ID.Buzz manufacturing moved from US to Germany for cost-saving.
Demand for ID.Buzz is excessive, says Volkswagen.
German manufacturing could impression pricing, no tax credit score for US patrons.
The extremely anticipated, retro-cool Volkswagen ID.Buzz electrical van will apparently not be constructed within the US like it was originally planned. According to a current report by Automotive News Europe, the German big lastly determined to consolidate manufacturing of its battery-powered minivan at just one location for price optimization.
ID.Buzz manufacturing will due to this fact stay at Volkswagen Group’s Hanover facility, the place the van has been constructed since its European launch in 2022. But what is going to this imply for US shoppers? Will a German-built bus jack up costs? Volkswagen appears assured that the price will remain competitive.
The Volkswagen ID.Buzz has been stretched and improved for the United States, however it is going to be an extended wait earlier than you should purchase one.
Very Strong Demand, But Consumers Are Becoming Impatient
Volkswagen
I admit that the ID.Buzz is likely one of the coolest merchandise to have been launched in years. It must also entice new varieties of clients to the EV area. I’m not the one one wanting ahead to this factor. According to Pablo Di Si, head of VW’s American arm, demand is so excessive for the ID.Buzz, that the carmaker did not even create a reservation system for it.
Di Si informed Automotive News that he believes demand for ID.Buzz will exceed provide, which may have a damaging impression on supply delays. I imagine that hype. I do know just a few folks in my direct setting who’ve been ready for this factor for the reason that authentic concepts were spotted out on the street.
While there isn’t any instant risk of a competitor in sight that might come steal its lunch cash, the ID.Buzz is however testing the persistence of North-American shoppers. Originally scheduled for a launch this summer as a 2024 model, the van will now solely arrive on our market on the finish of the 12 months as a 2025 mannequin, as per Volkswagen.
As a reminder, the US-spec ID.Buzz will probably be bought uniquely as an extended wheelbase mannequin. Only one battery will energy it; a 91-kWh (usable) unit, opposite to the short-wheelbase mannequin’s 82-kWh battery. VW estimates the rear-wheel drive ID.Buzz will probably be good for 260 miles of vary, whereas all-wheel drive variations will convey that quantity barely all the way down to 252 miles.
It’s apparent that German manufacturing will have an effect on the van’s worth. While nothing has but been launched for the North-American market on the matter, Volkswagen is outwardly presently in talks with its sellers to debate a technique that will not flip shoppers off.
Remember, whereas hip and funky, the ID.Buzz stays a minivan, a class of auto that usually targets middle-class households. Get the pricing incorrect, and you may lose gross sales to widespread reasonably priced fashions just like the Kia Carnival and Toyota Sienna.
“What’s the market willing to pay? What’s a fair return for the dealers? What’s a fair return for us? It needs to be balanced,” – Di Si informed Automotive News.
Volkswagen
One factor’s for sure, as a result of it will be imported, the ID.Buzz will not be eligible for the $7,500 U.S. federal tax credit score for electrical autos (EVs). This means VW might want to financial institution on the automobile’s recognition to repair a worth ladder that might, to start with, have it eat money to maintain these orders coming in. Just by seeing how madly widespread this automobile is, one thing tells me that it will not be too troublesome to tug off.
The Toyota GR Corolla seems to be a success. In its first full yr of US gross sales, Toyota moved 5,567 items of the all-wheel drive scorching hatch. Of course, that is only a fraction of the Corolla’s 232,370 gross sales final yr, however the GR Corolla handily outsold its nearest rival, the Volkswagen Golf R by over 2,000 items. It additionally outsold each different handbook Toyota on sale proper now.
Toyota supplied a breakdown of GR Corolla gross sales in calendar-year 2023 by trim.
Model
Sales
Core
3,123
Premium
677
Circuit
1,583
Morizo
184
Note that the Premium is a new variant for the 2024 model year, and that the Morizo was a limited-edition for the 2023 model year. Toyota initially mentioned it deliberate to construct 6,500 US-market GR Corollas for the 2023 mannequin yr, however it appears to have fallen a bit brief, with the automaker confirming it is bought 5,739 for each model-year 2023 and 2024. Perhaps a results of lingering supply-chain points, somewhat than low demand.
