Tag Archives: United

Motorsport

VinFast’s Adorable Electric SUV Is Coming To America

Vietnamese automotive producer VinFast introduced on Tuesday plans to deliver its lovely all-electric VF 3 SUV to the United States, a spokesperson confirmed to Motor1. The US-bound VF 3 can have a focused EPA-rated vary of 125 miles, with early reservations opening later this 12 months. 

The VF 3 made its world debut six months in the past in Vietnam. Described by VinFast as a “mini-eSUV,” its small, upright proportions and two-door, four-seat structure make it ideally suited for tight metropolis streets. Think of it type of like an all-electric Suzuki Jimny. It packs a equally blocky design and normal 16-inch wheels. 

VinFast VF 3 At CES 2024
VinFast VF 3 At CES 2024

Inside the VF 3 you may discover a 10.0-inch infotainment display screen geared up with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as normal. The second row folds to make room for a most 19.4 cubic toes of space for storing — excellent for hauling plenty of stuff to locations you would not be capable of match a full-size SUV.

VinFast has but to launch energy numbers, efficiency figures, or drivetrain particulars for the VF 3, however the little SUV is obtainable in two trims in Vietnam: Eco and Plus, every geared up with a single electrical motor. It’s not clear proper now what types of options both of these trims include, or if they’re going to be provided to American prospects. It’s completely potential the corporate might reengineer the VF 3 for our market with new options and totally different motors.

Deliveries of the VF 3 are set to start in Vietnam within the third quarter of 2024. VinFast says it is taking early reservations for potential consumers within the US later this 12 months, including that it will launch particulars on a timeline for US manufacturing within the close to future.

Photos: Tim Levin For Motor1

Motorsport

Own The First-Gen Lotus Elise That Skirted Regulations To Become U.S.-Legal

Lotus by no means managed to deliver the unique Series 1 Elise into the United States, however an unbiased firm, Sun International, did. To make the automotive U.S.-legal, Sun International ditched the Elise’s authentic Rover Ok-Series engine for one of many all-time nice four-cylinders, the 1.8-liter from the Acura Integra Type R. Only a handful of such automobiles exist, and one simply came up for sale on Cars and Bids.

Specifically, it is a 1999 Elise 111S in left-hand drive and searching fairly good-looking with silver over black five-spoke Rota wheels. Based on the paperwork proven within the itemizing, this Elise was introduced into the U.S. in 2002, with the B18C engine and Honda gearbox put in in 2003. It was first registered in 2005 as a 2001 Sun International RS Spider. 

The Honda engine is arguably an improve over the unique Rover unit. That four-cylinder was mild and rev-happy, however they’re vulnerable to head-gasket failures and components are not possible to search out within the U.S. The B18C, in the meantime, is Honda-reliable and with its 8400-rpm redline and VTEC cylinder head, an ideal match for the light-weight Elise.


Motorsport

Volkswagen Golf R Sales More Than Doubled In 2023

Fun vehicles are nonetheless promoting robust. Audi R8 sales doubled in the United States final 12 months whereas demand for the Miata shot up by 50 percent. Even the traditional Nissan GT-R loved a 584 p.c hike in reputation and BMW Z4 roadster deliveries elevated by 20.2 p.c.

Volkswagen of America is pleased to report its scorching hatches additionally noticed an upward development in 2023. The Grand Tourer Injection noticed its gross sales bounce by 7.6 p.c to 7,451 models however the actual star was the Golf R. Volume grew by a whopping 116 p.c, reaching 3,238 models.

Volkswagen Golf R 20th Anniversary Edition

VW did not present a breakdown on gross sales by gearbox within the press launch, however we have reached out and realized about half of GTI patrons opted for the stick shift and 40 p.c of R house owners wished the third pedal. It’s price mentioning the handbook goes away, leaving solely the DSG. When the GTI 380 special edition was introduced on the finish of final August, it served because the swan music for the GTI’s handbook gearbox. The firm additionally mentioned 2024 can be the final mannequin 12 months for the six-speed Golf R.

