A remarkable EV gets some remarkable performance. But if efficiency, range and economy are of interest. . .
By Gary S. Vasilash
Credit to Lucid Group for what it says is “the most efficient and thus most sustainable vehicle made,” the 2025 Lucid Air Pure.
5.0 miles per kWh of energy? Huh? (Image: Lucid Motors)
The vehicle achieves a 146 MPGe EPA rating. This means it achieves “a landmark 5.0 miles per kilowatt hour of energy.”
More to the point of people without a slide rule handy, this means the Lucid Air Pure can travel an estimate 420 miles before requiring recharging.
According to the EPA, the Lucid Air Pure is in the Large Car Category. For those who are looking for something a bit more economical than the $69,900 starting MSRP, there’s the 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 6, which provides an MPGe of 140.
It also starts at $42,450.
But back to the Lucid Air Pure.
It is interesting that suddenly things like range and efficiency become important metrics for vehicles.
According to the EPA, the 2024 Honda Accord Hybrid has the best fuel efficiency among non-full-EV vehicles in the Large Car Category: a combined 48 mpg.
This means than on its 12.8-gallon tank of gas, it can travel 614 miles, or 194 miles further than the Lucid Air Pure.
And while no one is likely to cross shop an Accord Hybrid with a Lucid Air Pure, the former has a starting MSRP of $32,895, which means that compared to the Lucid , you could buy two and have money left for gas.
Clever idea, but they should expand the geography to include places that are not so flat. . .
By Gary S. Vasilash
One thing that the people at Stellantis North America do better than any other OEM team is create special editions of their vehicles. This helps generate interest in products that may be waning or just provide the incentive that some on-the-fence consumers might have to go visit a dealer.
Jeep Gladiator High Tide Edition: Why is it towing a dune buggy? It has the capability to handle things like dunes, doesn’t it? (Image: Jeep)
Jeep has announced the availability of the 2024 Jeep Gladiator High Tide Edition.
It features a variety of unique badging as well as 17-inch black-painted aluminum wheels, 32-inch mud terrain tires, steel rock rails, and black McKinley leather-trimmed seats.
But what makes this Jeep, which has a starting MSRP of $48,275, really special is that it is available only in Florida.
While Florida is comparatively flat—according to Visit Florida, which clearly wants people to visit the state so it is not dissing it in any way, the highest point in the state, Britton Hill, is 345 feet above sea level and is “the lowest ‘high point’ in the United States—and while Jeeps are known for their ability to crawl up things like mountains (the High Tide Edition has the Jeep Command-Trac 4×4 part-time and two-speed transfer case with a 2.72:1 low-range gear ratio), you might think that Jeeps aren’t exactly the thing in the Sunshine State.
However, last April an annual Jeep event was held in Daytona Beach, which Bil Peffer, senior vice president and head of Jeep Brand North America, described as “one of the largest Jeep brand gatherings globally and a testament to Floridians’ deep passion for our 4×4 vehicles.”
Which goes to the point of the Florida-only High Tide Edition.
But if someone in Florida buys a High Tide Edition, the only other people who are likely to see it most often are other Floridians, and chances are, only Jeep-oriented Floridians are likely to realize how special it is.
And if someone drives it to, say, Brasstown Bald in Georgia, which is 4,439 feet higher than Britton Hill, and encounters other bona-fide Jeep people, wouldn’t being from a comparatively flat state reduce off-street cred?
The High Tide Edition ought to be available everywhere that there are high tides.
While that would include the states along the Atlantic south to Florida, then Louisiana and Texas on the Gulf of Mexico and then California, Oregon and Washington of the Pacific, not only would this still make it special, it would increase the potential sales of Gladiators, which were down 14% during the first half, to 23,478 vehicles.
Expanding the availability of micro-vehicles in Europe. . .
By Gary S. Vasilash
While lots of OEMs talk about being a “mobility provider” rather an ancient “car company,” Nissan is proving itself to be one.
