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Kia America To Feature Electric EV6 In Super Bowl LVI Spot

by | Jan 27, 2022 | 0 comments

Kia America To Feature Electric EV6 In Super Bowl LVI Spot
2022 Kia EV6 Super Bowl teaser photo to highlight pet adoptions

Kia’s 2022 Super Bowl ad will promote the new EV6 battery-electric crossover and pet adoptions. (Kia USA images)

BY MARK MAYNARD

Kia America has returned as an automotive advertiser for Super Bowl LVI and will blitz its all-electric Kia EV6 and the pet-adoption charity Petfinder Foundation. This year will mark Kia’s 13th super bowl advertisement.

Kia’s first dedicated battery-electric vehicle will arrive in showrooms soon. On some models, the five-seat crossover SUV has an EPA-rated driving range of 310 miles.

2022 Kia EV6 Super Bowl teaser photo to highlight pet adoptions

The EV6 cabin has extensive use of recycled plastic and
100 percent vegan leather surfaces on some models.

Size-wise, Kia says the EV6 has the same 114.2-inch wheelbase as its Telluride SUV and compares with the width of a Ford Mustang Mach E and the wheelbase of a Tesla Model Y.

2022 EV6 charge port in the rear right-side taillight.

2022 EV6 charging port.

Sold in rear- or all-wheel drive in five trim levels, EV6 starting prices range from $42,115 for the rear-drive EV6 Light to $57,115 for the dual-motor, all-wheel-drive Kia EV6 GT-Line. Get Kia vehicle pricing here.

Pricing includes the $1,215 freight charge from South Korea (the Hwasung plant). But pricing does not include possible state EV purchase incentives or the federal $7,500 EV tax credit (for eligible buyers).

Cargo area of the EV6

24.4 to 50.2 cubic feet of cargo room.

Kia’s Super Bowl campaign is also a scrimmage to promote the brand’s Accelerate The Good Program and its partnership with Petfinder Foundation, a pet adoption charity. Special “Kia Pet Adoption Grants” will help shelter animals find forever homes.

Kia’s Plan S Strategy

The 2022 EV6 is the first model to be launched under Kia’s Plan S strategy for electric vehicles. And the launch of the EV6 also marks the first time a Korean vehicle manufacturer has received carbon footprint certification and a “Carbon Measured” label from the Carbon Trust, the global climate change and sustainability consultancy.

Kia says the EV6 GT-Line AWD, with 77.4kWh high-density lithium-ion battery, can accelerate to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds.
Special EV6 features include:

Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) function. The EV6 can be used as a mobile power source for computers, camping, tailgating, and backup power at home;

21 standard active Advanced Driver Assistance Systems: The semi-autonomous driver-assist capabilities including Highway Driving Assist 2;

Augmented Reality Head-Up Display: The HUD system projects three-dimensional images on the windshield.

800V multi-charging architecture: Kia says its world-first system will allow ultra-fast DC charging capability from a 10-80 percent charge (up to 217 miles range) in less than18 minutes.

Super Bowl LVI will be played on Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., in the South Bay region of Los Angeles.

The Final BMW V-12

by | Jan 18, 2022 | 0 comments

The Final BMW V-12
  • Limited Edition BMW M760i xDrive
  • Only 12 vehicles will be released to the U.S.
  • MSRP of $200,995
  • U.S. production scheduled for June 2022
A regular production BMW M760i xDrive

A regular production BMW M760i xDrive. (BMW photos)

BY MARK MAYNARD

BMW USA announced today, Jan. 18, that it will produce its last V-12 engine for a series production road vehicle this June, 2022.

To mark the occasion, BMW will offer The Final V12 as a limited series of 12 cars for the U.S. Based on the BMW M760i xDrive, the limited-edition model will feature special badging, wheels, and a broad choice of paint colors and upholstery offered by BMW Individual.

The First BMW V-12

BMW introduced its first road-going V-12 in 1987. The naturally-aspirated, five-liter M70 V-12 engine featured single overhead camshafts, two valves per cylinder, and drive-by-wire electronic throttle.

Today, the V-12 engine in The Final V12 displaces 6.6 liters and features direct-injection two mono-scroll turbochargers. The engine produces 601 hp between 5,500-6,500 rpm. With an eight-speed automatic transmission and peak torque of 590 foot-pounds from 1,550 to 5,000 rpm, the V-12 will launch the 5,128-pound sedan to 60 mph in a roaring 3.6 seconds. Its fuel-economy ratings on the recommended premium fuel are 13 mpg city, 20 highway, and 16 mpg combined.

601-hp BMW V-12 engine

The 601-hp BMW V-12 engine.

