Anthony Fongaro

Reporting through December 20th, 2023, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has data about manufacturer recalls for the year. Ford has issued 54 recalls affecting 5,692,135 vehicles. Not only is this the highest of any automaker, but it marks the third year in a row that Ford is at the top spot for recalls. Ford had almost twice as many Kia vehicles at 3 million. This was related to leaking brake fluid which is a fire risk. Stellantis came second with 45 recalls and 2.7 million affected cars. Third to fifth place goes to BMW with 29 recalls, Mercedes-Benz with 27 recalls, and Nissan with 22 recalls. Ford had the highest number of recalls but didn't have the largest recall in 2023. That honor goes to Tesla for its Autopilot safety system. This affected 2,031,220 Tesla vehicles. According to NHTSA, Autopilot currently is not set up to prevent misusage. Tesla plans to remedy the Autopilot recall with over-the-air (OTA) updates. View full article

Car dealers have more cars in stock as of December since the spring of 2021. The metric car dealers use to measure their supplies is "days of inventory". This measures how long it would take to sell a new car at today's sales price. The age-old industry guideline is 60 days on a car lot. According to Cox Automotive, the average dealer has a 71-day supply. When you have an oversupply, prices start to lower. KBB states that the average for new car prices dropped from November 2022 to November 2023. It's the third straight month with year-over-year pricing decreasing. Due to anticipation of a union strike, automakers stocked up on cars during the summer. When the United Auto Workers (UAW) initiated their strike, they utilized a different tactic. A few factories were closed, but many factories were at full capacity. Several automakers are slowing down factories. Stellantis has announced it is cutting one of its shifts at a Jeep plant In Detroit. Stellantis is also cutting jobs and production at a Jeep plant in Toledo, Ohio. Meanwhile, GM is putting several assembly pants with scheduled downtime for product changeovers and maintenance. Not all brands are affected by the oversupply issue. November 2023 Toyota dealers had an average of 32 days, with Honda, Kia, and Lexus below 50. Jeep has the worst oversupply issue with a 128-day supply. Nine brands had over 100 days' worth of vehicles. View full article

General Motors announced on December 1st, 2023 a stop delivery of certain 2024 Chevy Equinox, Blazer, Blazer EV, and GMC Terrain models. A document published by NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration" specified certain Chevy Equinox and other vehicles were announced. GM has provided a list of VINs. Although GM halted deliveries, the main issue has not been publicly announced. This stop delivery is labeled under "Global Safety Field Investigations.". This suggests that GM is still working on a solution. Dealers with affected Chevy Equinox and other vehicles cannot be sold or delivered until they have further information. Some of these models have been sold to customers, but a bulletin given to dealerships with VIN should help with this situation. Further information includes a list of all dealers who had or sold the Stop Delivery. Along with the Stop-Delivery, these models can't be dealer-traded or used as a demonstration. This notice also has the problem reference number N232429910. For now, there is no timeframe for further information. View full article

Looks like GM is in the news again. Certain 2024 model-year Chevy Silverado GMC Sierra trucks could split in the metal on the passenger side. Due to this, GM announced a stop-sale. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA) has published a document that 3,067 vehicles are being inspected. They will test the 1,500, 2,500, and 3,500. Although it is stated that the damage is on the passenger side at the roof panel joint under the molding, the exact cause was not stated. Dealers were advised to wield up the crack. There are a few steps before wielding up the crack such as removing roof rail airbags on the passenger side. This document advised technicians to add anti-corrosion material and seam sealer to the underside of the weld. After this, they repaint the outer roof. There is no definitive time to fix the trucks with this defect. Along with the stop-sale, 3,893 2024 Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra trucks are under recall for steering gear shaft problems. View full article

It's the end of the road for the Chevrolet Camaro. The final Camaro was a ZL1 1LE with a manual transmission. As of now, there are no images of the final Camaro. Chevy didn't tell a spokesperson from Motor1 whether they would keep it or sell it to a customer. A Chevrolet spokesman said in a statement "Camaro is a passion product. It has developed a fan base worldwide and brought people into Chevrolet dealerships for generations. The sixth generation specifically represented athleticism and composure – exuding confidence on the road and dominance on the track." Chevy had previously announced in March 2023 that the Camaro would retire after the 2024 model year. The final edition for the Camaro is a 350-unit Collector's Edition. ZL1 Camaros come with Panther Black Matte paint and the unit number. Lower trim levels receive a Panther Black Metallic paint with satin black stripes. The current Camaro ran from 2010 to 2023. Throughout the years it had various inline-four, V6, and V8 engines. The Camaro ZL1 has a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 creating 650 horsepower and 650 lb-ft. It came with either a six-speed manual or a ten-speed automatic. Currently, there are no confirmed plans for a replacement for the Camaro. View full article