It has announced it is expanding its partnership with a company that makes micromobility vehicles, such as a small EV and electric motorcycle, ACCIONA.
Nissan has added the UK to countries that it has distribution and service rights to the ACCIONA Silence product line. The other countries are Italy, France and Germany.
S04 EV micro-vehicle will be available in Nissan UK dealerships this Fall. (Image: Nissan)
Gareth Dunsmore, Managing Director e-Micro Mobility at Nissan AMIEO, said, “By opening access to Silence’s diverse range of alternative products, we are easing the EV transition by combining clean mobility with cutting-edge technology, in functional and flexible vehicles.”
The S04 Nanocar is designed for city use.
It measures 90 inches long, 50 inches high, and 62 inches wide. The S04 seats two. It is powered by a 14-kW motor. It is said to have a top speed of 53 mph, which is arguably something that will only be reached by some daredevils given the diminutive size of the vehicle.
It is powered by two batteries that provide 5.6-kW and can be readily removed and transported with a hand truck to a place where they can be replaced with charged batteries.
There is also a battery subscription service, so rather than buying the vehicle with the batteries are swapped on an as-needed basis, which is said to reduce the overall price of an S04 by up to 40%. (The base model has an MSRP of £14,614.)
What’s notable—and laudable—about this is that Nissan could have undoubtedly made its own micro-vehicles.
Yet there is evidently a recognition that there are already companies like ACCIONA making these vehicles so a partnership can provide mutual benefit between the two companies, as well as for the consumer.
Just in case you need to pick up a carton of milk really, really quickly. . .
By Gary S. Vasilash
The Mercedes-AMG 2025 AMG GT 63 PRO 4MATIC+ (quite a name), which will become available in the U.S. next year, the second generation of the vehicle, was, according to the folks at Mercedes, developed so that it has “improved daily usability compared to the previous model series,” something that customers of the first-gen model were interested in.
Maybe the supermarkets in Affalterbach have severely limited hours so getting there quickly after work is a necessity, explaining the 2025 AMG GT 63 PRO 4MATIC+. (Image: Mercedes)
The vehicle has a 4.0-liter bi-turbo V8 that produces 603 hp and 627-lb-ft of torque.
In can go from 0 to 124 mph in 10.9 seconds.
It is estimated to have a 0 to 60 mph time of 3.1 seconds.
It has a top speed of 197 mph.
There are two radiators, one each in the left and right front wheel arches.
There is an array of aero elements, such as the AIRPLANEL active air control in the front fascia, the AMG Aerodynamics package with fixed wing in the back, and fins and deflectors on the underbody.
There are 21-inch forged split spoke wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport 5 tires or, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R extreme performance tires.
There is a carbon ceramic brake system with six-piston fixed calipers and 16.5-inch brake discs in the front. There are single-piston floating calipers in the rear.
From advanced manufacturing tech to a really complex model. . .
By Gary S. Vasilash
McLaren Automotive, builder of an array of composite-intensive supercars, recently announced that it is partnering with Divergent Technologies, which has developed an additive manufacturing system it calls the “Divergent Adaptive Production System” (DAPS) which allows the creation of lightweight chassis components that otherwise couldn’t be created with traditional manufacturing methods.
As Michael Leiters, CEO of McLaren, put it, “This technology will help us to further reduce weight in our complex structures, which will ultimately benefit the driving experience of our customers and support McLaren’s mission to push the boundaries of performance.”
One of the interesting things related to McLaren and Divergent is that the DAPS was developed to produce the Czinger 21C supercar (i.e., it is a 1250-hp hybrid–certainly not a Prius (yes, even though the current gen Prius is rather cool, you know what I mean)).
But clever tech is clever tech, so the use by McLaren is in keeping with its drive toward even more innovation in its vehicles.
This is the LEGO Technic McLaren P1—all 3,893 elements assembled. (Image: McLaren Automotive)
But what will probably draw more attention than the organic chassis components in a future car is the LEGO Technic McLaren P1.
Yes, a 3,893-piece LEGO set.
