Tag Archives: USA

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Florida Could Suspend Carvana’s Dealer License For Not Submitting Title Applications

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Florida could suspend Carvana’s dealer license after it has failed to transfer the titles of some vehicles sold.

Carvana was reportedly notified of the issues in an email sent by Florida authorities last week. This email is said to have included a spreadsheet that showed 300 Carvana vehicle sales dating back to 2019 that had not had their titles transferred. More than 100 of these vehicle sales occurred in Florida.

Read Also: Carvana Banned From Selling Used Cars In North Carolina Area Until 2022

State law in Florida requires retailers to apply for a title within 30 days of completing a sale. Speaking with Auto News, a spokesperson for the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles said Carvana has until January 31 to submit title applications for all the vehicles it sold in 2021 before December 1.

“The department has been proactively working with Carvana to identify and assist Florida customers who have not received their title in a timely manner, and in accordance with state law,” the spokesperson added. “Florida law allows for the suspension of the dealer’s license if they fail to apply for a transfer of title in a timely manner.”

This isn’t the first time Carvana has been scrutinized for not delivering titles in time. Earlier this year it settled with Florida regulators and agreed to pay $500 each to 12 customers who had to wait three to eight months to receive titles on vehicles they purchased. In August, Carvana had its dealer license suspended for 180 days in Wake County, North Carolina for not producing titles fast enough, among other issues.

Carvana sold 244,111 vehicles in the U.S. last year, making it the country’s second-largest retailer of used vehicles. A spokeswoman from the company says Carvana has applied for around 23,500 titles in Florida over the past 12 months.

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2022 Toyota Avalon Drops AWD And TRD, Starts From $36,375 For Its Final Year

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The fifth-generation Avalon might have been introduced in 2018, but Toyota has confirmed that 2022 will mark the end of its production. Today, the automaker announced pricing for the 2022 MY alongside a few changes in the lineup.

The 2022 Toyota Avalon starts from $36,375 (excluding the $1,025 fee), making it $250 more expensive than last year’s model.

The full-size sedan is not available in AWD variants anymore, while the sporty TRD trim was also dropped from the range. The good news for prospective buyers is the addition of new safety features as standard, including the upgraded Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ package (dynamic radar cruise control, lane tracing assist, blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, etc), and the addition of a rear-seat reminder system.

Read Also: The Toyota Avalon TRD Has Plenty Of Comfort, But Not Enough Sportiness

Just like last year, the Avalon is available with gas and hybrid powertrains. The 3.5-liter V6 produces 301 hp (224 kW / 305 PS) and 267 lb-ft (362 Nm) of torque, mated to an eight-speed Direct Shift automatic gearbox that sends power to the front axle. The hybrid combines a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors producing a combined 215 hp (160 kW / 218 PS) and comes with a fuel economy rating of 44 mpg combined.

The 2022 lineup includes six trim levels, including the XSE Nightshade Edition that is visually differentiated from the glossy black accents, the 19-inch wheels, and the rear diffuser. Inside, variants are differentiated with the base XLE featuring SofTex upholstery and “engineered wood” trim, the Limited coming with perforated leather and genuine wood sourced from Yamaha, and the Touring with perforated SofTex / Ultrasuede and aluminum trim.

Read Also: Toyota Adds New Colors, Nightshade Edition To 2022 Camry

In terms of equipment, the Limited and Touring come standard with a premium 14-speaker JBL Audio system, a 10-inch Head-up display, a 9-inch infotainment touchscreen (Apple CarPlay / Android Auto / Amazon Alexa), a wireless charging pad, and a moonroof (also standard on the Nightshade, optional in XLE, XLE hybrid). The Touring is the sportiest of the bunch equipped with the electronically controlled Adaptive Variable Suspension system, and an extra driving mode (eco, normal, sport, sport+, custom)

2022 Toyota Avalon Pricing

  • Avalon XLE 3.5-liter V6 8-speed Auto: $36,375
  • Avalon XLE Hybrid 2.5-liter ECVT: $37,350
  • Avalon Limited 3.5-liter V6 8-speed Auto: $42,675
  • Avalon Limited Hybrid 2.5-liter ECVT: $43,650
  • Avalon XSE Hybrid Nightshade 2.5-liter ECVT: $40,700
  • Avalon Touring 3.5-liter V6 8-speed Auto: $43,075

*MSRP prices excluding delivery processing and handling fee of $1,025

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China’s Geely Reportedly Forming New JV With Renault, Could Allow Duty-Free Cars Into The U.S.

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Geely and Renault are rumored to be on the verge of announcing a new partnership. The two companies are reported to have been working on a joint venture since the beginning of the year, with the details finalized and an announcement imminent.

The venture will help create a new plug-in hybrid-focused automotive brand, reports Reuters. Chinese automaker, Geely, is expected to provide their CMA architecture that both Geely and Volvo currently use. Renault will focus its attention on design and marketing, focusing on the world’s largest car market — China.