Per figures Toyota supplied to Motor1, GR Corolla was the preferred handbook Toyota mannequin within the US, simply pipping the GR86’s 5,317 handbook gross sales. Additionally, Toyota bought 3,287 handbook Tacomas and 1,140 handbook Supras.
What’s attention-grabbing is how in style the Premium is proving to be in only a few months on sale. For its $41,415, the Premium will get all of the packages that had been non-obligatory on the bottom Core mannequin, plus suede inside trim. The Circuit additionally did nicely, contemplating it was solely purported to be a run of 1,500 automobiles for your entire 2023 mannequin yr, however was then prolonged into 2024.
While on paper the Golf R, being an all-wheel drive hatchback with round 300 hp, is the closest rival for the GR Corolla, the Toyota is regularly in comparison with the Honda Civic Type R. We’ve reached out to Honda for Civic Type R gross sales figures and can replace this submit when and if we get them.
Again, 5,567 automobiles is not an enormous determine by Toyota requirements, however hopefully it is sufficient to justify preserving the GR Corolla round for the foreseeable future. It’s one of many coolest scorching hatchbacks on the market.
Detroit native “Screwy Louie” Mattar moved to San Diego after working within the auto business and serving within the U.S. Navy, the place he constructed minesweepers. Once he settled in California, Mattar started engaged on the Cadillac that might ultimately grow to be often called the Perpetual Motion Machine. Mattar initially meant the automobile to be a tenting automobile and outfitted it with a 50-gallon water tank, tv, sink, rest room, bathe, washer, and ironing board.
There was additionally an electrical cooking range, a bar, a soda fountain, and an in-dash hookah. Mattar designed a number of methods to take care of and refuel the automobile whereas in movement, together with retractable operating boards and a jack that might raise the automobile at low speeds so he and his two co-pilots may change tires on the go. The hood had clear panels so the motive force may see forward whereas it was raised for upkeep, and Mattar constructed a system that might robotically refresh the engine oil each 1,000 miles and one other that might hold the radiator topped off.
All of the modifications took Mattar seven years and price $35,000 — equal to a bit of greater than $400,000 in at this time’s cash.
The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser and Lexus GX have moved away from V-8 engines and now offer smaller turbocharged engines, with the Land Cruiser available as a hybrid.
The Lexus GX has a more luxurious interior compared to the Land Cruiser, with premium features and materials.
The Land Cruiser and Lexus GX have similar interior space and dimensions, but the Land Cruiser has a smaller cargo capacity due to the hybrid battery.
Toyota and Lexus started announcing a lot of new vehicles lately which has grabbed a lot of attention from the car world. A new vehicle from either Lexus or Toyota is to be celebrated because they do not come very often. They have a history of making a model which would likely last more than a decade before it is replaced.
One of these all-new cars is the Lexus GX which wasn’t a surprise as we expected it since Lexus introduced a new LX. But the biggest surprise is an all-new Land Cruiser for the North American market. The J300 Land Cruiser is not sold in North America, so Toyota remedied that with another new Land Cruiser. Despite being siblings, the 2024 Land Cruiser and Lexus GX do have a lot of differences.
2024 Toyota Land Cruiser
2024 Lexus GX
Engine:
2.4-liter turbo inline-four hybrid
3.4 liter twin turbo V-6
Horsepower
326 Horsepower
349 Horsepower
Torque
465 LB-FT
429 pound-feet
Transmission
8-speed automatic
10-speed automatic
Driveline
Four-wheel drive
Four-wheel drive
Towing Capacity
6,000 pounds
8,000 pounds
MSRP
NA (est. $55,000)
$60,000 (est)
Information for this article was sourced directly from Toyota and Lexus
Performance: Hybrid I-4 Vs Twin turbo V-6
The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser and Lexus GX have undergone drastic changes in terms of their engine choices. Both vehicles no longer offer a V-8 engine but now come with smaller turbocharged engines. The Lexus GX gets the new twin-turbo V-6 engine which is now well-known across many new Toyota trucks and SUVs. On the other hand, the Land Cruiser only comes with an inline-four turbo hybrid engine.
