Press days of 2023 New York International Auto wrapped up Thursday after a flurry of reveals of new and refreshed models.
Among the vehicles unveiled and displayed this year: The 2025 Ram REV electric pickup, Hyundai Kona EV, Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness, Kia EV9, an upgraded 2024 Jeep Wrangler and 2023 Prius Prime with an amped-up battery.
On Monday ahead of the show Genesis revealed its GV80 Couple concept.
Tuesday's New York Auto Forum -- hosted by NADA, J.D.Power and the auto show -- featured a lineup of top executives including Steve Carlisle, president of GM North America, Jeremie Papin, chairperson of Nissan Americas, and Claudia Marquez, COO of Genesis Motor North America.
DAILY DRIVE PODCAST: Stellantis North America COO Mark Stewart
Thu, Apr 6, 3:23 pm
Stellantis North America COO Mark Stewart joins Jamie Butters from the New York auto show to talk about the new Ram 1500 REV electric pickup and the automakers' disappointing first-quarter sales results.
2023 Toyota Prius Prime gets amped-up battery, power --and price
Thu, Apr 6, 12:20 pm
The plug-in version of Toyota's redesigned Prius sedan, the 2023 Prius Prime, is now able to travel up to 44 miles on battery power alone when its larger battery is fully charged and will start at $33,445 --both up substantially from the current generation model it is replacing.
The 2023 Prius Prime's stem-to-stern upgrade follows that of its traditional hybrid namesake, which went on sale earlier this year.
2024 Jeep Wrangler upgrades comfort, tech
Wed, Apr 5, 4:54 pm
Jeep is upping the comfort and technology in the 2024 Wrangler as the venerable nameplate jousts with the Ford Bronco.
The refreshed Wrangler SUV is getting a quieter cabin and power seats in the front row on top trim levels, standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a larger 12.3-inch touch screen in the center stack, and the Uconnect 5 infotainment system.
The vehicle is debuting Wednesday at the New York auto show. Consumers can order it now, and it's expected to arrive at U.S. Jeep dealerships later in 2023.
Kia EV9 promises a U.S.-made 3-row EV for a new era
Wed, Apr 5, 3:06 pm
Kia's three-row EV9 crossover will be built alongside the popular Telluride large crossover in West Point, Ga., next year and promises to bring a similar mix of utility and style to the U.S. electric vehicle market, the automaker said.
The EV9, presented Wednesday at the New York auto show, is the flagship model for Kia's global transition to EV technology, according to the brand, and follows the 2022 U.S. launch of the two-row EV6 crossover.
Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness adds off-road chops for 2024
Wed, Apr 5, 3:05 pm
Subaru's No. 1 seller, a baby ute, is getting more off-road chops.
The redesigned third-generation 2024 Crosstrek will be available with a Wilderness package starting in the fall, Subaru said Wednesday at the New York International Auto Show, where the subcompact crossover was unveiled.
The @subaru_usa Crosstrek Wilderness.
--Larry P. Vellequette (@LarryVellequett) April 5, 2023
And a digital waterfall... pic.twitter.com/1MtCUQFQMf
Hyundai maintains top range on redesigned Kona EV around 260 miles
Wed, Apr 5, 3:04 pm
The redesigned Hyundai Kona Electric will have about the same maximum range as the first-generation version, the company said Wednesday as it revealed the new look for the first time in North America.
The subcompact crossover will be able to go up to 260 miles per charge, according to Hyundai's preliminary estimates, in line with the EPA's 258-mile range rating for the current model. Gasoline-powered N Line and Limited versions were also unveiled at the New York auto show.
Ram targets 500-mile range on electric 1500 REV pickup
Wed, Apr 5, 1:11 pm
The 2025 Ram 1500 REV electric pickup will have a more conservative look than the Revolution concept truck shown earlier this year and a targeted range of 500 miles with its largest battery pack --numbers that will best its competitors.
Ram said the REV will offer a standard 168-kilowatt-hour battery pack with a range target of up to 350 miles, while it's aiming for up to 500 miles with the optional 229-kWh battery pack. An extended-range version with a gasoline-powered engine to charge the battery also is in the works, Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares said.