Special features for The Final V12 will include a simple but bold “V12” badge at the rear. In addition, unique 20-inch Style 760M double-spoke light-alloy wheels are painted in Window Grey or Jet Black, then burnished to a dark silver surface highlight. Formidable M Sport brakes with have blue or black calipers.

Threshold plates will distinguish the interior at each door sill inscribed with “THE FINAL V12.” There also is a similar plate on the cover of the 12-cylinder engine. In addition, BMW Individual Piano Black Finish trim surrounds the interior and features a console-mounted plaque commemorating the vehicle as “1 OF 12”.

Driver area of the M760Li

Driver area of the M760Li .

The Final V12

The Final V12 will be offered only in a fully equipped configuration. Its special features will include:

  • BMW’s Driving Assistance Professional Package;
  • Luxury Rear Seating Package;
  • Panoramic Sky Lounge LED Roof;
  • Icon Adaptive LED Headlights with Laserlight;
  • Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound Audio System.

There are more than 80 paint colors and several tones of full Merino leather.

Owners also will be given a custom-built desk trophy to commemorate their specific vehicle. The trophy will itemize the special order paint, leather, and vehicle identification number as one of The Final V12 vehicles.

Loyal V-12 7-Series BMW owners will get the first invitations to buy the car.

The Final V-12 will have an MSRP of $200,995, including the $995 freight charge from Dingolfing, Germany, but not the gas-guzzler tax. Check here for the pricing of the 2022 M760i xDrive Sedan, which starts at $160,495.

Final V-12 production will begin in June 2022, with deliveries expected in July.

2022 Honda Rose Parade float aims to inspire dreamers

by | Dec 17, 2021 | 0 comments

2022 Honda Rose Parade float aims to inspire dreamers

• Honda float will lead the Jan. 1, 2022, 133rd Rose Parade and introduce a theme of “Dream. Believe. Achieve.”
• Snapchat filter will enable viewers to build a virtual jet pack to fly over the parade route.
• 2022 Acura NSX Type S and 2022 Honda Passport TrailSport will serve as official vehicles.

A color drawing of the 2022 Honda Rose Parade float

Honda’s “Believe and Achieve!” float celebrates science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) education.

BY MARK MAYNARD

Honda will showcase two new road and track assets witth its “Believe and Achieve!” parade float for the 2022 133rd Rose Parade on Jan. 1.

As presenting sponsor of the Rose Parade for the 12th consecutive year, Honda hopes to inspire young people to follow their dreams. The float depicts a young girl whose dreams have taken flight with a rocket pack she designed and built through her own ingenuity and passion.

Four Honda women associates will be aboard in tribute to education supporting science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM). The female engineers on the Honda float are Sue Bai, Nicole Harvel, Melanie Morimoto, and Yolanda Pate. All of whom work at Honda locations in Michigan, South Carolina, California, and Alabama. Their focus is on advanced vehicle safety research, manufacturing, and product quality.

With its North American regional headquarters in Torrance, Honda is the largest automaker in Southern California, including three R&D facilities in the Greater Los Angeles area.

The float is powered by a specially configured 3.5-liter V-6 engine from Honda.

Virtual Rose Parade Flyover 

On New Year’s Day, Honda will offer parade attendees and at-home viewers the opportunity to virtually fly over the parade route using a custom Snapchat filter. The filter will enable users to embrace their inner engineer as they don a virtual helmet and goggles, assemble a jet pack, and fly over a portion of the parade route. Honda also will host parade-related content on its TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter channels.

A track image of the 600 horsepower Acura NSX Type S

The limited-edition 600-hp Acura NSX Type S. (Acura)

Official Parade Pace and Sound Vehicles

Pacing the 2022 Rose Parade will be the new Acura NSX Type S supercar. With the final design completed at the Acura Design Studio in Torrance, the all-wheel-drive NSX was designed and developed by Honda engineers in Raymond, Ohio, and is hand-built exclusively at the company’s Performance Manufacturing Center in Marysville, Ohio.

Only 350 of the Type S model will be produced, with 300 units destined for U.S. customers. In addition, the new paint color, Gotham Gray matte metallic, will be applied to just 70 of the 350 cars to be built.

NSX Type S MSRP pricing starts at $169,500 or $182,500 with the lightweight package, which includes carbon-ceramic brakes in one of four colors, carbon engine cover, and carbon interior trim. The light-weighting trims the total curb weight by approximately 57.8 pounds.

The new for 2022 Honda Passport TrailSport

The 2022 Honda Passport was restyled front and rear. (Honda)

The new 2022 Honda Passport TrailSport will be the sound vehicle for the parade. The new Passport was designed at the Honda Design Studio in Torrance and developed by Honda engineers in Raymond, Ohio. The Passport is built at Honda’s Alabama Auto Plant in Lincoln, Ala.

