We Are Losing Two More Sedans

Both the Chevrolet Malibu and Subaru Legacy will be driving into the sunset soon. Both
vehicles are two of the longer running nameplates in the midsize sedan class - Malibu being one of the originals.

The sedan battle is still cooling off, and as a result we’re losing two more. Subaru has announced that the Legacy will come to an end after the 2025 model year while Chevrolet has also announced that the Malibu will end production in November 2024. The Legacy will not be replaced. I’m surprised that the Malibu will be discontinued, however, as its sales figures actually INCREASED vs. last year. Currently, Malibu is actually the third best selling Chevrolet model behind the Silverado and Equinox, respectively – moving over 130,000 units per year.

Legacy's Story

The Subaru Legacy’s… well, ‘legacy’… Dates back to 1989 in the United States. It was largely responsible for putting Subaru on the map vs. competing brands back in the 90s. However, nowadays the Legacy appears to be more of an afterthought in the minds of buyers, as only just over 25,000 units were moved last year. These days, Subaru is committing themselves to SUVs and electric vehicles, meaning that low sellers such as the Legacy cannot stick around. The Impreza compact sedan and WRX seem to be safe right now. The Legacy’s primary selling point, being the only non-rally/outdoorsy themed vehicle in Subaru’s lineup besides the Impreza, is the fact that it came with standard AWD vs. other vehicles. However, we see now that even standard AWD can’t save you from the “sedanapocolypse”… In the past, you were able to get some pretty sporty versions of the Legacy, however. Modern Legacy play the role of a traditional sedan more than anything else.

Malibu's Story

Malibu has a much longer history. The nameplate was first introduced back in the 1960s as an upscale version of the Chevelle, then became its own standalone model later. After being originally discontinued in 1983, the Malibu name returned in 1997 as a replacement for the Corsica and was sold alongside the Lumina until the 2001 model year, shortly after the Impala was reborn to replace the Lumina for the 2000 model year. Most recently, the Malibu was redesigned for the ninth-generation in 2016 and received a refresh in 2019. An often forgotten about hybrid Malibu was sold until the 2019 model year. You could also get a pretty potent 2.0T engine up until 2022, but now the Malibu only gets a 1.5T engine with 163 HP and a CVT vs. a 6-speed automatic transmission. The Malibu has been produced at the Fairfax Assembly plant in Kansas City, alongside the Cadillac XT4. However, the plant will be retooled to build the Ultium-platform based Chevrolet Bolt in 2025.

I’m not terribly surprised the Legacy is going away, given Subrau’s brand focus and its sales numbers. Its also not a particulary interesting car vs. even many SUVs, if we’re being honest. The Malibu, is a surprise and I’m finding myself rather sad actually. I used to dislike the Malibu when I was a kid, growing up in the 90s and 2000s. It just always looked so “basic” to me… My first car before my Aura was actually a 2005 Malibu Classic, that was actually pretty quick. But to think that the Malibu is the last mainstream American sedan standing and now it’s going away is sad. I suspect it’s because manufacturers make bigger profits on SUVs and trucks, so it of course makes more sense to invest in something that’s going to turn a profit vs. something that will take longer to pay off the development costs. I think a “Gen. 10” Malibu SS with AWD and the GM 2.7 Turbo Max engine would’ve been interesting. 

Nonetheless, will you miss the Legacy or Malibu? The sedanapocolypse rolls on…

Good Car Bad Car sales figures for midsize sedans: https://www.goodcarbadcar.net/2023-us-midsize-car-sales-figures/

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Total Eclipse 2024!

Eclipse - but not of the Mitsubishi variety. #eclipse2024

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The 2025 Toyota 4Runner is Coming!

We’re getting an all-new 4Runner - FINALLY! Toyota has already shown the vehicle to employees. Tune in at 10:15 P.M. ET tonight to see on Toyota’s social media pages.