And it is rather technical, as the model includes a seven-speed gearbox, V8 piston engine, adjustable rear wing, dihedral doors, and a suspension (undoubtedly injection molded, not 3D printed).
“It’s amazing to see so many of the elements from the original P1 brought to life by the LEGO team for the LEGO Technic McLaren P1. I hope this collaboration inspires the next generation of designers and engineers to push the boundaries of automotive innovation.”
I’m guessing that the DAPS will be more influential for next-gen designers—but then I’m not the chief design officer of a supercar company.
Incidentally, the McLaren P1 LEGO Technic model can be purchased starting August 1 here for an MSRP of $449.99.
Porsche Cars North America reported its sales for the first half of 2024, including, of course, the second quarter.
And in Q2 the sales of the 911 being nothing short of impressive.
Porsche 911 Turbo S (Image: Porsche)
That is, for the year it has delivered 6,720 911s, of which 4,790, or about 71%, were delivered in Q2.
Which means that in Q1 dealers had a bit of time on their hands as there were 1,930 911s delivered.
OK. They had other vehicles to sell, but still that number of 911s is notable.
The best-selling Porsche in the U.S. during the first half of 2024?
The Macan, at 12,004 vehicles (though that is down from the 14,306 sold in H1 2023).
Second best-selling?
The Cayenne, at 10,168 vehicles (which is up from the 8,911 in H1 2023).
Together, those two SUV models, with a combined 22,172 vehicles, are some 64% of Porsche’s total 34,733 delivered in H1 2024.
Which sort of begs the question of when there is going to be a Corvette SUV. After all, the car can be an alternative to a 911, but it is highly unlikely that anyone is going to cross-shop a Chevy Equinox or Traverse with a Porsche SUV.
Isn’t this a case of the proverbial “money left on the table”?
While you’ve undoubtedly heard about some of the people in the European Union (EU) being rather agitated by Chinese electric vehicles showing up on the streets of Rome and Paris and elsewhere, French research firm Inovev provides some interesting statistics regarding those vehicles.
Notably, within the EU, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Norway, during the first quarter of 2024 Chinese EVs accounted for 8.5% of all the EVs sold during that period—approximately 50,000 out of 594,000 EVs.
But then there’s more.
For example, taking into account “European models imported from China”—as in Smart (a joint venture between Mercedes and Geely) and Dacia (part of Renault)—that 8.5% share grows to about 11%.
Then there are vehicles that are built in China by non-Chinese brands that are brought in, like the BMW iX3 and the Tesla Model 3.
Add them into the mix and the number rises to 17%.
And while some might think that European exports to China might offset some of this, Inovev, using Germany as an example, points out that German vehicle exports to China peaked in 2018 and have been declining since.
Part of this is because German brands are building vehicles in China that are sold there so there is no need to export.
But then there is this observation, which ought to make people in Wolfsburg, Stuttgart and Munich nervous: “Chinese customers are increasingly moving towards Chinese brand cars and are gradually losing interest in imported foreign cars, especially with the development of the BEV market.”
When the model year 2020 Hyundai Palisade first rolled out, it pretty much changed the nature of three-row SUVs.
Hyundai Palisade: Three rows with style. (Image: Hyundai)
That is, whereas models in that category had tended to be more utilitarian in their styling (read: boxy and bland), with the Palisade it is almost as though Hyundai designers and engineers figured: “The others are solidly well established in this space, so if we’re going to wedge our way in, we’ve got to up the ante.”
And they did, inside and out.
Here is a vehicle that looks stylish while substantial, which is no mean feat. A vehicle that provides a sense of being in a comfortable environment (often, because vehicles are designed to transport people from A to B, the interior is executed as a waystation, something that’s temporarily engaged; here it is more like being in a room, and especially when taking long(er) road trips, that is highly desirable.)
Hyundai did a refresh of the vehicle for model year 2023 and as seems to be the case with this company, adjustments and improvements are made on a regular basis, not as some OEMs do, which is wait (sometimes too long).