A Chinese Re-entry For Renault, South Korean Lynk & Co For Geely  

The deal will allow Renault to re-enter China, which it exited a year ago when a JV with Dongfeng was dissolved. It may also be a way for the French company to expand its presence throughout Asia, with particular attention paid to its South Korean assembly plant that has manufactured vehicles under Renault Samsung Motors. Renault has held an 80% stake in Samsung Motors since 2000 and is South Korea’s third-largest automaker.

Geely may be able to gain access to any number of Renault’s production facilities, but it’s thought that the Busan plant in southeastern South Korea is of particular interest. According to the report’s unnamed sources, Lynk & Co, a brand under Geely, may produce its 01 SUV locally, with other hybrid offerings from the brand being considered. These could be sold under the Renault Samsung name.

Geely’s Ticket To The U.S.

In addition to propping up Renault Samsung (whose sales have been waning) and gaining access to the Korean market, there’s another significant benefit for Geely.

By producing vehicles in South Korea, the Chinese company could very well gain a form of duty-free “backdoor entry” into the U.S. market. Sino-U.S. tensions have hurt trade for Chinese automakers trying to break into the second-biggest car market in the world. But the deal with Renault could open up the possibility of utilizing South Korea’s free-trade agreement with the United States to export its Lynk & Co vehicles.

As of yet, there is no solid indication of a time frame for an announcement. It also isn’t quite clear where this arrangement will fit in with the Renault-Nissan alliance.

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Carvana Banned From Selling Used Cars In North Carolina Area Until 2022

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Carvana, an online used car retailer known for its multi-story car vending machines, has been banned from selling cars in the Raleigh area of North Carolina until January 2022.

The North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles has sued Carvana claiming that it failed to deliver titles to the DMV while also selling vehicles without a state inspection and issuing out-of-state temporary tags for a vehicle sold to a person in North Carolina. As such, it has revoked Carvana’s dealer’s license for violating dealer licensing laws.

The Wall Street Journal reports that a settlement between the DMV and Carvana will see the company’s dealer license suspended until January 29. Carvana will also pay a nominal civil penalty for $500 and a $200 administrative hearing fee.

Read Also: Fleets Are So Desperate For New Vehicles, They’ll “Take Anything Within Reason On Four Wheels”

“We’re pleased that we were able to reach a solution with the North Carolina DMV,” Carvana spokeswoman Amy O’Hara said in a statement. “We’re proud of the tens of thousands of North Carolina residents we’ve served since 2014 and are excited to continue delivering exceptional customer experiences there for many years to come.”

All vehicles at Carvana’s Raleigh location must be clearly marked ‘Not For Sale’ for the following six months and the company must also conduct a review of sales at all four of its locations in the statement. These other three locations, located in Charlotte, Concord and Greensboro, can continue to operate during the suspension.

Carvana offers next-day delivery of used vehicles in 301 cities across the United States and in July, was North Carolina’s top seller of used cars, titling 587 vehicles.

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2020 Buick Encore GX Comes With Free Reese Witherspoon-Picked Audiobooks And Podcasts

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Buick and Hello Sunshine announced a brand partnership that integrates Reese Witherspoon’s popular book club app into the 2020 Encore GX’s infotainment system.

Buyers of the crossover SUV will be able to select from a specially curated collection of podcasts and audiobooks read by the famous Hollywood actress. The built-in app is now live in the Encore GX with compatible hardware, but most other newer Buick models will get the app in early 2021.

This move is justified by Buick’s predominantly female customer base, with nearly 55 percent of its buyers being women, according to J.D. Power. “Reese’s Book Club brings women-centered stories to life for its engaged community of more than 1.7 million followers on Instagram and has propelled many of its picks to No. 1 on the New York Times best-seller list,” reads Buick’s press release.

Watch Also: Is The 2020 Buick Encore GX Worth The Premium Over The Encore?

According to the automaker, partnering with Hello Sunshine presents a unique opportunity as it helps the brand connect with women, “an important and growing group of premium SUV owners.”

“Hello Sunshine shines a light on women, creating and telling stories that put women at the center, and that’s something Buick wants to be a part of,” said Kate Hrabovsky, Buick advertising and media operations manager. “As more women are making vehicle-buying decisions, we want to be thinking creatively about how to offer more driving experiences tailored for them.” In addition to Reese’s Book Club app, the partnership includes Buick vehicle placements into Hello Sunshine’s television and film projects.

Bridging the gap between subcompact and compact SUVs, the all-new Encore GX starts at $25,695, excluding a $995 destination charge. Standard features include a 137 HP 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine, the Buick Driver Confidence safety suite including Forward Collision Alert and Automatic Emergency Braking, as well as a Rear Camera Mirror, Head-Up Display and Automatic Parking Assist with Braking.

