The fully refreshed 2023 Kia Niro makes its world debut. Here is what it looks like. While the official specification and U.S.-specific details are still scarce – we anticipate that gasoline-powered, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fully electric versions of the new Niro will still be available.
Here we see images of a plug-in hybrid and all-electric model of the new car. The exterior styling is inspired by the “Habaniro” concept from 2019.
What do you think of the new exterior style and the updated interior? Let us know in the comments below.
Please come back to TFLcar.com for all the latest details just as soon as we get them.
TFL Performance Tester, Paul Gerrard and the 2022 Hyundai Elantra N. (Images: TFLcar)
TFLcar performance driver, Paul Gerrard, was sent to Sonoma Raceway in California for the launch of the 2022 Hyundai Kona N and Elantra N. And to be honest, he wasn’t all that psyched to do it. But after a day on the track, he came away shocked and now convinced that Hyundai is now selling one of the best, if not the best front-wheel drive sports cars in the world.
Hyundai’s N cars compete against the likes of the VW Golf GTI, Honda Civic Type-R, and other performance spec’d sub-brands. And to compete, in 2018, Hyundai hired away the brains behind BMW’s M-series performance shop, Albert Biermann, who years turning the M3 and other BMW’s into the best in the world. The fruits of his work are just now hitting the salesroom in the form of the previously released Veloster N and the Kona N and Elantra N seen here.
Despite being a bulky crossover, only a split-second separates the Kona N and the Elantra N. [image: TFL]
The Power Behind the Kona N & Elantra N
Both vehicles share a 2.0L turbo 4-cylinder engine tuned to pump out 276 hp and 289 ft-lb. torque. Both come standard with a DCT 8-speed transmission that throw all that power to the front wheels. The Elantra N can be had with a 6-speed manual for those who want to up their visceral driving experience even more. One downside to a manual though: It doesn’t come with the Overboost function, a button on the steering wheel that taps an additional 10 hp for 20 seconds, then lets you do it again after 40 seconds. As Gerrard points out, this is the exact same engine that recently won the Touring Car championship over entrants from Honda, VW, and Audi. In other words, these value-minded sportsters come with a proven racing heritage.
Both the Kona & Elantra share an electronic limited slip differential, side skirts, 14.2-inch brakes, customizable dash screens, different suspension, engine mapping, and steering response feels (between Eco, Normal, and Sport), rear wings, and high-performance rubber. Differences are obvious once inside, with the Elantra N sporting much more performance-oriented bucket seats, a more refined melding of the two 10.2-inch gauge and infotainment screens, and a signature cross brace hiding behind the fold-down rear seats.
In “N” mode, the dual exhaust cackles and pops with glee. [image: TFL]
Which Is Faster? The Kona N or the Elantra N?
On paper, the Kona N, being a crossover, and without the additional bracing in the rear like the Elantra N, seems like it should be noticeably slower. But on the track, Gerrard proves it’s not. On the 2.5-mile road course at Sonoma, Gerrard was only 2/10ths of a second slower in the Kona N than the Elantra N. The difference, according to Gerrard, comes down to a difference in tires, with the Elantra N sporting Michelin Pilot sport 4S rubber while the Kona N rolls on Pirellis that Gerrard felt got too hot too fast to keep up with the Michelins.
Overall, Gerrard found these Hyundai’s “shockingly competent,” with their ability to survive and thrive in 20-30 minute all-out track sessions. Gerrard’s closing comment says it all when he reveals that these Korean screamers are as fast as the Audi R8’s he drove on the same track years ago. If Gerrard has one bone to pick, it’s that neither of these sports cars come in all-wheel drive.
Pricing hasn’t been revealed yet, but based on the price of the Hyundai Veloster N, $32,250, we wouldn’t be surprised to see both the Elantra N and Kona N come in around the mid-$30,000 range. For a car that’s the equal of a 10-plus year old Audi R8, that’s a phenomenal buy.
Can you spot the Easter eggs in this picture? (Images: Toyota)
If you’re thankful for hot hatches, here’s something to get excited about.