The demise of the handbook might partially clarify why the GTI and R had been in excessive demand final 12 months. That would make sense contemplating gross sales in This fall 2023 had been up by 76.5 p.c for the GTI and by 480.1 p.c for the R in comparison with This fall 2022.

Volkswagen Golf R 20th Anniversary Edition

But what if the handbook isn’t going away in spite of everything? Autocar reported final October the loosened Euro 7 laws might need satisfied VW to keep the do-it-yourself gearbox alive. The not-for-America commonplace Golf is days away from receiving a mid-cycle facelift, so we must always have a solution fairly quickly. However, it is unclear whether or not the GTI and R will debut along with the common fashions. Even if that will not be the case, the efficiency fashions cannot be far behind.

The forthcoming Golf Mk8.5 will seemingly be the final replace for the quintessential compact automotive within the ICE period. VW has already introduced the Mk9 shall be electric-only on the Group’s Scalable Systems Platform, with manufacturing beginning in 2028. The firm has promised the GTI and R badges will stay into the zero-emission period. In truth, an electric GTI model is coming as early as 2026.

Motorsport

There Are Two New Land Cruisers Left On Dealer Lots

The Toyota Land Cruiser returns to sellers within the United States this spring after a three-year hiatus from the market. However, for those who’d desire to have the earlier technology, we have now excellent news: There are precisely two new examples left at sellers within the United States, a Toyota spokesperson confirmed to Motor1.

When requested which sellers had been holding on to the treasured Cruisers, a Toyota spokesperson informed Motor1 the corporate did not have perception to their whereabouts, which means they may very well be wherever within the nation. Searches on main car-selling web sites did not yield any outcomes, suggesting they is perhaps saved in a showroom’s stock however not listed on the market.

It’s not possible for us to name each Toyota vendor throughout the nation to ask if they’ve new Land Cruisers on the market, so we’re turning to you for assist. If you realize of a vendor holding a brand new Land Cruiser in inventory, please touch upon this publish or e-mail us at tips@motor1.com.


Wearables

Apple Watch Sales Ban Paused: Here’s What We Know

Back in October 2023, the United States International Trade Commission dominated that Apple had infringed upon a patent owned by Masimo, an organization concerned within the improvement and manufacturing of medical units. Masimo alleged that the expertise utilized by Apple’s newest smartwatches for detecting the blood oxygen stage used their patented expertise. While Apple denied this, the U.S. International Trade Commission discovered that Masimo’s declare had credence and handed over a ban in opposition to the import and gross sales of the latest Apple watch fashions — the Apple Watch Series 9 and the Apple Watch Ultra.

With the gross sales ban scheduled to go dwell in December, Apple was left with no possibility however to tug each the affected Apple Watch Models from all its official gross sales channels, together with bodily retail areas. As a end result, Apple first pulled each these watches from its on-line shops on December 21, then eliminated these fashions from Apple Stores on December 24. Another last-ditch try to halt the gross sales ban failed when President Joe Biden declined to veto the ban earlier this week.

There isn’t any denying that this latest improvement permitting Apple to renew gross sales of the affected Apple Watch fashions will supply the corporate a vital reprieve and supply the corporate with respiratory room to navigate the authorized proceedings and doubtlessly search a everlasting answer.

Technology

Who Makes Stanley Power Tools And Are They Any Good?

Though not the entire firm’s manufacturing is finished within the United States, by all appearances, Stanley Black & Decker seems to make its merchandise in its personal amenities. Stanley Black & Decker has the manufacturing pipeline right down to such a science that it additionally sells manufacturing options to different firms. “[W]e offer composable app-based solutions to improve efficiency, scale your workforce, and build adaptable production system,” reads a notice on the manufacturing solutions page on the company website. All advised, Stanley Black & Decker has dozens of manufacturing facilities in the United States alone.

So, simply how good are they? On the user-generated review site Tool Talk, Stanley averages a 4.7-star score out of 5 from 107 evaluations protecting all Stanley-branded instruments. In our rankings of the best major power tool brands in September 2023 right here at SlashGear, two Stanley manufacturers, Craftsman (consumer-focused) and DeWalt (the extra professionally-aimed), completed in third and second place, respectively, behind solely Makita Tools.