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2021 Audi Q5 Sportback Debuts As The Regular Q5’s Trendier Sibling

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Audi continues the rollout of coupe-like Sportback variants for its SUVs with the new Q5 Sportback.

Set to join the standard Q5 SUV in the first half of 2021 in the U.S., Europe, and other markets, the Audi Q5 Sportback applies the tried and tested SUV-coupe recipe to the brand’s midsize model. Audi’s answer to the BMW X4 and Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe features a very similar design to the facelifted Q5 from the front up to the B-pillars.

From then on, the roofline drops more abruptly towards the back, drawing a coupe-like profile and glasshouse. The rear end is the most distinct part of the Q5 Sportback, which features a more inclined screen and, subsequently, a different tailgate. A closer look reveals more differences compared to the 2021 Q5 SUV, the most visible of which are the sportier bumpers and grille inserts of the S line variant.

See Also: Here’s Our First, Virtually Undisguised Look At The 2021 Audi Q5 Sportback

The LED headlights (matrix LED for S line models and above) and LED taillights (OLED technology standard on high-spec models and the SQ5 Sportback) look identical with the regular Audi Q5, though. When it comes to size, the Q5 Sportback is 7 mm (0.3 in) longer than the Q5, with the height, width and wheelbase being identical. Thanks to the body shape, the Q5 Sportback has a lower coefficient of drag at 0.30.

Mind you, customers choosing the Q5 Sportback will have to sacrifice a bit on practicality as the boot volume is 510 liters (18 cu ft), 40 liters (1.4 cu ft) smaller than in the Q5. When the rear seats are folded down, the capacity increases to 1,480 liters (52.2 cu ft) – 70 liters (2.5 cu ft) less than the Q5.

Inside, the two-section dashboard is identical to the regular Q5 and features a freestanding 10.1-inch MMI display powered by the third generation modular infotainment system (MIB 3), standard 12.3-inch Audi Virtual Cockpit plus (in the UK), as well as MMI Navigation Plus and Audi connect internet connectivity.

Optional extras (standard on UK-spec Vorsprung models) include a 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system, a head-up display, Audi Phone Box wireless handset charging, and a host of advanced driver assistance upgrades, including adaptive cruise assist and lane centering.

In the United States, the Audi Q5 Sportback will offer a standard 2.0-liter TFSI engine assisted by a 12V mild-hybrid electric vehicle system producing a total of 261 HP (265 PS) and 273 lb-ft (370 Nm) of torque. U.S. customers will also get the SQ5 Sportback powered by a 3.0-liter TFSI V6 engine rated at 349 HP (355 HP) and 369 lb-ft (500 Nm) of torque.

At launch, European customers will get two 204 PS (201 HP) 2.0-liter four-cylinder engines with mild-hybrid tech – a TDI and a TFSI. The SQ5 Sportback will also arrive early in Europe and it will continue with the diesel engine, more specifically a 347 PS (342 HP) 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 with mild-hybrid assistance. Later on, Audi will also offer two plug-in hybrid TFSIe variants.

The four-cylinder engines are mated to a seven-speed S tronic dual clutch transmission while the V6 TDI in the SQ5 Sportback gets an eights-speed tiptronic automatic. Quattro all-wheel drive is standard in all models.

Note: European model pictured

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2021 Hyundai Veloster N Adds 8-speed DCT, Available in October

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Hyundai today released product details for its 2021 Veloster N model, which now offers a high-performance N eight-speed wet dual-clutch transmission (N DCT), N Light Sport Seats, navigation and a full host of new driver-assistance features. The 2021 Veloster N, including models with the new N DCT, will arrive at US Hyundai dealers in October.

 

2021 VELOSTER N

  • New, available N Eight-Speed Wet Dual-Clutch Transmission
    • Steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters
    • Thermal endurance capabilities meet sustained high-performance levels
    • Includes N Track Sense Shift with Launch Control
  • New standard N Light Sport Seats with Illuminated N Logo
    • Performance side bolsters and 4.4 lb. weight reduction
  • Performance Package equipment now standard on Veloster N
  • New, standard eight-inch display audio/navigation system
  • New, standard driver assistance features include: Forward Collision-avoidance Assist, Lane Following Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Driver Attention Warning, Blind Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist and Rear Cross-traffic Collision Warning
  • New white exterior color replaces Chalk White exterior color (November production)

2021 VELOSTER (all non-N Models)

  • 2021 Veloster is not changed from the 2020 Veloster model

“Veloster N demonstrates Hyundai’s approach to high-performance cars. By equipping Veloster N with N DCT, drivers get performance and convenience at the same time,” said Thomas Schemera, Head of Product Division at Hyundai Motor. “Anyone who wants a fun driving experience will jump at the chance to pilot the new Veloster N – an everyday sports car with racetrack capabilities.”

