In a recent social media announcement, Toyota hinted at the return of the Land Cruiser to the US market. Now, the automaker has released teaser images of an unnamed mid-size, off-road SUV. Although Toyota has not officially confirmed that these images depict the upcoming Land Cruiser, the mention of 65 years of off-road history suggests that it could be the case. Considering that the iconic FJ40 was introduced in 1960, it is likely that the new Land Cruiser will be a 2025 model.
Interestingly, the 2025 Land Cruiser for the US market will have a different appearance compared to the globally debuted 2022 model, known as the 300-Series. This is because the US version of the legendary off-roader is expected to share its platform with the 2024 Lexus GX 550, which is the luxury brand’s newly redesigned mid-size SUV. It is worth noting that the Land Cruiser Prado, which has a similar heritage to the GX, was recently teased for the European market. As a result, it is highly likely that the US-market Land Cruiser will be nearly identical to the European version.
The teaser images reveal some key features of the new Land Cruiser. It shares the upkicked beltline with the GX, which enhances off-road visibility and maneuverability. The Land Cruiser also has a tall stance and a relatively short wheelbase. However, there are some design elements unique to Toyota. The front end of the 2025 Land Cruiser features a separate bumper, unlike the integrated grille-bumper combination found on the GX. Additionally, the Land Cruiser lacks the roof spoiler present on its Lexus counterpart, giving it a more retro look. By brightening the image, you can also see that the Land Cruiser has large, square taillights and a chunky grille. It is possible that the Land Cruiser does not have rocker steps in order to improve clearance over rocks.
Fiat has officially unveiled its smallest electric vehicle, the Fiat Topolino quadricycle. This compact car measures 2.53 meters (99.6 inches) in length.
The Fiat Topolino is based on the Citroën Ami but features different front and rear designs to give it a distinct Fiat look. It is available in two body configurations: the closed Topolino for city driving and the open Topolino Dolcevita, which has a beach-themed design. The Dolcevita model comes with a large canvas roof, ropes instead of doors, and other unique features.
Both variants of the Fiat Topolino are priced at $10,770 (9,890 euros) in Italy. The Topolino is slightly more expensive than the base Citroën Ami but offers higher levels of equipment. Additionally, it exceeds the features of its Opel Rocks Electric twin.
Some of the notable equipment included in the Topolino are a chrome luggage rack called the Dolcevita Box, which provides a practical fabric band for storing personal items, and vintage chrome-effect mirrors.
Buyers can personalize their Fiat Topolino with options such as a shower attachment for rinsing off after a day at the beach, wooden-effect stickers on the doors of the closed model, and stickers with stripes on the roof of the Dolcevita model.
June Marks the Ninth Straight Month of Year- Over-Year Gains
IRVINE, Calif., July 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today reported total June sales of 29,786 vehicles, an increase of 96.9 percent compared to June 2022. Year-to-date sales totaled 183,783 vehicles; an increase of 28.7 percent compared to the same time last year. With 26 selling days in June, compared to the same the year prior, the company posted an increase of 96.9 percent on a Daily Selling Rate (DSR) basis.
CPO sales totaled 5,219 vehicles in June, an increase of 27 percent compared to June 2022.
Sales Highlights
2nd best June sales since 1995 with 29,786 vehicles sold.
Best-ever June sales of CX-50 with 3,532 vehicles sold.
Best-ever June sales of CX-30 with 6,612 vehicles sold.
Mazda Motor de Mexico (MMdM) reported June sales of 5,539 vehicles, an increase of 123 percent compared to last year. Year-to-date sales totaled 34,525 vehicles; an increase of 109 percent compared to the same time last year.
Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, California, and oversees the sales, marketing, parts, and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States and Mexico through nearly 700 dealers. Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City. For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at News.MazdaUSA.com.
This month, you can now decide between the new French hatchback or a Volkswagen ID 3. The new French hatchback comes with a front-mounted motor that provides 156bhp, which is 22bhp more than the Peugeot e-208 supermini and e-2008 crossover. It also has a power of 192lb ft. Power comes from a 51kWh (usable) battery, which is slightly larger than the ones used by smaller EVs from Peugeot parent Stellantis. The e-308 will join the 308 lineup, which includes petrol and diesel options as well as plug-in hybrids.
