Welcome to the Year of the EV—Whatever It Will Be
Here are two big automotive EV news items from the first days of 2022—and a guess at what they might mean for the Year of the EV.
Green Motorsports: Subaru Hits the Track To Improve the Breed
Iin 2022 the Nitro RallyCross racing series is adding electric cars, expanding to 10 stops, including one in Canada to put Subaru Motorsports’ Supercars and its competitors’ to the test in ice and snow.
Event: 2023 Acura Integra Introduced
The fifth-generation 2023 Acura Integra will come with a high-output turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine mated to either a six-speed manual with a limited-slip differential or an automatic.
Flash Drive: 2021 Volkswagen ID4 AWD
The all-new 2021 Volkswagen ID4 AWD is a comfortable and well-designed compact SUV family vehicle.
First Ride: 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning
Ford’s all-in on electrification and Clean Fleet Report had a chance this past week to experience the company’s commitment first hand—from the passenger seat. Ford wouldn’t let us get behind the wheel of the early production F-150 Lightning and E-Transit, but from the right-hand seat (and a chance to closely examine the interiors and, via a cutaway. the underpinnings) it’s clear the company’s $22 billion investment (through 2025) in electrification is going to pay dividends.
Event: Battery Show and Hybrid Vehicle Technology Expo
Senior leaders from the Department of Energy, Ford Motor Company and LG Energy Solutions are set to headline the upcoming jointly located Battery Show and Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology Expo that will take place in Novi, Michigan, September 14-16, 2021.
Event: WAJ Media Day: A Million Dollar Drive
Western Automotive Journalists Media Day 2021 gave us a chance to relate a brief experience with a gaggle of cars whose price tags totaled well beyond a million dollars.
Flash Drive: 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E Electric Crossover
Where the all-new 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E shines is its practicality as an everyday driver. With ample passenger and cargo space, interior comfort features and a smooth and quiet ride, the Mach-E is sure to replace many a gasoline-powered crossovers in garages everywhere.
Flash Drive: 2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid
The all-new 2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid brings far more than stellar fuel economy. This five-passenger sedan offers a full array of tech, driver comfort and a top warranty, making it an excellent value.
News: A Taste of the 2022 Hyundai Elantra N
Next up in 2022 will be the Hyundai Elantra N that takes its DNA from the Veloster N TCR, which won the 2020 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge series.