Photo: Ford
On this beautiful day of Christmas, we - the automotive fanatics - still choose to reflect about what happened across the US automotive industry over the past few days instead of spending time with a holiday cheer or something like that. Wink, wink!
I'm afraid that I can't help but sway you away from the time with family and friends because there was just too much commotion across the US automotive market this past week. It seems the industry doesn't sleep, doesn't rest, doesn't celebrate – it only works to bring to life our four-wheeled dreams. No worries, I won't take too much of your time to zip through the most important novelties of the past week – I'm going back to see if there are more presents under the tree that I forgot about.
Anyway, let us start with a piece of rumor – Stellantis isn't abandoning Chrysler. Wait, wait, don't laugh too hard – they are simply planning a significant refresh for the acceptable Pacifica minivan, which is now the brand's sole vehicle on sale after the demise of the Chrysler 300 sedan. Apparently, the EV plans aren't going according to plan (pun intended), and Pacifica needs to help them survive at least until the company's first dedicated EV comes to market to try and revolutionize the sector.
Secondly, this one is of global interest, not just focused on America. The Brits from McLaren have decided their first-ever dedicated grand tourer, dubbed simply McLaren GT, needs an overhaul. Still exhibiting a chronic lack of naming imagination, the replacement model is called GTS. Don't ask me why the 'S,' but this major refresh comes with familiar styling, a nose that can be lifted in four seconds instead of eight to go past the pesky bumpers, some 14.8 cubic feet of cargo area behind the electrically operated glass tailgate with a soft-close function, and another 5.3 cubic feet of storage in the frunk.
Oh, the company also updated the mechanical components and used standard perks like carbon ceramic brakes, adaptive dampers, as well as the same 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 as always – albeit with an extra 14 ponies for a total of 626 hp. While it might not sound like much compared to the competition, the McLaren GT is also nimbler than before by 22 pounds, and its curb weight is now 3,351 lbs. That's not bad at all, frankly. So, although it's a mannered gentleman, the McLaren GT can still rip your heart out when screaming with joy at the sight of zero to 60 mph in 3.1 seconds, zero to 124 mph in less than nine seconds, and a top speed of 203 mph.
With that in mind, I am pretty sure it won't sell like hotcake. Because it's expensive, that's why! Moving on, I really wish Toyota wouldn't kill off the affordable Venza to make room for the 2025 Crown Signia, and instead, they brought to America the cool new Crown Sport crossover SUV with the 302-hp plug-in hybrid powertrain. It would look like a poor man's Ferrari Purosangue when bought in crimson, but it would probably be around ten times more efficient and environmentally friendly! If we talked about Toyota, then we shouldn't forget about the Lexus premium division. The luxury brand had two novelties this week – their newly introduced (January 2023) Lexus RZ – think of it as a posher and more powerful but also utterly expensive Toyota bZ4X – has a new base model. Fresh for the new model year, the RZ 300e is now the entry-level variant.
Powered by a 72.8 kWh battery pack from CATL and featuring 201 horsepower, this base model comes with a decent EPA range estimate of 266 miles. The change from AWD to FWD also brings significant chassis modifications at the rear, and Lexus claims the RZ 300e is more stable, smoother, and quieter than its more expensive dual-motor counterpart. Pricing kicks off at $55,150 (with destination), which still doesn't compare favorably to the $43,350 Toyota bZ4X, but at least it's not $59,850 like the RZ 450e Premium. Also, Lexus announced the 2025 UX Hybrid will be the company's first model to receive the brand's fifth-gen hybrid powertrain system.
New exterior colors and other enhancements come along for the 2025MY, and the new UX 300h packs the fifth-gen hybrid system consisting of an inline-four 2.0-liter plus two motor generators plus CVT for a total combined output of 196 hp – up from 181 hp in the predecessor. With shift-by-wire technology, the 2025 UX 300h can reach 60 mph in 7.9 seconds with AWD (aka E-Four). Pricing has not been announced yet, but we know the UX will come to America as a hybrid but also with full electric power. Speaking of MSRPs, the trend to inflate prices, whether or not inflation is actually at work, continues – Genesis announced the updated 2024 G70 sedan with a higher starting quotation of $41,500 ($42,625 with destination).
Alas, the premium South Korean brand has a good excuse for that hike – the entry-level model drops the previous 2.0-liter turbo mill in favor of a larger 2.5-liter packing 300 hp and 311 lb-ft, which is 48 hp more and an additional 51 lb-ft of torque compared to last year! On the other hand, the 2024 Subaru WRX has virtually no excuse for the hike of over $2k – it starts at $32,735 now, and even the destination fee got hiked from $1,020 for 2023 and $995 for the first model year to $1,120 in 2024. You do get a nicer infotainment system and a larger 11.6-inch touchscreen, plus EyeSight Driver Assist Technology across the board.
Before we conclude and return to Christmas celebrations, let's talk about the elephant in the rock-crawling and dune-bashing room. As we all know very well, the 2024 Ram 1500 TRX is the final model year for the gas-guzzling 702-hp monster truck equipped with the Hemi 6.2-liter supercharged V8. But it won't have the honor of going down in history as the most powerful gas-powered pickup truck ever. Instead, Ford has finally mustered the courage to exceed the rating, and its updated 2024 F-150 Raptor R now sports 720 horsepower under the hood.