Other New Toyotas

Toyota has been on an offensive lately with their product. We just got a new Land Cruiser, Tacoma, Tundra, Prius, the Crown and upcoming Crown Signia wagon, and a new Sequoia not long ago. I worked in electrified powertrain research at Toyota before the pandemic, and all of these vehicles feature electrified powertrains. Now comes big changes for the 4Runner. But let’s not forget the ever-popular Camry!

The 2025 Camry has been shown and it features a hybrid-only powertrain line up - gone are the days of the V6. A 2.5L inline-4 cylinder engine paired with electric motors makes 225 HP on front-wheel drive 2025 Camrys and 232 HP on all-wheel drive models. Speaking of AWD, for the new Camry the system used will be Toyota’s “Electronic on Demand” system, with an electric motor at the rear. Expect to see this vehicle hitting lots soon.

I mention these other vehicles because Toyota is on a mission to become a carbon neutral company in manufacturing and in their product line. They already have some of the most efficient production and supply chain methods and were a pioneer in this aspect in the auto industry. I’m interested to see if the new 4Runner remains totally true to its rugged roots, has a V6 or turbocharged I4 and electrified engine, and what other changes Toyota will make to keep it relevant.

Update 10:15 pm 4/9/24:

Here it is! The official 2025 Toyota 4Runner! The design seems to me more of an evolution vs. a revolutionary change. But still, a change that was needed. 

For 2025, the 4Runner will be available with Toyota's i-FORCE Hybrid Max System - I figured given the current trend with Toyota the we'd see an electrified 4Runner sooner or later. In the Tacoma Hybrid, the i-FORCE Max powertrain is a 2.4L turbocharged inline-4 cylinder making 326 HP and 465 lb.-ft. of torque paired with an electric motor between the engine and transmission. This setup is different from Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive system used in older models, such as the Corolla Hybrid. Note that the hybrid powertrain will be optional in the 4Runner. Among other more comfort-oriented changes include a revised suspension that promises to maintain the 4Runner's off-road abilities while providing more comfort on-road. There will be a new "Trailhunter" off-road trim for the enthusiasts in addition to the more conventional and luxury-themed Limited and Platinum trims. A 3rd row seat will also be offered! Pricing isn't known, but I'm willing to bet that the new 4Runner will start in the $40,000 range and top out in the high $60,000 range.

Do you like it? Was the 2025 4Runner worth the wait?

Copyright © 2024 Adam's Autos, All Rights Reserved.

2025 Jeep Wagoneer S - Here It Is

The Wagoneer S will be Jeep's first full EV model for the 2025 model year.

Last year, Jeep teased that it would be putting the Wagoneer name on an electric SUV. Now, we get our first official look at the upcoming Wagoneer S.

What Is It?

The Jeep Wagoneer name continues a large luxury SUV legacy for Jeep while simultaneously ushering in a modern era in Jeep’s mission to become an “American Range Rover” competitor. Looking ahead to 2025, the Wagoneer S will be the brand’s first full EV and have an estimated driving range of around 400 miles. While most specs and supplier data aren’t known yet, Jeep expects the Wagoneer S to make around 600 HP and have a 0-60 time of 3.5 seconds.

We do know now that the Wagoneer S will ride on the Stellantis STLA Large platform, which supports an 800V architecture. This is a Jeep, so I would expect to see an adjustable air suspension allowing for some off-road use, additional underbody protection for battery components, and e-all-wheel drive (eAWD) courtesy of a dual electric motor set up. A “Trail Rated” badge is also possible on the Wagoneer S, but then again, the regular gas-powered Wagoneer lacks a Trail Rated badge because Jeep themselves says it’s “too big and heavy to be trail rated”. While the Wagoneer S looks smaller than the gas variant, weight will definitely be a factor - pointing to the idea that having a right sized off-roader certainly matters. Other brands, such as Rivian or the upcoming/returning Scout brand, may want to take note of this.

Design

In terms of the design, you can see some familiar Jeep traits as well as some Range Rover Velar-inspired styling on the exterior. On the inside, it’s all screens, all day. Some features on the interior of the Wagoneer S include a 19-speaker McIntosh sound system, mood lighting and heated/cooled/massaging seats. Pricing is unknown, but I expect this vehicle to crest $100,000 just like the gas models.