In addition to a repute for top of the range, we gave DeWalt excessive marks for its distinctive Flexvolt Batteries. “This innovative technology allows batteries to operate at 20 volts for prolonged use or surge to 60 volts for those extra tough jobs, offering an extra layer of flexibility that few power tools have,” famous the rating for DeWalt.

Stanley has lengthy maintained a excessive normal, so its manufacturers, whether or not Stanley, Black & Decker, or DeWalt, ought to all the time be thought-about a viable choice.

Motorsport

This Alpina B3 Cost $162,000 And Is Already Sold Out

We do not get the Alpina B3 within the United States, which acquired the M3’s “S58” engine earlier than BMW launched its personal automobile. The classier M3 different ditches the controversial kidney grille and has spawned its fair proportion of particular editions.

The newest mannequin comes from South Africa and marks 50 years since BMW arrange store within the nation. Painted within the iconic Alpina Green II colour, the sedan additionally has Alpina’s elegant 20-inch multi-spoke wheels. It will get “Alpina” lettering on the entrance spoiler and retro-flavored aspect decals that take us again to the Nineteen Eighties.


Motorsport

Buick Dealer Network Cut In Half After Refusing To Sell EVs

Buick’s dealership footprint within the United States has roughly been halved, and Daihatsu quickly stops promoting automobiles.

This is AM Drive, Motor1’s day by day take a look at the information you want earlier than you get in your automotive.

Almost Half Of Buick Dealers In The US Are Gone

For greater than a yr, General Motors has been giving Buick dealerships within the United States a alternative. Sales representatives have been requested to both put money into tooling and coaching pertaining to EVs or settle for a buyout. GM introduced this week almost half have determined to cease promoting Buicks.

Indeed, 2023 will finish with roughly 1,000 dealerships throughout the US, down by 47 p.c in comparison with the beginning of the yr. In early 2023, Buick had 1,958 showrooms within the nation, based mostly on the numbers included within the annual supplier census by Automotive News.

According to Buick-GMC Vice President Duncan Aldred, the remaining sellers nonetheless have time to select between promoting EVs and accepting a buyout. The program will “continue to be done in a voluntary and consultive way.” About a fifth of Buick’s gross sales within the US have been made by the almost 1,000 sellers which have determined to half methods with GM.

As beforehand introduced, Buick intends to grow to be an EV-only model within the US by the tip of the last decade. That’s regardless of the actual fact it does not at the moment promote any.

Daihatsu Stops Delivering Cars


Motorsport

The Toyota Crown Sport SUV Gets PHEV Option With 302 HP

We solely get two of the 4 Crown fashions right here within the United States – the raised sedan and the upcoming Signia SUV. In Japan, there’s additionally a conventional sedan with out the carry package, and this smaller crossover, the Crown Sport. That mannequin is now getting a charging port and a stronger powertrain, however nonetheless will not be coming to the U.S.

Smaller than the Crown Signia, the JDM-spec Crown Sport appears like Japan’s Ferrari Purosangue, particularly in purple paint. Sadly, it would not have a V12, nevertheless it’s nonetheless fairly highly effective by Toyota requirements. With a 2.5-liter gasoline engine and an electrical motor, it has a mixed output of 302 horsepower delivered to all 4 wheels.


Motorsport

Step Aside Nissan Titan, This Is The Fiat Titano

Stellantis has a bunch of vans we sadly do not get right here within the United States. A couple of that spring to thoughts are the Fiat Strada, the Ram 700, and the compact Rampage. The final one may make it stateside finally, however nothing is official. There’s additionally the Peugeot Landtrek, which now lives a double life because the “new” Fiat Titano in Latin America and Africa.

Carrying a reputation originating from Greek mythology similar to the Nissan Titan, the Fiat Titano competes in the identical phase because the Ford Ranger. The midsize truck traces its roots to the Changan Kaicene F70, a Chinese pickup developed by Changan Automobile and PSA. It’s been round since 2019 and is produced in a number of factories internationally, carrying completely different badges to higher go well with regional markets.