Apparently, the refreshed F-150 found the 20-horsepower increase "with reduced air inlet losses coupled with an optimized calibration that also results in a wider torque curve." It's pretty convenient for the Blue Oval company to be the 'last one standing' as they won't fear that Ram will come back with a vengeance and top their rating since the refreshed 2025 Ram 1500 lineup no longer includes the TRX. Alas, I bet the engineers could have done this from the get-go (remember, this is the same engine as used for the 760-hp S550 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500) and refrained just until Stellantis decided to pull the plug on the mighty TRX.
Anyway, let us start with a piece of rumor – Stellantis isn't abandoning Chrysler. Wait, wait, don't laugh too hard – they are simply planning a significant refresh for the acceptable Pacifica minivan, which is now the brand's sole vehicle on sale after the demise of the Chrysler 300 sedan. Apparently, the EV plans aren't going according to plan (pun intended), and Pacifica needs to help them survive at least until the company's first dedicated EV comes to market to try and revolutionize the sector.
Secondly, this one is of global interest, not just focused on America. The Brits from McLaren have decided their first-ever dedicated grand tourer, dubbed simply McLaren GT, needs an overhaul. Still exhibiting a chronic lack of naming imagination, the replacement model is called GTS. Don't ask me why the 'S,' but this major refresh comes with familiar styling, a nose that can be lifted in four seconds instead of eight to go past the pesky bumpers, some 14.8 cubic feet of cargo area behind the electrically operated glass tailgate with a soft-close function, and another 5.3 cubic feet of storage in the frunk.
Oh, the company also updated the mechanical components and used standard perks like carbon ceramic brakes, adaptive dampers, as well as the same 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 as always – albeit with an extra 14 ponies for a total of 626 hp. While it might not sound like much compared to the competition, the McLaren GT is also nimbler than before by 22 pounds, and its curb weight is now 3,351 lbs. That's not bad at all, frankly. So, although it's a mannered gentleman, the McLaren GT can still rip your heart out when screaming with joy at the sight of zero to 60 mph in 3.1 seconds, zero to 124 mph in less than nine seconds, and a top speed of 203 mph.
With that in mind, I am pretty sure it won't sell like hotcake. Because it's expensive, that's why! Moving on, I really wish Toyota wouldn't kill off the affordable Venza to make room for the 2025 Crown Signia, and instead, they brought to America the cool new Crown Sport crossover SUV with the 302-hp plug-in hybrid powertrain. It would look like a poor man's Ferrari Purosangue when bought in crimson, but it would probably be around ten times more efficient and environmentally friendly! If we talked about Toyota, then we shouldn't forget about the Lexus premium division. The luxury brand had two novelties this week – their newly introduced (January 2023) Lexus RZ – think of it as a posher and more powerful but also utterly expensive Toyota bZ4X – has a new base model. Fresh for the new model year, the RZ 300e is now the entry-level variant.
Powered by a 72.8 kWh battery pack from CATL and featuring 201 horsepower, this base model comes with a decent EPA range estimate of 266 miles. The change from AWD to FWD also brings significant chassis modifications at the rear, and Lexus claims the RZ 300e is more stable, smoother, and quieter than its more expensive dual-motor counterpart. Pricing kicks off at $55,150 (with destination), which still doesn't compare favorably to the $43,350 Toyota bZ4X, but at least it's not $59,850 like the RZ 450e Premium. Also, Lexus announced the 2025 UX Hybrid will be the company's first model to receive the brand's fifth-gen hybrid powertrain system.
New exterior colors and other enhancements come along for the 2025MY, and the new UX 300h packs the fifth-gen hybrid system consisting of an inline-four 2.0-liter plus two motor generators plus CVT for a total combined output of 196 hp – up from 181 hp in the predecessor. With shift-by-wire technology, the 2025 UX 300h can reach 60 mph in 7.9 seconds with AWD (aka E-Four). Pricing has not been announced yet, but we know the UX will come to America as a hybrid but also with full electric power. Speaking of MSRPs, the trend to inflate prices, whether or not inflation is actually at work, continues – Genesis announced the updated 2024 G70 sedan with a higher starting quotation of $41,500 ($42,625 with destination).
Alas, the premium South Korean brand has a good excuse for that hike – the entry-level model drops the previous 2.0-liter turbo mill in favor of a larger 2.5-liter packing 300 hp and 311 lb-ft, which is 48 hp more and an additional 51 lb-ft of torque compared to last year! On the other hand, the 2024 Subaru WRX has virtually no excuse for the hike of over $2k – it starts at $32,735 now, and even the destination fee got hiked from $1,020 for 2023 and $995 for the first model year to $1,120 in 2024. You do get a nicer infotainment system and a larger 11.6-inch touchscreen, plus EyeSight Driver Assist Technology across the board.
Before we conclude and return to Christmas celebrations, let's talk about the elephant in the rock-crawling and dune-bashing room. As we all know very well, the 2024 Ram 1500 TRX is the final model year for the gas-guzzling 702-hp monster truck equipped with the Hemi 6.2-liter supercharged V8. But it won't have the honor of going down in history as the most powerful gas-powered pickup truck ever. Instead, Ford has finally mustered the courage to exceed the rating, and its updated 2024 F-150 Raptor R now sports 720 horsepower under the hood.
Apparently, the refreshed F-150 found the 20-horsepower increase "with reduced air inlet losses coupled with an optimized calibration that also results in a wider torque curve." It's pretty convenient for the Blue Oval company to be the 'last one standing' as they won't fear that Ram will come back with a vengeance and top their rating since the refreshed 2025 Ram 1500 lineup no longer includes the TRX. Alas, I bet the engineers could have done this from the get-go (remember, this is the same engine as used for the 760-hp S550 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500) and refrained just until Stellantis decided to pull the plug on the mighty TRX.
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