 08, Polestar 4, and Volvo EX30. Great Wall Motors also introduced a new car.
SUVs Are More Than Half
The dominance of SUVs in the automotive industry is confirmed by the high number of new SUV models. According to global coverage (excluding LCVs and Iran), 61 percent of the new production vehicles introduced in Q2 2023 were SUVs. This percentage is even higher than the global market share of SUVs in passenger vehicle sales.
Out of the new production vehicles, 25 were SUVs, with 13 coming from China, four from Europe, three from India, three from Japan, and one each from Indonesia and the United States. Sedans, hatchbacks, wagons, MPVs, pickups, and sports cars accounted for the remaining new vehicle introductions.
The author of the article, Felipe Munoz, is an Automotive Industry Specialist at JATO Dynamics.
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