Take a look at what Toyota shared on Instagram this week, and you’ll likely go “Meh, that’s just a ordinary Corolla”. Before moving on with your day (and the Thanksgiving holiday, if you celebrate it) — take a closer look. In today’s hot hatch pantheon of Volkswagen Golf R, Honda Civic Type R and Hyundai Veloster N, signs are looking up for Toyota to bring another option into the mix soon: the GR Corolla. The automaker hinted at that fact a few months back, but check out the photo above for some more juicy details.
The first comes in the instrument cluster, as keen-eyed folks on the GR Corolla forum point out. See that ‘G:16’ displayed for the time? That could well be a clue to the 1.6-liter G16E-GTS engine from the GR Yaris. For the uninitiated, that powerplant blasts out 268 horsepower, which the photo also hints at in the climate controls. Want another clue? It’s in the navigation (though it may be tough to read). The road says “GR Four”, which alludes to all-wheel drive.
So, put it all together, and it looks like we will get what folks in Europe have experienced in the GR Yaris over here. 268 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque, all-wheel drive, and a 6-speed manual transmission (at least as an option). The Yaris even has Torsen limited-slip differentials in the front and rear and an electronically controlled center differential, so the GR Corolla could be a beast of a hot hatch. Personally speaking, I’m so here for it: Bring it on!
Here’s anidea what the Toyota GR Corolla could look like, though some details are subject to change.
Spot the last (and best) detail
The subtle Easter eggs in the standard Corolla are fun for eagle-eyed enthusiasts, if a bit easy to miss.
You know what else is easy to miss? The new Toyota GR Corolla is actually in the photo teaser above. You can’t see a lot, unfortunately, but it’s right out on the edge of the shot in what looks like white, black and red camouflage. Toyota’s take on that is “Keep them guessing…”
Indeed, we will have to do that for some time yet. Nevertheless, the GR Corolla is coming together, so 2022 could be a fantastic year to get into a new hot hatch — particularly with the existing players and the new Honda Civic Type R on the way.
This particular Volkswagen ID.4 Pro carries an asking price of $99,999 at a Tennessee dealer, but…there may be an explanation. (Images: Volkswagen)
There’s good reason for sticker shock — let’s break down what could be happening.
Ever since we started running our dealer markup series — with our last update featuring the “Big Cojones” award — a ton of you have kindly sent in egregious examples of dealer markups across the country. Again, we’re not just talking about insanely hot, hard-to-get vehicles like the Ford Bronco or sports cars like the Chevrolet Corvette, either.
There’s a dealership in Oakland, California right now (as of November 23, at least) asking $96,442 for a brand new Toyota RAV4 Prime, according to a particular image that’s been making the rounds on Reddit among other places. The dealer, of course, is withholding the actual price until you call them — although I’m certain they’ve encountered a fair amount of disbelief/outrage at that sort of sticker price.
Far from the only example, a Volkswagen dealer in Nashville, Tennessee is selling a rear-wheel drive ID.4 Pro — with Navigation! — for an eye-watering $99,999. Now, that second one had me a bit suspicious, and I wanted to see if that played into a theory I had when we started doing this series.
Here’s something to keep in the back of your head…and some crap to call your dealer out on:
So, what the dealertold me about that Volkswagen is that it’s purely a demo unit, and they don’t actually intend to sell the car for that price. Basically, if they actually sell a car at MSRP, then they’re out of luck when other folks come by wanting to try out the ID.4. Going back to late October, I put out a theory that some dealers may be pulling that move to scare folks away from the few precious cars they actually have, period. I know the whole reason for their existence is to sell cars, but the game here is likely to keep that demo unit on the lot — so it’s not completely empty — then steer folks toward the ordering process to get their own vehicle, albeit down the road.
That’s not to say some dealers aren’t just flat out greedy and sticking tens of thousands worth of markups on new vehicles because they can. To that point, let’s look at the Toyota RAV4 Prime again, where you have the following “add-ons” while your brain tries to grapple with the absurd $40,000 markup:
Ceramic coating: $2,495
Lojack (if you trust it to begin with): $1,795
“Invisa Shield” paint protection: $1,395
Hitch Installation (arguably the only useful one): $599
Nitrogen-filled tires: $499
Great. $6,783 in optional extras (it’s worth noting at least the sticker says the noted additions are “Optional”),then your doc fees, then an extra $40,000 on top, sales tax on the final purchase price, and if you’re lucky, you’re out the door for $110,000. On a $49,659 Toyota RAV4 Prime.