The REV, Ram's first battery-electric pickup, was slated to debut Wednesday morning at the New York International Auto Show.
#Ram said it is aiming for the REV to deliver a 0 to 60 mph time of 4.4 seconds, 654 hp and 620 pound-feet of torque.https://t.co/cBeupMfwo5
--Vince Bond Jr. (@VinceBond86) April 5, 2023
2024 VW Atlas Peak Edition gives the appearance of off-road prowess
Wed, Apr 5, 1:10 pm
Volkswagen will add a new appearance package to its freshened Atlas lineup for the 2024 model year, expanding on a pre-pandemic, off-road centric concept to give the three-row crossover a more rugged look.
The 2024 Atlas Peak Edition debuted Wednesday at the New York auto show, and will join the Atlas trim line this summer when the freshened Atlas reaches U.S. dealerships.
GM pitches revived Chevy Trax as affordability play
Tue, Apr 4, 11:01 pm
General Motors is adding some options near the bottom of the price spectrum at a time when consumers are increasingly struggling to afford a new vehicle.
Pricing for the revived Chevrolet Trax will start at $21,495, including shipping, while two top trims each start at $24,995.
Why Hyundai, Nissan love sports advertising
Tue, Apr 4, 10:40 pm
The Super Bowl is the advertising industry's grandest stage with viewership that surpasses 100 million people each year, but it's not always the best option for marketers.
Hyundai has shown, with the launch campaigns for the electric Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6, that brands can draw plenty of eyeballs without investing in the big game.
Nissan's long-running "Heisman House" campaign, featuring former winners of college football's most prestigious award, is a rich source of content each year.
In addition, Nissan has tried to keep the brand top of mind during the NCAA Division I men's and women's basketball tournaments that engulf fan attention for several weeks.
There's no single growth strategy for dealers, M&A panel says
Tue, Apr 4, 10:39 pm
In a rapidly changing automotive retail industry, getting bigger can make a difference in the long term, but what will matter more is becoming and remaining a better dealer, according to panelists speaking on mergers and acquisitions strategies Tuesday at the J.D. Power Automotive Forum here.
Mergers and acquisitions activity doubled during the pandemic as dealership groups, especially larger ones, sought opportunities to pick up stores and increase profits, said Alan Haig, president and founder of Haig Partners, a buy-sell advisory firm in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Part of that was driven by the exponential growth in digital automotive retailing as COVID-19 altered retailing practices for the better, Haig said. Those changes gave larger groups an advantage they may not have had when they were competing just with neighboring stores.
Nissan strategy means more partnership with dealers, Papin says
Tue, Apr 4, 7:51 pm
Jeremie Papin, chairperson of Nissan Americas, said the company's Ambition 2030 strategy is going to involve even more cooperation with dealers than the company has been enjoying in recent years.
In the near to medium future, he said, he envisions dealers remaining involved with vehicles through multiple owners, by way of second-life battery usage, leases of pre-owned vehicles and over-the-air updates.
With new Ariya #EV, @NissanUSA is returning to customers after a few weeks of ownership with a “second delivery� to ensure knowledge of features such as connected services and e-4orce drive system, said Jeremie Papin, chairperson of Nissan Americas. #nyautoforum
--Jamie Butters (@MittenHawk) April 4, 2023
Auto industry outlook is both under pressure and historically great
Tue, Apr 4, 7:49 pm
The return to more-regular economic activity after the supply chain snarls and federal stimulus of the pandemic is making this year's historically excellent prospects look almost disappointing, speakers at the New York Auto Forum said Tuesday.
King says four key variables will shape the coming year: pent-up demand, production volume, underlying new vehicle demand and what he calls competitive asymmetry, "minimal competition b/t manufacturers and retailers, because the inventory wasn't there to support the competition."
--Molly Boigon (@MollyBoigon) April 4, 2023
Genesis hints at GV80 Coupe with concept
Tue, Apr 4, 4:22 pm
Genesis presented a four-passenger, coupe-style version of the GV80 crossover as a design concept in the run-up to the New York Auto Show that kicks off Wednesday.
The automaker said the concept "serves as a statement of intent for the future, hinting towards more emotional and performance-oriented models." It was unveiled late Monday at the brand's Genesis House showroom in New York.
