New Cars Coming In Hot! Also: News & More

I haven't had a chance to post anything on my blog for awhile due to life being so WILD lately (pandemic, grad school stuff, family stuff, etc...). Honestly, it'll likely still be some time before I can REALLY jump big time back into blogging. But in the meantime - here's a quick list of cars on the horizon and some other news. A lot going on in the industry. Be sure to look back at some of my back-dated posts.

News and Other Updates

-Here's the upcoming Lexus NX! Long overdue for a redesign, the NX will be all-new for 2022 and feature 3 new powertrains, including a turbocharged 4-cylinder and a plug-in hybrid model with 36 miles of electric range. The new NX also will have an all-new infotainment system inside that no longer has the finicky Lexus touchpad interface. Expect the new Lexus NX to launch this fall.

-The 2022 Ford Maverick is a compact pickup that will slot under the Ranger. Similar to the upcoming Hyundai Santa Cruz and the Honda Ridgeline, the Maverick will be a unibody truck and it will share its platform with the Bronco Sport. Its base powertrain will be a hybrid setup - a 2.5L I4 engine paired with an electric motor. However, this version will only be available in FWD. If you want AWD, you'll have to opt for a higher trim level and a 2.0T engine making 250 HP. Hybrid models can tow up to 2,000 pounds and 2.0T models can tow a max of 4,000 pounds. I think the front end looks a little funky, but overall, this is a nice compact truck at a nice price. I think it'll be a hit.

-The 2021 Acura TLX Type-S is a return to form for Honda's luxury brand - an honest sports sedan following the ethos of Acura's "Precision Crafted Performance" tagline. Powering the TLX Type-S is a 3.0L turbo V6 making 355 HP and 354 lb.-ft. of torque. Its 10-speed transmission has been retuned for more aggressive driving and you can get Brembo brakes and NSX-inspired wheels as well. Pricing starts at $53,325. Its possible we'll also be getting an MDX Type-S SUV according to some rumors and reports, so stay tuned. I'd like to drive them all.

-Cadillac is going all-in on electric vehicles from now on and its new 2023 Lyriq EV SUV is the first model in this renaissance. On a full charge, the Lyriq will have more than 300 miles of driving range and it comes with a 19.2-kW onboard charger. Inside, there's a 33-inch infotainment and vehicle display screen for essential information. GM's new battery electric platform that the Lyriq rides on is called "Ultium" and it also underpins the upcoming GMC Hummer EV truck and SUV. DC fast-charging capability will be included on the Lyriq and you can expect this EV luxury SUV to release in 2022 with a base price just under $60,000. (Reservations will open in 2021)

-In case you missed it, there were two supply shortages going on at the same time in the world! There was a gas shortage not long ago due to the Colonial Pipeline shutdown which caused panic buying among consumers mostly in southern U.S. states. People actually started storing gas in plastic bags - which is a major BAD IDEA by the way! How did they expect to get it out??? Not safely, obviously... This shortage was also compounded and made worse by a shortage of fuel truck drivers. And on top of this, I'm sure you're possibly at least somewhat aware of the ongoing microchip shortage plaguing the auto industry. The pandemic and associated material shortages has limited the supply of semiconductors needed for new vehicles. Where are they going instead? Many went into electronics, since the auto industry didn't expect new car sales to rebound so quickly following 2020 and didn't order enough microchips. And thus, you have a shortage that's expected to last into 2022. 

If you want a new car right now, good luck - you'll likely be waitlisted at least awhile AND may even face markups at the dealer (especially for high demand products, like the new Ford Bronco or the Kia Telluride). Almost all automakers, including GM, Ford, Jeep, Subaru and many more have had to cut production of key models just to wait for microchips to arrive and go in vehicles. In addition to this, there's also been rubber shortages as well. Yeah... A supply chain NIGHTMARE basically. If you're trying to get a good deal on a new car at this time, I suggest looking at some vehicles that are perhaps not as in high of demand right now (such as sedans) or a little more off the beaten path from the "usual picks" (such as a Mazda or Genesis).

A GMC Hummer EV SUV will also be made.

-Back to the GMC Hummer EV - the truck might be too heavy to be safe according to some safety experts. Now granted, let's think about the old gas-guzzler Hummers... They were always huge! The Hummer EV will weigh over 9,000 pounds, causing some concern about keeping that much mass under control. I mean... People controlled Hummers seemingly fine in the 2000s! But I guess they also didn't have "Watts to Freedom" mode with 1,000 HP and a 0-60 time of 3 seconds. The main thing is that a vehicle of this size could be a hazard to small pets or children in my mind since you wouldn't be able to see them as easy. However, the GMC Hummer EV will come with standard safety features such as pedestrian detection, forward collision alert, lane departure warning and blind spot alert. Its also worth noting that GMC says another EV truck will be coming to their portfolio. Since the Silverado EV was teased not long ago, I'm willing to be that the second GMC EV truck will be the Sierra EV. Time will tell.

Any new cars that you're excited for or big stories I missed? Let's talk about it!

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