Obviously, don’t reward this behavior if it is malign
Ultimately, I can’t speak to the motivations of every single dealer. Some are clearly more transparent in their pricing policies than others. At least the Volkswagen dealer, to their credit, shows the price on their website. Although it makes little sense to my mind why they can’t just put “Demo unit — not for sale” or something to that effect to stave off potential customers who think they’re just out to gouge them into oblivion. They also have another ID.4 in their inventory now with a much more reasonable asking price.
Some dealers use that crazy price as a negotiating tactic to achieve a mark somewhere north of MSRP — but by “negotiating” with the customer, they still believe they’re landing a good deal, with how crazy the market is. And yes, others are just out for straight profit, regardless of how they tarnish their reputation in the process.
Our stance on this mirrors what you’ll likely see from other folks with a voice on the topic: If you can wait, do it. Don’t reward these sorts of tactics. I know the supply shortages have been dragging on for months, and there are plenty of doom-and-gloom pieces noting it could go on for quite awhile yet. While there may be some truth to that, the situation will get better in time. New cars are always on their way, and it’s not worth leveraging a massive amount of unnecessary debt just to get into something like, say, a Toyota RAV4 Prime right now.
Through our last bits of coverage — namely here and here — we’ve been trying to name dealers who are selling at (or at least near) MSRP for you guys. We also post those dealers across our YouTube community pages, so check those out if you need to find a deal soon. You may have to travel a bit, but there are some deals to be had while we collectively wait for the market as a whole to return to normal.
What’s the special surprising hiding under this sheet? (Image: Shelby American)
Just in time for the holidays, Shelby will have something special.
Good news for the purists out there right off the bat — it’s definitely a bona fide Mustang. Beyond that, though…just what are they teasing here? That’s the fun, of course, and we’re definitely curious about what’s coming in three weeks’ time.
That date, as Motor1points out, does have significance. In 2009, the former Shelby Automobiles changed its name back into Shelby American, and the firm’s obviously been cranking out fantastic versions of Ford’s iconic pony car for decades. Right now, the S550 Mustang has the (Ford-built, Shelby-branded) GT500 at the top of the tree, but Ford ended GT350 production last year.
Could we see a new GT350 straight from Shelby American? That’s a possibility, though other rumors are already swirling about something even more hardcore. Perhaps, some speculate, a new GT500KR. It would be pretty awesome to see something that competes against the likes of the Dodge Challenger Hellcat Redeye, but we’ll have to wait and see what’s revealed in mid-December.
If you’re looking for a new EV, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a Chevy Bolt — the car will remain out of production for the rest of this year. (Images: General Motors)
GM is prioritizing new battery packs for existing Chevy Bolt and Bolt EUV owners.
A new GM Authority report sheds light on how General Motors is faring with its ongoing recall repairs — an effort spanning the past several months and several billion dollars. The Lake Orion Assembly Plant in Michigan that builds the Bolt temporarily went back online on November 1st, but is now pausing serial production again as it prioritizes battery production to replace defective units in some 140,000 existing cars — every model since the car first went on sale back in 2017.
“GM has notified employees at Orion Assembly the plant will take downtime for the remainder of the 2021 calendar years,” GM spokesperson Dan Flores told GM Authority. “We will continue to inform employees at the appropriate time of any additional production schedule adjustments in early 2022, as we continue to focus on battery module replacements.”
The automaker is working with LG Chem, who manufactured the original modules, to build the updated packs as quickly as possible. LG is expected to shoulder most of the cost, which at this point is around $2 billion.
GM originally recommended owners park outside and avoid charging their cars above 90% or below 70 miles. Soon, the company will roll out a software update to block the Bolt EV from charging beyond 80%, per Electrek. That should be available to owners within the next month, and will remove the parking restrictions until technicians can replace the defective battery modules.