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N Eight-speed Wet Dual-clutch Transmission
Hyundai developed the N DCT with manual or fully-automatic modes and eight speeds for improved acceleration and efficiency. N DCT is equipped with electronic actuators that operate the dual clutch, providing ride comfort, fuel efficiency and driving fun. Unlike a dry dual-clutch transmission, the wet N DCT uses oil to significantly improve lubrication and cooling performance, as required of higher-torque applications. The new N wet-type dual-clutch transmission uses an electric oil pump for increased thermal endurance and reduced direct parasitic drag on the powertrain. The N DCT was fully-developed in-house by N engineers, with a fun-to-drive tuning focus.

Race-like Manual Shift Logic
This fun-to-drive tuning target is further enhanced via an aggressive shift feel that is accentuated by “push” actuation. Under braking, with the driver resisting forward g-forces, lower gears are selected with an ergonomic forward push of the gear selector. Conversely, under the rearward g-forces of acceleration, higher gears are selected via a natural, rearward pull of the lever.

Korean-spec model shown

N Grin Shift
The N DCT even comes with game-like features that enhance driving fun. N Grin Shift (NGS) increases peak torque by seven percent from 260 lb.-ft. to 278 lb.-ft. by allowing temporary turbocharger over-boost and maximizing transmission response. When activated, the N Grin Shift mode causes the powertrain to shift to its sportiest program for up to 20 seconds (such as for passing). Further, transmission customization settings are now available in the “Custom” screen mode.

N Power Shift and N Track Sense Shift
N Power Shift (NPS) engages when the car accelerates with more than 90 percent throttle demand, mitigating torque reduction by using upshifts to deliver maximum power to the wheels through each gear change. This gives the driver a responsive feeling of dynamic acceleration when shifting, with a factory-estimated zero to 60 mph time of 5.6 seconds. N Track Sense Shift (NTS) discerns when road conditions are optimal for dynamic driving and activates automatically, selecting the right gear and shift timing for optimal performance.

Driving Experience Customization
Along with other updated features, such as Rev Matching, Launch Control and Overboost, Veloster N is optimized to automatically sense driving styles and road conditions to optimize shift points. For example, the car will hold lower gears longer in performance driving for better acceleration out of corners. Conversely, if the driver is aggressively pushing the car on a racetrack, the car will use the full range of available engine RPM to maximize performance. All of these features can be configured in Veloster N’s improved infotainment system, using the latest operating system shown on a high-definition eight-inch display.

N DCT Engineering
The Veloster N DCT transmission employs two clutch assemblies, one for odd gears and one for even and reverse gears. The clutch actuator assembly utilizes a lightweight electric motor-driven system for greater efficiency, optimized shift response and compact packaging. It also deploys an external damper for improved NVH (noise, vibration and harshness). The DCT uses an electromechanical gear actuator, yielding a lightweight design, higher fuel efficiency and precise shifting control via the engine’s electronic control unit. The DCT gearing assembly uses hollow input shafts for an ultra-lightweight and extremely responsive shifting character.

N Light Sport Seats
The new N Light Sport Seats are wrapped in cloth and leatherette upholstery to firmly hold the driver in position during spirited driving. These track-ready seats are thinner and lighter, with a weight reduction of 4.4 lbs. N Light Sports Seats have an illuminated N logo on the upper side of the backrest, adding to the interior aesthetic. The N logo illumination operates in conjunction with other interior lights to create a distinctive interior ambiance.

Korean-spec model shown

 

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Bentley Recalls Three Continental GTs Whose Sunroof Glass Panel Might Fly Off

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Bentley has informed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a recall conducted in North America on certain units of the 2020 Continental GT.

According to the information posted by the safety agency, there is an issue with the factory-installed sunroof, which may have not been properly bonded to the vehicle body. As a result, occupants could experience excessive wind noise and water leaks. In some cases, the entire glass panel could separate from the vehicle, becoming a hazard to other motorists and pedestrians.

Read Also: Believe It Or Not, Bentley’s 2020 Continental GT Has 7 BILLION Different Configurations!

The problem, which affects only three cars made between December 16, 2019, and February 3, 2020, was discovered recently during a routine check and is blamed on the adhesive bond that does not meet the required specification. The result was presented to the pre-Product Safety Committee in early April and the decision to announce the recall was taken at the end of May. One week later, the NHTSA was informed on the action.

Bentley noted that dealers will be notified on June 10, whereas owners will hear from the automaker on the 15th. Subsequently to scheduling an appointment with an authorized dealership, technicians will remove the old sunroof glass assembly and install a new one, “using the approved bonding products and procedure”. All work will be carried out free of charge, and those who have already fixed the issue on their own will not be reimbursed, as the vehicles are still covered by the warranty. The recall is expected to commence on June 15.

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