Peugeot e-2008
The e-2008 starts at £36,350 for the basic Active trim. The Allure and GT models, which are the favorite choices for most buyers, come in at £38,350 and £40,550 respectively. The facelift introduces a wider and more aggressive new Peugeot badge, as well as updated lights inspired by the Peugeot 508. It also features a larger 54kWh battery and a more powerful electric motor, providing an 18% boost in output compared to the previous e-2008, with 153bhp.
In May, the UK saw its car production increase for the fourth consecutive month, as reported by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Despite the challenging economic conditions, factories rolled out a total of 79,046 cars.
This output indicates a significant rise of 26.9% compared to May of the previous year. The surge was primarily driven by a nearly twofold increase in the production of electrified vehicles, including hybrid electric, plug-in hybrids, and battery-electric vehicles. The number of these vehicles produced reached 27,636, accounting for 35% of the total UK output.
The growth in production also led to a double-digit increase in the export of vehicles, which rose by 22.9%.
Last month, former Audi CEO Rupert Stadler admitted his involvement in the Dieselgate scandal to avoid a prison sentence. Today, a Munich court issued a verdict in the case, imposing a fine of over one million euros on Stadler and giving him a suspended sentence of one year and nine months.
When Stadler agreed to confess in May, he also agreed to pay a fine that Prosecutors had proposed to be as high as €2 million. However, the judge ruled that he would only have to pay €1.1 million ($1.2 million at the current exchange rate). Authorities arrested Stadler in 2018, and he has been on trial since 2020 for his role in the scandal that first came to light in September 2015.
In September 2015, the US Environmental Protection Agency announced that it had uncovered Volkswagen’s violation of the Clean Air Act. It was not until November 2016 that the agency implicated Audi. The German automaker used software to manipulate US emissions tests on its diesel vehicles.
Stadler is the first Volkswagen board member to be sentenced for his involvement in the scandal. However, other employees also received sentences this week. Former Audi executive Wolfgang Hatz and an engineer were also found guilty and given fines and suspended sentences. There are still ongoing cases against former VW CEO Martin Winterkorn and other former VW managers.
The scandal has also been costly for the automaker. Volkswagen Group has been fined billions of dollars in the US and other countries where it sold its non-compliant vehicles. Recently, South Korea fined Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen for conspiring to cheat the country’s emissions standards.
Audi is making efforts to put the scandal behind it by focusing on electric vehicles despite lagging behind the competition. VW Group CEO Oliver Blume stated last week that he intends to accelerate the development of electric vehicles for the Audi brand, which has been plagued by “severe software problems”. Next year, the company will launch the Q6 E-Tron on a new platform and release its final combustion-powered car in 2025.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently proposed a new rule that would require automatic emergency braking (AEB) on passenger vehicles. Now, the agency is expanding its reach by suggesting that the same rule apply to heavy-duty trucks and buses weighing over 10,000 pounds.
According to NHTSA estimates, this technology could save around 155 lives per year and prevent over 8,800 injuries. The agency’s data shows that approximately 60,000 heavy-duty vehicles are involved in rear-end crashes, and implementing this technology could potentially prevent more than 19,000 of these accidents annually.
Passenger vehicles would also benefit greatly from this technological advancement. NHTSA believes that requiring AEB on all passenger vehicles traveling at speeds up to 62 miles per hour could save a minimum of 340 lives each year and reduce injuries by 24,000.
A study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in 2022 found that pickup trucks equipped with AEB had a 43% lower rate of causing rear-end collisions and a 42% reduction in related injuries. Interestingly, only 8% of registered pickups in 2021 came with AEB as a standard feature. However, several major automakers, including Ford, Chevrolet, GMC, Ram, Toyota, Nissan, and Honda, now offer trucks with AEB systems as standard.
While technology like AEB undoubtedly saves lives and minimizes injuries, a separate study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety also revealed that vehicles equipped with crash prevention technology, including AEB, can be more challenging to repair. The research found that approximately half of the surveyed individuals encountered issues with these features even after completing repairs, raising concerns about their reliability and potentially increasing repair costs over time.