Would you consider a Wagoneer S? Or a gas Wagoneer? I like modern Jeeps, but I fear that they may be going too far against the grain with their pricing strategy to be an “American Range Rover”. We’ll see how this model fares in the market against existing and upcoming rugged luxury EVs.

Jeep's design language is very present in the Wagoneer S. I like the rugged looks of
the ICE Wagoneer, but the sleek sportiness of the Wagoneer S.

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Ford F-150 Lightning Production Will Be Cut

Demand for the F-150 Lightning has been cooling off, alongside EV sales in general in recent months.
Ford is now forced to make adjustments.

EV demand has been cooling some in recent months in the United States. Last year, EV sales made up around 7.5% of all U.S. new car sales. However, in 2022, year-over-year EV sales saw around a 90% overall increase - this number was not matched in 2023. Now, several automakers, such as Ford, are adjusting their pricing, production targets and new release timelines to align with declining sales. One such example is the F-150 Lightning.

Ford has announced that they will cut F-150 Lightning production at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center. This is due to falling demand of Lightning - there will be only one shift starting on April 1st. About 1,400 workers will be affected and some will transfer to other Ford facilities while others will be offered an early retirement plan. For good measure, let’s remember that the gas-powered F-Series has been the best selling vehicle in America for decades.

 

Why the Decline?

From the Detroit Auto Show 2022 - Lightning Ride Along Experience

So what’s leading to this decline in sales for EVs? There’s a few factors I can think of. The first is the high cost of many EVs, even with the availability of the tax credit. It’s hard to ignore that while electric vehicles have many advantages in lowering emissions while improving performance, it’s hard to justify the high cost of entry many times. I recently went to look at an F-150 Lightning at my local Ford dealer and it cost $95,000! Even with a sizable down payment and the max $7,500 tax credit, you’d still be looking at an $80,000+ truck! Well out of the average consumer’s budget.

Other factors would be a still-developing charging infrastructure. Now to combat this, Ford announced last year that it was adopting the North American Charging Standard (NACS) on all 2025 EV models. Existing customers will receive an adapter starting in 2024 that would allow them access to the Tesla Supercharger network, in addition to the 10,000 DC fast chargers already in the Blue Oval network. Until this shift is fully in place, charging stations could still be a little tricky to navigate, especially in colder weather as we’ve seen.

Finally, we have a situation where all of the early adopters could likely have gotten what they’ve wanted. So the pinned up demand is now tapering off. This actually doesn’t just apply to the F-150 Lightning, either. If you’ve been paying attention, inventory levels for the new Bronco have risen drastically in recent months after there being a waitlist to get one. Now, Ford is offering incentives for the first time, especially to Jeep owners, to move Broncos. I won’t be surprised if we see steeper incentives on the Lightning to move them off lots. Every automaker needs to access current market conditions along with customer needs in order to not end up with excess inventory and achieve profitability. Especially in a rapidly advancing EV world, with new ones announced every day it seems.

Would you ever consider an F-150 Lightning? I might. I rode in one at the 2022 Detroit Auto Show and thought it was a cool truck and a blast to experience. Let’s keep an eye on inventory and sales numbers to see how this scenario plays out for Ford and the wider budding EV truck market. There may be opportunities for niche players, such as Rivian, to capitalize on the Lightning’s slower sales if analyzed and targeted correctly.

F-150 Lightning Ride Along at the 2022 NAIAS: https://youtube.com/shorts/88cAQg9LFAU?si=epjNub3pBFtwyY4u

Ford Global Sales Figures, Good Car Bad Car link: https://www.goodcarbadcar.net/sales-by-automaker/ford-motor-company-global-sales-data-reports/

I've had several chances to get up close with the F-150 Lightning, as well as the
other EV truck competitors. Its nice in person! The frunk is one of the largest I've seen.

Exploring the HUMMER EV at Motor Bella 2021

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