Some Numbers
The Calligraphy trim is the second highest on offer, with a starting MSRP of $50,350—and given the level of amenities, the starting MSRP is probably going to end up being close to the finishing MSRP for many people. (Above Calligraphy? Calligraphy Night, for those who are looking for a blacked-out variant.)
The bigger choice that one needs to make is whether to opt for the front-drive version or the optional HTRAC AWD model, which is a price bump of $2,000.
Either way, there is a 3.8-liter V6 that produces 291 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque mated to an eight-speed automatic.
There is a 5,000-pound towing capacity.
It is 196.7 inches long, 77.8 inches wide, 68.9 inches high, and it has a 114.2-inch wheelbase.
Design Details
The Calligraphy has a unique front fascia that is largely predicated on a grille that consists of a pattern of individual metallic-appearing geometric elements, rectangular but with a create that results in three-dimensionality, that serve to accentuate the larger metallic pieces that frame the front end of the vehicle. It is a purposeful look.
Twenty-inch alloys are a key element for the body side design, as are a strong C-pillar and short front and rear overhangs.
The back has large vertical LED lamps and a wide horizontal skid plate that provide, in effect, a cubic solidity.
Pop that back hatch and there are 18 cubic feet of cargo capacity behind the third row and if you fold it and the second row down, there is 86.4 cubic feet for serious stuff.
Inside View
From the driver’s seat, the interior appears (because it is) large, but the execution of the instrument panel is more minimalist than exaggerated, than is the case in some other large vehicles. For example there is a long slot, going from just to the right of the steering wheel all the way to the passenger door panel that is the HVAC vent. Subtle, not fussy.
(Speaking of the door panel: it is quilted on the Calligraphy: again, something that is simply a nice touch.)
The seating—throughout—is comfortable and covered with Nappa leather.
Yes, there is a 12.3-inch navigation screen with a horizontal orientation. (And on the subject of navigation, it is integrated with the smart cruise control which allows curve control, as in adjusting the speed when going into a curve.) The gauge cluster is also 12.3 inches. While the vehicle facilitates digital control of features, there are knobs and buttons for things like adjusting the temperature and cranking the volume on the 630-Watt Harman Kardon 12-speaker audio system.
One thing worth noting about things of an audible nature: generally if you have something large—and the total interior volume is 173.3 cubic feet—that is rolling on 20-inch wheels, it can be noisy. The vehicle uses acoustic glass on the side windows and windshield, and I’m guessing a non-trivial amount of other materials used for noise countermeasures. And because sometimes those in the front want to clearly communicate with those in the back, there is an in-car intercom.
As this is a “family” vehicle, and as keeping members safe it a key consideration, there is a full suite of safety tech, including lane keeping assist, lane following assist, blind-spot avoidance assist, high-beam assist. . . you get it. Lots.
Final Thought
Hyundai has plenty of SUVs on offer. There are Venue and Tucson, Kona and Santa Fe, Ioniq 5 and Nexo.
The Palisade is its top-of-the-line. And there is no question that it is. On the Hyundai retail website there are comparisons made with vehicles including the Ford Explorer, VW Atlas, Honda Pilot, Nissan Pathfinder, and Dodge Durango.
While there are comparable elements to all of those, and while all of those are mainstream brands, arguably the Palisade can compete in a class above and hold its own.
A special edition of a special (as in “uncommon”) type of car
By Gary S. Vasilash
Sets are collections of objects, or elements. And the Jetta GLI is an interesting study in that it belongs to the set of automobiles, then that of sedans, then that of performance sedans, then that of performance sedans with a manual transmission.
VW Jetta GLI: quick car . (Image: VW)
While set theory in mathematics is essentially neutral (I mean, people aren’t going to get worked up about things like prime numbers), the Jetta GLI set is a rather interesting one.
That is, take sedans and the Motor City Three (MC3).
Over at Stellantis, there was the Dodge Challenger, which went out of production at the end of last year.
At Ford, there’s nothing.
