Author: Tabitha

The Vietnam-based automaker technically can’t be called a startup, but it has been producing cars in its home market only for the past couple of years. VinFast’s initial plans for North America call for 30 company stores (not dealerships) to be up and running in California by December, with vehicle deliveries and expansion to other states following shortly after. In Canada, a limited number of VinFast stores will open in major cities in early 2023. The first VinFast to arrive will be the five-passenger VF 8 utility-style vehicle with a base price of $40,700, plus a $110/month subscription fee for…

The last major reworking of the automaker’s popular utility vehicle happened for 2017, so a makeover was certainly due. The new look includes a significantly larger grille and lower air intake, while the interior is more contemporary. The 2023 CR-V is about three inches longer, while the distance between the front and rear wheels grows by about 1.5 inches, resulting in a bit more rear-seat legroom. The hybrid CR-V had slightly less cargo space than the nonhybrid, but they are the same for 2023. Unchanged is the nonhybrid’s 1.5-liter four-cylinder, which makes 190 horsepower. The hybrid system — available in…

The retail giant has agreed to purchase 4,500 electric vans — called Lifestyle Delivery Vehicles — from start-up automaker Canoo. Both companies are based in Bentonville, Ark. The vans are for what Walmart calls “last mile deliveries,” including delivering online orders from its stores. Walmart says it might buy additional vehicles from Canoo if the need arises. Vehicle production is expected to begin in late 2022, with deliveries expected for early 2023. Canoo plans to introduce a similar-looking pickup and a larger cube-style delivery van. All will originate from the company’s plant in Oklahoma. The Canoo Lifestyle Delivery Vehicles will…

Kia’s concept electric utility vehicle was first shown in late 2021 at the Los Angeles International Auto Show. Roughly the size of the big Telluride, the eight-passenger EV9 is expected to break cover in finished form by mid-2023 as a 2024 model. Front and rear electric motors produce a net 576 horsepower and 546 pound-feet of torque. Maximum range is estimated at 300-plus miles. Kia expects to add 11 EVs to its lineup by 2026. The Kia EV9 will get front and rear electric motors for a net horsepower output of 576, and 300 miles of range. PHOTO: KIA

A Toyota nameplate that has existed in Japan since the mid-1950s will appear for 2023 in North America, attached to a full-size all-wheel-drive hybrid sedan to replace the Camry-based Avalon. Base XLE and mid-level Crown Limited trims will operate with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder plus front and rear electric motors. Output is rated at 236 horsepower. The Crown Platinum gets a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder, a six-speed automatic transmission and dual electric motors. Output is rated at 340 horsepower. Combined city/highway fuel economy for the non-turbo is pegged at 38 mpg. With a hiked up ride height, there will also be plenty…

After an eight model-year run, the first-generation HR-V will give way to a redesigned 2023 version to better compete with similar models from Hyundai, Kia, Chevrolet and others. The previous HR-V was based on the retired subcompact Fit hatchback, so the 2023 model switches to the larger Civic platform. That means more interior room and a bigger engine with more power: A 158-horse 2.0-liter four-cylinder and a continuously variable transmission. As before, all-wheel-drive is optional. On a utility note, the flip-up rear-seat cushion will no longer be available. It provided additional stowage height for objects placed on the floor. The…

The premium division of Volvo will introduce what it calls “the SUV for the electric age” this October as a 2023 model. The midsize Polestar 3’s swept-back design gives it an aerodynamic appearance and there’s an equally dramatic-looking front end. Power will be supplied by front and rear electric motors that are said to deliver 300-plus miles of range, although actual output has yet to be revealed. The Polestar 3 — which joins the two-door Polestar 1 and Polestar 2 sedan – will be built alongside the Volvo XC90 at the automaker’s plant in Charleston, S.C. The Polestar 3 will…

The CR-V is one of the most popular models in its class and will undergo a redesign for the 2023 model year. Only teaser images have been released so far, but it’s known that the utility vehicle will be about three inches longer overall, which could mean a third-row-seat option. The CR-V will also use a version of the Honda Civic’s turbocharged four-cylinder and will likely offer the same hybrid option that the Civic gets for 2023. It consists of a 2.0-liter four-cylinder plus two electric motors that make a net 212 horsepower. All-wheel-drive will be standard for the hybrid,…

The short-lived stainless-steel-bodied sports car with the gullwing doors was made famous for its appearances in the “Back to the Future” movie trilogy. The Texas-based company that currently owns the naming rights recently revealed the DeLorean Alpha5, which bears zero resemblance to the original, but does retain the roof-hinged doors. Instead of using a rear-mounted gasoline engine like the original, the Alpha5 will come with front and rear electric motors supported by a lithium-ion battery pack. DeLorean says the Alpha5 will accelerate to 60 mph from rest in 3.4 seconds and it will have a 300-mile range. Horsepower ratings and…

With a break in the cloud cover of COVID-19, organizers seized the opportunity and hammered together the Moncton car show in six weeks instead of the usual six months By JEFF MELNYCHUK www.wheelbasemedia.com A year ago, crowds were lined up for COVID-19 vaccinations at the Moncton Coliseum. Now they are lined up to see cars. It’s a coin toss as to which is more surreal, but Frank Jobin was here then and he’s here now. As a father of twins born nearly six months before New Brunswick government restrictions forced the cancellation of the 2020 Radical Speedsport car show in…