If the proposal for both passenger cars and heavy-duty vehicles is approved, it would take three years for the ruling to go into effect. However, NHTSA has not specified when a final decision will be made, so it may take several more years before customers see these changes implemented in new vehicles, regardless of size, as automakers continue to enhance standard safety features in their latest models.
The recently unveiled third-generation Lexus GX has already received a rugged makeover and new technologies. The SUV now offers an Overtrail trim, which includes mechanical upgrades and aesthetic enhancements. But what would the future hold for this model? New renderings from Kolesa.ru give us a glimpse of what an overlanding version of the GX could look like.
With its boxy and chiseled design, the 2024 GX seems like the perfect base for an adventure vehicle equipped with a roof tent. This digital rendering portrays the vehicle with a lifted suspension and BF Goodrich off-road tires. The black plastic cladding, present in the standard model, remains, but the new front bumper now features an integrated winch and additional LED lights. The roof also sports a light bar.
The rear bumper boasts another winch and LED bar. However, the main highlight of the overlanding upgrades is the foldable tent on the roof, possibly with an extending awning. Lastly, this adventure vehicle is distinguished by a new orange exterior color, setting it apart from the regular 2024 GX.
Based on the GA-F body-on-frame platform, the new GX is equipped with a double-wishbone front suspension and a multi-link setup at the rear. An optional Adaptive Variable Suspension with active dampers is also available. Powering the GX is a twin-turbo 3.4-liter V6 engine delivering 349 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque, making it the sole engine option at launch. Paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, this engine allows for a maximum towing capacity of 8,000 pounds.
If we hypothetically assume that this overlanding SUV is based on the Overtrail trim, it offers several upgrades over the standard model. These include 33-inch tires, a locking rear differential, and additional underbody protection.
Last month, we got to test the 2024 KTM 450XCF-W at a media intro in Ohio at the site of the John Penton GNCC. It was just enough to get us excited about the bike and we couldn’t wait to get it to California where we could get more time on it. Last year, this was a bike that very few people seemed to understand. It was a closed-course competition bike that many riders mistook for a green-sticker compliant machine–in other words, people just assumed it was plugged up and overly lean. It wasn’t. It was an extremely capable off-road bike with a six-speed gearbox and excellent power delivery–most definitely not plugged up and overly lean. For 2024 it’s back with the same general personality, but updated with a new chassis, new suspension and a mostly new motor. To clarify, there is a green sticker version of this bike in the KTM line. That one is called the 500XWF.
In stock form, the 450XCF-W is better suited for trail riding than any four-stroke in KTM’s line.
The 450XCF-W takes the 450SX-F motocross platform introduced last year and gives it the off-road treatment as far as suspension, power delivery and equipment. To be fair, the frame is unlike anything else because it uses PDS rear suspension without linkage. The shock is similar to the one on the new motocross bike, but with different internals and, of course, it connects directly to the swingarm–which is new. This year, the PDS rear end uses a straight-rate spring. Up front, there’s an entirely new fork. It’s a coil-spring version of the Xact air fork from the motocross line. No more Xplor fork. The motor has its own mapping with two options on the handlebar switch as well as traction control. And then there’s that six-speed gearbox, which is something that desert riders have been wanting for a long time. As far as equipment goes, the big news is an LED headlight that actually produces decent candle power for riding at night. Racing at night will still require something bigger. The bike also comes with a radiator fan.
The price for the 2023 KTM 450XCF-W is $11,999.
Now that we’ve ridden the bike at home, we’re even more impressed. The suspension is nothing short of excellent. The previous version of the bike (which we already loved) needed substantial fork work for anything except low-speed rock crawling. It was too soft in stock form, and the Xplor fork didn’t respond well to modification. The new fork is still good in rocks, but it doesn’t dive and misbehave in whoops. It’s stiffer than the old fork, so it may give away a little compliance in first gear, but it’s well-suited for anything faster. The PDS rear suspension is great too. There are still a number of hard-core linkage fans who resist the PDS concept, but we believe this bike will convert many of them.
Pete Murray finds a little piece of Erzberg in California.
As far as power goes, the 450XCF-W runs sort of like a heavily modified 500EXC. Dual-sport riders have to speed thousands to get this kind of power out of the 500. It doesn’t have the top-end of the motocross bike, but it’s smooth, torquey and easy to use. Plus, it doesn’t overheat.