GM has decided to postpone EV drive production at its Toledo Propulsion Systems plant in Ohio. They have revised their schedule, with plants to start EV production by the end of 2024. This postponement has affected EV drive unit production by nine months. GM announced this information during a Wednesday meeting with employees at the Toledo plant. GM, in a statement on Wednesday, indicated that the decision to "retime the launch of Electric Drive Unit at the plant to Q4 2024" was made to better synchronize with the planned production schedule at the Orion Assembly. This development follows GM's previous announcement of a substantial $760 million investment aimed at preparing the Toledo plant to manufacture the first electric drive units for its EV lineup in the United States. GM's recent delays also extend to its electric trucks at the Orion Assembly, including the Chevy Silverado RST and GMC Sierra Denali EVs. The revised timeframe for production is late 2025. Despite these setbacks, GM continues its electric vehicle efforts, currently producing the Chevy Silverado EV Work Truck at Factory ZERO, already available for purchase. The Silverado RST EV, set to roll off the same facility's assembly line, is expected to be available in the first half of 2024. The GMC Sierra EV, slated for production at Factory ZERO, is expected to hit the market next summer. View full article

Since the reveal of the 2024 Lexus GX, we have seen the new designs, trim levels, and off-roading prowess. Now, Lexus has revealed pricing increases compared to its predecessor. The entry GX500 in Premium trim starts at $64,250. Top-tier Luxury+ trim levels increase the price to $81,250. For those seeking additional features in the Premium trim, the higher-tiered Premium+ trim, priced at $69,250, offers additional features that will be disclosed at a later time. High-end Luxury and Luxury+ trims, commencing at $77,250 and $81,250 respectively. An off-road Overtrail trim, available at a starting price of $69,250, is aimed at the off-road enthusiast. As with the Premium+ and Luxury+, there is a better-equipped Overtrail+ at $77,250, similarly priced to the Luxury trim level. Under the hood of the LX500 is a 379-horsepower twin-turbo 3.4-liter V-6 coupled to a 10-speed automatic and four-wheel drive. Four-wheel drive is optional apart from the Platinum trim. This powertrain delivers an EPA highway fuel economy rating of 21 mpg, a 2 mpg improvement over the previous generation's V8. Lexus has hinted at a hybrid version, but as of now, there has been no confirmation. All trim levels of the 2024 Lexus GX550 have a plethora of standard equipment. These include a 12.3-inch driver display and 14-inch center touchscreen grace the interior, along with heated/ventilated front seats, a 10-speaker stereo, and Lexus's Safety System+ 3.0. That includes automatic emergency braking, radar cruise control, lane-keep assist and departure warnings, and onboard cameras that can read road signs. Available upgrades include additional heated seats for the second row, a 21-speaker Mark Levinson sound system, a heads-up display, and a cooler box. Look for the 2024 Lexus GX500 in your local dealership in early 2024. As of now, pre-orders are available but the build configurator is not yet live. View full article

The National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) has received a recall from Tesla covering 2,031,220 vehicles. Products affected span from the 2012-2023 Model S, 2016-2023 Model X, 2020-2023 Model Y, and 2017-2023 Model 3. These recalls are for those vehicles with Autosteer. Tesla's Autosteer system, in certain scenarios, would fail to consider driver awareness or emergency driver intervention. This leads to potential misuse or cancellation issues. After testing the Autosteer technology, the NHTSA stated, "In certain circumstances when Autosteer is engaged, the prominence and scope of the feature's controls may not be sufficient to prevent driver misuse of the SAE Level 2 advanced driver-assistance feature." Tesla's response to the problems will be to send out an over-the-air (OTA) software update to address these issues. This update will include additional alerts and control beyond what the current system has. When Autosteer is activated, there will be more checks on the driver outside controlled-access highways. There is a possibility that Tesla will suspend Autosteer for those driving irresponsibly. As of midday on December 7th, 2023, Tesla's fleet has received a soft release to incorporate the necessary updates and enhancements. View full article

I haven't but those stats sound promising.

And seriously quick!