Some say the future is the minivan. This is the Buick GL8 Flagship Concept (Images: Buick)
In this week’s Ask Nathan:
The future is the minivan!
Chevrolet Trailblazer vs. Chevrolet Trax?
Top 5 vehicles from the 2021 LA Auto Show
Q: (Email heading) The future is the minivan, TFL!
Hi Nathan. I appreciate the fact that you guys like to look at the future in a positive, and logical way. Same goes for me. I’ve been thinking about all of the future applications that would work with a minivan. You even said it’s one of the most utilitarian vehicles out there.
So I came to the conclusion that the minivan is actually part of our future. Almost everybody who is talking about automation talks about making passenger comfort a priority. They also talk about making these vehicles fully autonomous. There’s no reason that you would need a driver-centric cockpit for an autonomous vehicle. If that’s the case, you’re simply moving people in their cargo. I know I’m right about that.
A long time ago, I sent you an email about minivans being the best vehicles for most drivers. I do appreciate the fact that you agreed with me. No I think that mixing the future of electrification with a minivan makes total and complete sense. The question will be if these manufactures can keep it inexpensive.
Do you agree with me? I think that not only is the future electric but the future is the minivan too!
— Douglas F
A: I think you’re on to something there.
Many years back, Roman and I came to the conclusion that the best use of hybrid powertrains were minivans. That’s based on the same idea: it’s about passenger comfort and utility. Now, with a slew of new electric platforms debuting, it seems like a logical step.
The van you’re seeing on this page is the Buick GL8 Concept. It’s a Chinese-market idea, but one that might show up in other markets as well. More importantly, while this is a design study, it could be an example of a luxury EV minivan too.
Look at it this way; the most comfortable seating position(s) are easier to achieve in a box, like a van. It’s also easier to step in and out of, compared to a sedan or SUV. Given that it needs a flat floor, a minivan is an ideal candidate for a “skateboard platform.” That platform is something we’ll see more and more in the near future.
In my mind, the biggest hurdle for designers of the future minivan is making a box look sexy. Still, this Buick concept, and Hyundai’s Staria are good examples of slick minivan design.
It will be interesting to see where automakers go with EV minivans.
— N
The next question comes from a fan who is comparing the Chevrolet TrailBlazer vs. the Chevrolet Trax.
Q: (Via: Twitter@NathanAdlen)
Which is better? The Chevy Trax or Trailblazer?
Is there a tradeoff between the two? And why is the Trailblazer more and less expensive? It makes no sense!
— Fairly Traded Tail
2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer RS
A: Good question, and it’s timely too!
I’m sorry I held off on answering this one for a while, but I knew that I would be driving a 2022 Trailblazer during the L.A. Auto Show. As such, I wanted to hold off until I truly and some wheel-time. There will be a review, along with a video review of the Trailblazer RS in the near future.
First of all, according to the Chevrolet.com website, the confusion over the base Trailblazer and Trax is all cleared up. The base Trax starts at $21,400 and the Trailblazer base starts at $21,600. In the past, there was a slightly less expensive Trailblazer, but now the pricing makes more sense.
As it is, the two crossovers represent the least expensive in the class among General Motors’ offerings.
I like both vehicles as they represent good value propositions. The Chevy Trax has to use the older powertrain, which consists of a turbo 155 horsepower 1.4-liter four-cylinder, and a six-speed automatic transmission. 23 mpg city and 30 mpg highway with AWD, and slightly better with FWD.
Here’s where things get a tad confusing: the larger, more expensive TrailBlazer gets two different 1.3-liter three-cylinder turbo engines. The more powerful of the two three-bangers makes… you guessed it – 155 hp. Paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission – (a CVT comes with FWD models) you can get 26 mpg city, and 30 mpg highway. The more modern setup in the Trailblazer is more efficient overall, but not by a huge margin.
The Chevy Trax has a 48.4 cubic feet cargo area, small back seat and less useable space. On the other hand, the TrailBlazer has 54.4 cu-ft of cargo space, with good back seat space and better overall utility. It also has a smoother ride, and with the “Activ” package, the TrailBlazer is pretty competent on rough terrain.