The New Land Cruiser Has A Hybrid Engine
Toyota
Land Cruiser enthusiasts would not be too surprised that the 2024 Land Cruiser has an inline-four engine. The size of this new SUV is similar to a Land Cruiser Prado than a full-size Land Cruiser. Land Cruiser Prados mainly offered four-cylinder engines and this new Land Cruiser being smaller, has a four-cylinder engine.
This time the inline-four is a turbocharged hybrid unit that makes 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque. This sends power to a full-time four-wheel drive system via a new eight-speed automatic transmission. While other engine options are available, this is the only engine option for North America.
The Twin-turbo V-6 Is More Powerful Than The Former V-8
Lexus
The new twin-turbo V-6 was first shown in the 2022 Toyota Land Cruiser and has made its way into the new Lexus GX. It produces 349 horsepower and 429 pound-feet of torque. This is more power and way more torque than the previous V-8 in the GX. A new ten-speed automatic transmission replaces the old Six-speed and sends power through a full-time four-wheel drive system.
Fuel Economy
Fuel economy in the V-8-powered Land cruisers and Lexus GXs was not great as these vehicles were also big and heavy. The best was a combined 16 MPG for the Lexus GX and a worse 14 MPG for the Land Cruiser. The new Land Cruiser and Lexus GX Are so new so there are no official EPA ratings yet.
The Toyota Land Cruiser maintains Toyota’s reputation for a well-built and functional interior and now has a lot of new features. Lexus has always had a more luxurious interior compared to its Toyota counterparts. The new Lexus GX reflects this with a solid but premium feeling interior.
The Lexus GX Has A More Luxurious Interior
Lexus
The Land Cruiser looks very much updated with the latest technology inside the cabin. Everything is well laid out with two 12-inch and 12.3-inch screens in view, one for the instrument cluster and another for the center infotainment. The 1958 edition Land Cruiser is the only model that comes with an eight-inch infotainment display. Some nice features include:
Heads up Display
Heated steering wheel and seats
Center console cool box (optional)
Front and rear USB Charging ports
Wireless charging pad Smart key system.
2400W inverter in the trunk that can be used to power small appliances.
14-speaker JBL Sound system (optional).
Power Liftgate
The Lexus GX is a much premium feeling and cleaner-looking interior. It gets a slightly bigger 12.3-inch instrument cluster but a much bigger 14-inch center infotainment screen. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available for this model. Since this is a luxury vehicle, soft Leather material is also used on almost every surface. It offers many of the features found on the Land Cruiser except the power inverter.
Interior Room And Cargo Capacity
Toyota
The Land Cruiser shares the same TNGA-F platform as the Lexus GX with similar lengths and an identical wheelbase. This means both vehicles offer similar interior space with seating for five people as standard. The Lexus GX has the option of a three-rows with the option of captain’s chairs in the second row.
Toyota says the Land Cruiser may have a three-row option later. Cargo space in the Land Cruiser is less than the GX because of the hybrid battery in the trunk. This takes up a good amount of space and will also rob space for three-row passengers. This may very well be the reason the Land Cruiser isn’t offered with three rows immediately.
The Lexus GX and Toyota Land Cruiser are so new that there are no safety ratings for them yet. But they are equipped with the latest Safety Sense 3.0 system which is standard on the GX and Land Cruiser. These active and safety convenience systems have been improved for this model year and they include:
Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection
Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist
Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control
Lane Tracing Assist
Road Sign Assist
Automatic High Beams
Proactive Driving Assist
2024 Toyota Land Cruiser Crash Test
Not available yet
2024 Lexus GX Crash Test
Not Available yet
Reliability Comparison
Toyota and Lexus share a lot of parts since they’re owned by the same parent company. Reliability has always been a strong point for any Toyota product and we expect these to be just as reliable as the rest. But both vehicles have all-new powertrain which have not been tested extensively by consumers, so we have to wait to see how reliable these new powertrains will be. But both cars still come with Toyota’s amazing warranty:
Toyota/Lexus warranty
Full Warranty
3 years/36,000 miles
Powertrain Warranty
5 years/60,000 miles
Maintenance Warranty
2 years/25,000 miles
Roadside Warranty
2 years/unlimited miles
Corrosion Warranty
5 years/unlimited miles
At the time of writing this article, both vehicles have not gone on sale yet.