Mercedes-AMG has revealed the most powerful SL to date. The SL63 S E Performance makes 816 horsepower and 1,047 lb-ft. This is thanks to combining AMG's 612 horsepower 4.0-liter V8 and AMG's Electric Unit, making this a plug-in hybrid. Performance now has the 0-60 MPH in a mere 2.9 seconds. Top speed is 197 MPH. The inclusion of a 400-volt, 6.1-kWh battery pack offers 8 miles of all-electric range. This battery pack is engineered by AMG and has direct cooling to keep the battery at the optimal temperature. Innovative aerodynamics plays an important role in performance. AMG adapted the SL's active aerodynamics for the electrified platform, introducing enhancing stability and offering the rear spoiler to tilt in five positions. The stopping power of the SL63 S E Performance is through ceramic composite brakes with bronze calipers. Enthusiasts will be able to identify the SL63 E S Performance due to the charging port, name highlighted in red, E Performance fender badges, grooved trapezoidal twin tailpipes. Inside, the SL63 S E Performance offers a luxurious and sporty feel. AMG sports seats are standard, but buyers can get optional performance bucket seats with integrated headrests. The cabin contains one- and two-tone Nappa leather for a more opulent feel. Mercedes' MBUX infotainment system has AMG and hybrid-specific features, offering a blend of performance and technology. Mercedes' Manufaktur program is available for customers to extensively customize the interior and exterior. Standard features include active rear-axle steering, AMG Performance 4Matic+ AWD system, and AMG Active Ride Control suspension with semi-active stabilization. This innovative suspension system replaces the traditional torsion bar stabilizer, reducing body roll movements and enhancing overall driving dynamics. The regenerative braking system provides four levels of recoupment, with the ability for one-pedal driving. For now, there is no word on pricing, but the SL63 AMG S E Performance will come out sometime in 2024. View full article

After many years, auto enthusiasts in the United States can purchase a 2024 BMW Z4 with a six-speed manual. Production is scheduled for the first quarter of 2024 and no pricing has been released, but there is some speculation. BMW’s more powerful Z4 M40i will exclusively have the option of a manual gearbox. M40i Z4’s come with a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six with 328 horsepower and 369 lb-ft. This unique manual transmission was a collaboration between BMW and transmission company ZF. Manual-equipped Z4s get a rear axel from the BMW M240i which gives the Z4 an M Performance limited-slip differential. Other changes compared to the automatic include stiffer front anti-roll bar mounts and recalibrated adaptive dampers. Steering should feel more precise and responsive. Although many components are shared between the Z4 and Toyota Supra, the shift linkages are different. You’ll also find staggered wheels with 19 inches at the front and 20 inches at the rear. For now, there are no performance stats for the manual Z4 M40i. Tests of the automatic result in a 0-60 MPH time of 3.9 seconds, so the manual should be slower. Still, the inclusion of a manual results in more driver engagement in their sports convertible. With manuals disappearing more and more every day, it’s refreshing that BMW gave the Z4 a manual transmission. In M40i trim, the Z4 is already plenty quick. The inclusion of a manual gearbox gives those with a penchant for three-pedals a compelling vehicle. Automatic Z4 M40i models start at $67,000. Even if that price increased by $3,000, a manual Z4 would still be thousands less than an entry-level Porsche 718 Boxster at $72,000. The #savethemanuals fans can rejoice that they can get a powerful sports convertible. View full article

Chevrolet’s refreshed 2025 Tahoe and Suburban are getting updated technology and safety features. Some of these updates come from the Silverado EV. These SUVs will come with a 17.7-inch touchscreen along with an 11-inch driver’s display. Once optional safety features such as adaptive cruise control, rear pedestrian alert, and side bicyclist alert are now standard. Along with the updated tech are two new features. The first one is called Connected Cameras. Standard on the RST, Z71, Premier, and High County, allows owners to see various exterior and interior angles. This also records crashes and thefts. OnStar service will be required, along with a subscription. GM’s hands-free Super Cruise will be available for LT, RST, Premier, and High Country. Tahoe and Suburban will have the same trim levels as before. These are LS, LT, RST, Z71, Premier, and High Country. A 5.3-liter V8 is standard on all but the High Country trim level. Standard on the High Country and optional on the RST, Z71, and Premier is the 6.2-liter V8. While the 5.3-liter V8 produces 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft, the 6.2-liter V8 makes 430 horsepower and 460 lb-ft. An updated 3.0-liter inline-six turbo diesel makes 305 horsepower and 495 lb-ft. Every engine gets a 10-speed automatic. Both SUVs come with animations for turn signals and approach lighting. Two new colors include Cypress Gray and Lakeshore Blue Metallic. RST and High Country trim levels get 24-inch wheels. While the Suburban can tow 8,200 pounds, the Tahoe can tow 8,400 pounds. Pricing has yet to be revealed. View full article