If every-penny counts, the Trax returns better value. I think that a little more dough gives you a much better vehicle. The Chevy Trailblazer is better in every measurable way.
The last question comes from several people who have asked about significant debuts at the 2021 Los Angeles Auto Show. Here’s five.
Concept EV9 Rendering
Q: (Paraphrased among a few questions) What were the most significant debuts at the 2021 Los Angeles Auto Show?
I included five below:
A: The Kia EV9 is a hint at the future — a three-row SUV:
The 2023 Nissan Ariya debuted, in its production form:
The ElectraMeccanica Solo is one of the least expensive EVs hitting the road:
The Dodge Challenger SRT Jailbreak… and it’s no EV!
Finally, there’s the Lexus LX 600 – which is basically a modern, luxurious Toyota Land Cruiser:
It’s been another insanely busy week here at TFL Studios. In case you missed it, we covered the Los Angeles Auto Show with a slew of videos posted on TFLnow, the introduction of the all-new Range Rover HSE, the introduction of Hyundai’s newest value-buy rockets, the Elantra N and Kona N. We also showed off a way for non-Tesla drivers to charge their EVs at Tesla’s Level 2 chargers.
So, if you need to catch up on everything, here’s your one-stop solution: You can watch some of our most popular videos this week below!
LA Auto Show: Hands On the 2022 Lexus LX 600
The Lexus LX 600 is the closest we in the States are going to get to the all-new Toyota Land Cruiser. Powered by Toyota’s new turbo V6 with 400-plus horsepower and nearly 500 ft-lb. torque and new 10-speed automatic. Question is whether this new LX is too Lexus-luxury to be a legit overlander. See for yourself.
LA Auto Show: 807-hp Dodge Challenger Jailbreak
Pushing the limits of what the Dodge Challenger Hellcat can do, Dodge brought our an insane new tune called Jailbreak. Why? Why not. The ICE-era is coming to an end so why not turn the volume up to 12 from the Hellcat’s original 700-hp rating and the Red Eye’s 797-hp and go out with a smirk and a roar.
LA Auto Show: Nissan Airya EV Crossover
With EV crossovers from Toyota/Subaru coming soon, Nissan introduced its own EV crossover, the Airya. The new EV shares a similar shape and style notes with the Nissan’s best-selling Rogue. But of course it’s a completely different vehicle inside and out. See for yourself whether the Airya is up to compete with VW’s iD4 or Ford Mach-E.
Hyundai Elantra N and Kona N Are GTI and Civic Si Killers
Meanwhile, up in Sonoma County, California, Kase introduces the all-new Hyundai Elantra N sedan (with a 6-speed manual available!) and the Kona N. Both pack a 2.0-liter turbo 4 tuned to an eye-popping 276 hp and nearly 300 ft-lb. torque. On paper, these Korean sportsters blow past the new VW GTI and Honda Civic Si and go after the Golf R and Civic Type-R.
Tesla Level 2 Charger But No Tesla? No Problem
Lectron chargers supplied us with their Tesla to J1772 charger adapter that lets non-Tesla owners take advantage of Tesla charging stations set up outside of Tesla’s Supercharger network. It’s a real-world demonstration of a real-world problem for EV owners. This being the differing charging plugs that populate the world. Hopefully the future will arrive at a singular plug design (hello, USB ports!). Until then, Lectron has you covered. #sponsored.
These are just some of the highlights from this week on our TFLcar and TFLnow channels. You can check them out for even more coverage from the LA Auto Show, including two hot new Porsches, new trucks, and more.
If you’re looking for even more, bookmark our TFL Studios landing page so you can get all our latest content on your browser, or on your phone if you save the page as an app!
Roman just bought one of the most hated modern Land Rovers to prove a point: Even this SUV doesn't suck! Or maybe it does...that's what we're going to find out in our latest project series.
The 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid hatchback stakes a claim as one of the most efficient and practical cars for the money — but just how good is it on a 1,200-mile road trip?