The 2022 Honda Passport has updated front and rear styling. The appearance is new from the windshield pillars forward and includes a sculpted hood with a power bulge, squared-off nose, upright grille, and revised front fenders. At the back, a more aggressively styled rear bumper features cutouts for larger twin exhaust outlets, a tow hitch cover, and a metallic skid panel.

The unibody Passport has an independent front and rear suspension, standard 280-hp 3.5-liter V-6 engine, and nine-speed automatic transmission. The i-VTM4 torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system is optional.

The Passport TrailSport, with standard i-VTM4 all-wheel drive, has a starting MSRP of $43,695, including the $1,225 freight charge from Lincoln, Ala.

The Marque of Z: Premiere of the 2023 Nissan Z sports car

by | Aug 18, 2021 | 0 comments

The Marque of Z: Premiere of the 2023 Nissan Z sports car

The latest generation of the 400-hp 2023 Nissan Z sports car is set for U.S. sales in spring 2022.

An exterior view of the 2023 Z

The new Nissan Z shows respect for the original model with a long hood and low rear stance. (Photos courtesy of Nissan USA)

BY MARK MAYNARD

The redesigned and re-engineered 2023 Nissan Z sports car was showcased in a global broadcast premiere Aug. 17 at the Duggal GreenHouse event center in Brooklyn, N.Y. The unveiling was about five miles from where the original 1970 Datsun 240Z made its world debut in October 1969.

The six preceding generations of the Z car used numeric nameplate designations, such as 240, 260, 280, 300, 350, or 370. But now, the long-awaited redesign will be known in the United States simply by just one letter — Z.

The driver area of the 2023 Z

A driver-centric cockpit.

The Z was a revolution when it was introduced in 1969, Nissan Motor Co. COO Ashwani Gupta, said in a release.

“The Z has always been an accessible sports car — always placed at the intersection of aspiration and attainability — of dreams and reality,” said Gupta.

The 12.3-inch wide gauge array in the Z.

A 12.3-inch customizable gauge display.

The sleek styling of the 2023 Z “shows respect for the original model — with a long hood and low rear stance,” Nissan said in a release.

For the first time, a two-tone paint scheme is offered.

The new Z is 172.4 inches long, 72.6 inches wide, and 51.8 inches tall, riding on a wheelbase of 100.4 inches.

Inside, the driver-centric cockpit includes a 12.3-inch customizable racing-inspired meter display, an option for leather-trimmed sports seats, and an eight-speaker Bose audio system.

Red, black or blue interior colors

Red, black or blue interior colors.

Z Powertrains

The 400 horsepower V6 in the new ZAll 2023 Nissan Z models have a 400-horsepower 3.0-liter V-6 twin-turbo engine. There are two transmission choices:

  • Six-speed manual with an EXEDY high-performance clutch. The transmission has launch control and rev-matching downshifts.
  • A new nine-speed automatic with aluminum paddle shifters. The driveshaft is a carbon-fiber composite.
An image of the first and latest generations of the Nissan Z

The first and latest generations of the Nissan Z

The 2023 Z will be available in Sport and Performance trim levels. A special “Proto Spec” edition, in two-tone yellow and black paint, is limited to 240 cars. Pricing is expected to start at around $40,000.

Follow the development of the 2023 Nissan Z here.

A rear view of the new Z

The new Z has a standard six-speed manual transmission with rev-matching downshifts.

Aston Martin Valkyrie Spider Reveal

by | Aug 14, 2021 | 0 comments

Aston Martin Valkyrie Spider Reveal

Aston Martin says its Valkyrie Spider “delivers the most comparable experience to that of an F1 car, not limited to the track”

ston Martin's new Valkyrie Spider with doors up

Aston Martin says its Valkyrie Spider is one of the world’s most extreme hypercars. (Photos courtesy of Aston Martin)

BY MARK MAYNARD

The new Aston Martin Valkyrie Spider, unveiled Friday, Aug. 10 at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, is called one of the world’s most extreme hypercars. “One that delivers the most comparable experience to that of an F1 car, not limited to the track,” Aston Martin said in a release.

Production is limited to 85 units worldwide in left and right-hand drive derivatives. But all 85 cars are “over subscribed,” and deliveries are scheduled to begin H2 2022, Aston Martin said in a statement.

The Valkyrie Spider is powered by a 6.5-liter V-12 hybrid system. It has a combined power output of 1,160 horsepower with 664 foot-pounds of torque.

“The sound of that 6.5-litre V12 engine revving to over 11,000 rpm with the roof removed is something I cannot wait to hear,” Aston Martin Chief Executive Officer Tobias Moers said in a release.

Pricing was not stated, but news reports claim the Aston Martin Valkyrie hardtop coupe has a price of around $3 million. So, how much does the price go up when the roof comes off?