General Motors, there are a few offerings. Chevy still has the Malibu, but that ends at the end of this year. Cadillac is where you’ll find sedans, with the most economical being the CT4, which has a starting MSRP of $35,990, which is certainly a good price for a Cadillac. What is somewhat unusual is that while there seems to be this notion that no one wants sedans anymore, the ultra-uber halo Cadillac Celestiq, which went into production earlier this year and which has a starting price of some $340,000, is a sedan. (Maybe the rationale is that because so few will be hand-built and sold, this almost provides credibility to the claim about people not wanting sedans: the number of Celestiqs will be comparatively infinitesimal).
Then there’s the issue of the Jetta GLI being a performance vehicle.
That is, there is the regular Jetta, which comes in four trims—S, Sport, SE, and SEL—all of which are powered by a 1.5-liter, turbocharged four that provides 158 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque.
Then there is the GLI—which in model year 2024 is celebrating its 40th anniversary, which explains the trim on the model driven here calling out that achievement—that has a 2.0-liter turbocharged and direct-injected four that generates 228 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. Given that the curb weight is 3,358 pounds, there is plenty of pep to drive the front wheels of the car. So while this may not be “performance” in the context of a Charger with a HEMI, it is still one in the context of a competitive set, all of which includes Asian brands, from Honda to Hyundai to Subaru to Toyota (all of which also provide vanilla versions of their Jetta-competitors, too).
Then there is the manual transmission. It is standard for the GLI. There is an optional seven-speed dual-clutch automatic.
It is not like the set of vehicles available with manual transmissions is tiny. Car and Driver, which has a campaign to “Save the Manuals,” which brings Quixote to mind, puts the number of car models with manuals available right now at 27—including the Jetta.
However, it seems as though the percentage of vehicles sold in the U.S. equipped with manuals is under 2%, so here we find a rather small subset.
Sedan→performance→manual→yikes!
The Jetta GLI is clearly—based on everything from the painted black alloys to the black-and-red color scheme on the interior—a car that is meant to show that it is built for go.
Which might make some people a bit reticent to even consider it: After all, even if you drive hard on the weekends, you probably have to drive somewhat more sedately during your daily drive for the other five days.
The GLI has all of the amenities that one can expect from a contemporary car, whether it is a solid audio system, infotainment setup, various safety sensors (for things like cross-traffic alert, blind-spot, etc.), or nicely bolstered front bucket seats.
But one of the things that is important—though probably not something that someone would admit to being important, were that person inclined toward something of a performance nature—is that it has a 14.1-cubic foot trunk. Yes, a good size to carry one’s gear and groceries.
And with a starting MSRP of $28,085, stuff is more attainable (i.e., the monthly payments won’t be crippling).
This is not a car for everyone.
But looking at those sets, clearly the people at Wolfsburg know that.
(And while of the subject of sets, here’s a bonus that might be good for bar trivia: the modern father of set theory is Georg Cantor, a German.)
While “ICE vehicle” sales may decline, this doesn’t mean the number of engines necessarily is going down
By Gary S. Vasilash
It seems that when people think about types of vehicles there are:
Electric vehicles
Hybrid vehicles
Plug-in hybrid vehicles
ICE vehicles
The categorization seems to overlook one big thing:
With the exception of the EVs, all of the other types include an internal combustion engine.
So when you hear that hybrids are up, this means ICE vehicles are up.
In providing his assessment of the vehicle market in Western Europe, Matthias Schmidt noted:
“12-month trailing data shows that new models featuring an internal combustion engine under the bonnet, be that a pure ICE petrol or diesel model, a mild (MHEV) or full (HEV) hybrid, or plug-in hybrid (PHEV), saw their combined share of the new car market rise upwards once again.”
He also pointed out that EVs have been losing their spark in the Western European market, with, through May, three months of decline in a row.
According to Schmidt, “the most recent 12-month period data shows that between June 2023 and May 2024, the number of BEVs fell back to 1.97 million new units compared to 9.8 million other models.”
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