This is the most versatile off-road bike in KTM’s entire line. If you’re a trail rider you can leave it stock and be happy. If you’re a dual-sport rider, you might have to figure out registration, but it’s reasonably quiet and has the six-speed gearbox. If you’re a racer, you might have to go mining for a little more power, but again, the six-speed will make it worthwhile and the suspension will be easy to work with. We will be putting a bunch of miles on this bike in upcoming months, so look for a test in the September, 2023 print edition of Dirt Bike.
DUCATI’S FIRST DIRT BIKE
We’ve been hearing rumors that Ducati is in the process of building a motocross bike. This isn’t it, but it’s clearly something new and dirty from the Italian motorcycle manufacturer. The Powerstage RR Limited edition is a high-end electric mountain bike. The special livery designed by Aldo Drudi in collaboration with the Ducati Design Center and inspired by the Desmosedici GP23 (with which the official riders race) in a limited edition of 230 numbered units. It has a full carbon frame with a combination of modern geometrical solutions and high-quality components, such as the new Shimano EP801 drive unit, Öhlins suspension, SRAM GX AXS 12-speed shifter and Crankbrothers Synthesis wheels (29″ front, 27.5″ rear) with carbon rims.
The Powerstage RR Limited Edition can already be ordered from the Ducati network and online at www.ducati.com at a suggested retail price of $11,990 USD (Prices listed are the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Prices. Prices exclude dealer setup, taxes, freight, title and licensing and are subject to change).
KICKSTART KENNY AT HIGH POINT
BROADCAST TEAM Play by Play: Jason Weigandt Analyst: Ricky Carmichael Reporter: Jason Thomas HOW TO WATCH Saturday, June 17 Pro Motocross Championship: Race Day Live Peacock @ 7 a.m. PT / 10 a.m. ET Pro Motocross Championship: High Point National [LIVE] Peacock @ 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET Monday, June 19 Pro Motocross Championship: High Point National Replay CNBC, NBCSports.com, NBC Sports App 11 p.m. PT [Sunday] / 2 a.m. ET
VINTAGE SEATS
If you have vintage bikes, you know that seats are very difficult to get right. MotoSeat has a full line of vintage dirt bike seat covers and seat foam. You can design your seat on line here.
CHAD REED JOINS WORLD SUPERCROSS
With less than a month until the 2023 FIM World Supercross season kicks off with the British Grand Prix in Birmingham, WSX is set to announce that Australian supercross legend, Chad Reed will join the team as a “supercross advisor” and broadcast commentator for the upcoming six-race season. One of the most successful supercross riders of all time and the record holder for competing in most ‘main events,’ Reed has expansive supercross experience and knowledge that he will be bringing to the series and its fans in an advisor role on the broadcast team. Additionally, Reed will host exclusive content on WSX.TV.
All 60th anniversary celebrations for May have been cancelled
Sant’Agata Bolognese, May 23, 2023 – Automobili Lamborghini has donated 1 million Euros to assist those affected by the recent flooding in Emilia-Romagna.
In response to the devastating events that have impacted the region, the company has joined the “Un aiuto per l’Emilia-Romagna” fundraiser, organized by the Agency for Territorial Security and Civil Protection. The funds will be used in collaboration with local authorities to support affected communities, with a specific focus on environmental recovery initiatives related to hydrogeological instability.
Moreover, the company has made the decision to cancel its 60th anniversary celebrations originally planned from May 24 to 28. This includes the cancellation of the 60th Anniversary Giro Event, which was scheduled to start in Piazza del Popolo in Rome and finish in Piazza Maggiore in Bologna, along with all associated activities.
Stephan Winkelmann, Chairman and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini, stated, “Automobili Lamborghini has always been attentive and caring towards the region in which we operate. Through this tangible gesture, we express our solidarity and support for the communities affected by this environmental emergency.“
Regarding the cancellation of the scheduled events, he further explained, “We were on the verge of commencing our 60th anniversary celebrations, but we could not disregard this tragedy. It hits close to home as it directly affects the families of some of our colleagues and the region that our company proudly calls its home.“
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