The former Land Cruiser was becoming a very expensive vehicle at prices well over $90,000 and the previous GX was more reasonable at just over $60,000. There are no official prices but the new GX is expected to start around the same price as the previous vehicle. It’s the Land Cruiser that has taken a huge price drop now expected to start around $55,000. Both cars are expected to start arriving in the first quarter of 2024.
The Hoonigan crew has taken their racing off-road with a new 1,000-foot dirt track filled with jumps, whoops, and hills. In the first video of this series, we witness a drag race that is bound to keep you on the edge of your seat.
The race starts off with a monstrous 1937 Ford dubbed “Flyboy” by its owner, Devon Villeneuve. This beast is equipped with massive tractor tires, towering suspension components, and a 9.0-liter Chevrolet V8 engine topped with a supercharger. Running on alcohol, it churns out an incredible 1,600 to 1,800 horsepower. It’s safe to say that this truck is absolutely insane.
In comparison, the Chevrolet Silverado Prerunner appears tamer with its tube chassis construction. Built by Kenny Falconer, this pickup features a turbocharged LS V8 engine that produces 615 horsepower and 700 pound-feet of torque to the wheels. Though it doesn’t sit as high as the monster truck, it is designed to tackle any terrain with ease.
The racing action is absolutely thrilling. Following the rules of “This vs. That,” the competition consists of a best-of-three series starting with a heads-up race. Don’t let the monster truck’s early lead discourage you, as the Prerunner has its own surprises in store.
We won’t spoil the results for you, but let’s just say that each race is incredibly close. Both trucks demonstrate unique strengths and weaknesses throughout different sections of the course. This promises an exciting future for this gritty series.
General Motors (GM) is one step closer to entering Formula 1 as the FIA, the world motorsport’s governing body, has approved Andretti Autosport’s application to participate in the category.
Andretti and Cadillac announced their intention to enter F1 earlier this year, and now their plans have received approval from the FIA. However, the application still needs to be approved by F1’s commercial bosses, and there is uncertainty about whether they will accept an 11th team, as there has been hesitancy within the F1 community to add another team.
The FIA has been actively seeking new entrants for F1, starting with expressions of interest and then a detailed application process. Andretti’s bid was one of four and the only one to receive backing from the FIA.
Under the Andretti Cadillac plan, the team would be based in the US and have a support facility in the UK, although the specific location has not been determined yet. The earliest the team could compete in F1 is 2025.
Rodin Cars, a firm from New Zealand that manufactures single-seaters, previously submitted an application to the FIA, which was rejected. The identities of the other two applicants remain unknown.
This development reflects the growing influence of F1 in the US. The series will include races in Austin, Miami, and Las Vegas in 2023, and Haas, a US-based team, is already on the F1 grid as the newest team in the lineup.
If successful, Andretti and Cadillac have expressed their intention to prioritize the appointment of at least one American driver to compete in F1.
The operation is led by Michael Andretti, a former F1 driver and the son of Mario Andretti, the 1978 F1 champion and founder of Andretti Global enterprise.
In addition to Andretti Cadillac, Audi has been confirmed as a new entrant in F1 starting from 2026. Audi will partner with Swiss team Sauber, which currently collaborates with Alfa Romeo.
Meanwhile, Porsche, a sibling brand of Audi, remains interested in entering F1 after canceling plans to partner with Red Bull Racing.
Andretti Cadillac will use an engine supplied by a third party, with technical support from Andretti and GM. The two companies previously partnered to run the Chevrolet team in the 2012 Indycar Series, where they achieved success by winning the driver, team, and manufacturer titles.
Entering F1 will not impact Cadillac’s involvement in endurance racing. The company has been racing in the IMSA Sportscar Championship since 2017 and will expand its efforts globally this year by participating in the FIA World Endurance Championship, including the prestigious Le Mans 24 Hours race, with its new V-LMDh racer.
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