Side by side view of the Spider with the dihedral doors raised.

The Valkyrie Spider is the fastest open-top, road-legal Aston Martin ever built.

Valkyrie Spider construction

The Valkyrie Spider is the fastest and most extreme open-top, road-legal Aston Martin ever built. It has a top speed of 330 kmh-plus (205 mph) with the roof panel removed or 350 kmh-plus (217.5 mph) with the roof panel in place.

The ultra-lightweight construction and high downforce aerodynamics use Formula One technology. The upper body surfaces of the teardrop-shaped cockpit and lower tub contours follow the envelope of space between the huge full-length Venturi tunnels that run either side of the cockpit floor.

The tunnels draw huge quantities of air beneath the car to feed the rear diffuser. The venturis are the key to generating the Valkyrie Spider’s extraordinary levels of downforce, Aston Martin said in the release. At 240 kmh (149 mph) in Track mode the aerodynamics can produce 3,086.47 pounds (1400 kg) of downforce. It is the F1-type construction that “keeps the upper body surfaces free from additional aerodynamic devices that would spoil the purity of the open-top styling,” Aston Martin said in the release.

A side view of the Valkyrie

The huge full-length Venturi tunnels run on either side of the cockpit floor.

Design elements

The removable carbon-fiber roof panel latches onto the tub at the rear and to the front windshield surround. A pair of polycarbonate windows are hinged on either side. On opening the doors, the roof can be lifted off and stowed.

The front-hinged dihedral doors are unique to Valkyrie Spider and are designed to tilt forward.

A front view of the Aston Martin Valkyrie Spider with the doors up

The front-hinged dihedral doors tilt forward.

The driver-focused cabin has a low, F1-inspired hip-to-heel height. In addition, the near-central seat positioning and six-point safety harness are safety elements for the driver.

A center rear-view camera system and front and rear parking sensors have screen displays just above the instrument panel.

Follow the development of the Valkyrie Spider at Aston Martin.

Cruisin’ the USA in Your Chevrolet virtual fan experience Aug. 16-21

by | Aug 14, 2021 | 0 comments

Cruisin’ the USA in Your Chevrolet virtual fan experience Aug. 16-21

Celebrate automotive history with host @EmeliaHartford on Chevrolet’s social channels: @Chevrolet on TikTok, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook

The poster for the second annual Cruisin’ the USA in Your Chevrolet

 

BY MARK MAYNARD

A year ago, the inaugural Cruisin’ the USA in Your Chevrolet debuted as a virtual fan experience. It was an alternative space for car enthusiasts to celebrate our automotive history when pandemic restrictions prevented in-person events.

“This year, we’re celebrating by sharing stories through the eyes of our customers, fans and employees from around the world,” Chevrolet Marketing VP Steve Majoros said in a statement.

For the second annual Cruisin’ the USA, Chevrolet works with automotive influencer Emelia Hartford to host the virtual event. The virtual fan experience will post from Aug. 16-21 on Chevy’s social channels: @Chevrolet on TikTok, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

There will be daily themes, inside looks at some of Chevy’s most iconic vehicles and fan memorabilia. There also will be special guests including former Camaro Chief Engineer Al Oppenheiser and superfan Pinky “Mr. Chevy” Randall.

Schedule of Events

Aug. 16 – History of Heroes Trivia: Emelia Hartford challenges fans on Chevy’s history of heroes. The challenge will test your knowledge of the engineers and designers behind the significant innovations that helped shape the brand.

Aug. 17 – An EVolution: Ride along with Emelia Hartford in the all-electric 2022 Bolt EUV and catch a glimpse of Chevy’s E-10 concept vehicle. (The E-10 Concept is a hot-rodded 1962 C-10 pickup powered by an electric Connect & Cruise concept crate propulsion package. The package uses components from the Chevrolet Bolt EV, but the power targets 450 horsepower.)

Aug. 18 – For the Love of Trucks: Emelia Hartford will lead another trivia challenge covering all things Chevy trucks.

Aug. 19 – A Salute to our Fans: Discover how lifelong fan Pinky Randall earned the right to be called “Mr. Chevy.” (Randall, 94, is a retired grocery store owner from Houghton Lake, Mich., according to a report in Automotive News. He collects pretty much anything bearing the Chevy bow tie and he also bought the last Impala SS in 1996. He even visited General Motors’ plant in Arlington, Texas, to drive it off the line. Randall later sold the car to GM’s Heritage Center.)

Aug. 20 – The Thrills of Performance: Tour former Camaro Chief Engineer Al Oppenheiser’s jaw-dropping Chevy Cave with Emelia Hartford.

Aug. 21 – Spread the #ChevyLove: Fans can share their love of the brand and their most prized vehicles by posting photos and videos using #ChevyLove.