A Barrett-Jackson auction was held in the USA, where a couple of dozen cars went under the hammer. Among them were not only rare specimens of past years, but also the latest models with serial number 01. For example, the first commercial SUV GMC Hummer EV SUV went under the hammer for 500 thousand dollars. Although two years ago the first Hummer pickup was exactly the same sold at auction for as much as 2.5 million dollars. However, according to the price list, an SUV in the welcome three-engine version of Edition 1 costs “only” 107 thousand dollars, and the entire batch was ordered back in 2021. Sales of the Hummer EV SUV model will begin only at the end of this year.
And the first instance of a sports car Ford Mustang new generation left the auction for 565 thousand dollars. This coupe has a 487 hp V8 engine. Sales of the new model in America will begin in the summer, so prices have not yet been announced, but, according to preliminary data, a similar coupe will cost regarding 50 thousand dollars. And the most expensive lot of the past auction was the 1989 Ferrari F40 supercar: $2.75 million was paid for it.
In America, preparations for the production of pickups are coming to an end Ford Ranger new generation. Pre-production cars have already appeared on the assembly line of the plant in Michigan, where Bronco SUVs are produced and the former Ranger was made. The photo shows the most powerful and extreme Ford Ranger Raptor with a V6 3.0 Ecoboost biturbo engine. According to preliminary information, the American Ranger will have a minimum of differences from similar African and Thai pickups.
Chief designer BMW Adrian van Hooydonk said that the company has no plans to produce pickups. Rumors regarding work in this direction have been circulating for several years, and in 2019 the company even built a show car. BMW X7 Pick-up, although it remained in a single copy and was used only for various events of the BMW Motorrad division. According to the chief designer, the company does not consider the segment of premium pickups to be promising. Another proof of this was the failure of the Mercedes-Benz X-class model.
Toyota this year will begin production of rechargeable hybrids and traction batteries in Europe. So far, the company produces here only conventional hybrids, which are equipped with imported batteries. The first assembly site for new products will be the Toyota plant in Turkey, where the production of Toyota C-HR hybrid crossovers will begin. second generation, and the rechargeable version should be on the conveyor in December. The capacity of the new traction battery assembly line is 75,000 per year. The company will invest 317 million euros in the expansion and modernization of the Turkish plant.
Honda published production statistics in 2022. The volume of car production decreased by 6.4%, to 3 million 870 thousand units. Among the world’s key regions for the company, production grew only in native Japan – by 4.6%, to 644 thousand cars. In China, production fell by 9.8% (to 1 million 424 thousand), and in the United States – by 2.9% (to 832 thousand cars). As for the sales statistics, so far Honda has published them only for the Japanese market: there, demand fell by 2%, to 568,000 cars. World data will be ready later.
Crossover sales start in China Exeed Yaoguang: there it has so far been offered only with a two-liter turbo engine (261 hp) and a seven-speed preselective “robot”. Prices – from 25 thousand to 27 thousand dollars. The Russian office of Chery announced that this model will appear on our market in the middle of this year. The “necessary research and testing” of the cars is now underway, and in addition, the crossover will probably come up with a more sonorous and readable name.
Chery has published photos of the pre-production SUV of the Jetour subsidiary. car called Jetour T-1 became a development concept TX a year ago. According to preliminary information, the all-terrain vehicle has a frame structure and a full-fledged off-road transmission with a demultiplier. Gasoline and hybrid versions with 1.6 and 2.0 turbo engines are promised, it will be possible to choose a two-row or three-row interior layout. The premiere of the serial car is expected in April, and the estimated price range is from 22 thousand to 30 thousand dollars.
Sollers has undergone large-scale personnel changes that have affected all of its factories. The most important thing is on UAZ a new CEO has been appointed. Instead of Adil Shirinov, 45-year-old Alexei Spirin (pictured) will take this position from February 1. He has been in the automotive industry since 2004, joined Sollers in 2008, worked for a long time at the Ford Sollers joint venture, and in 2019 he was appointed executive director of UAZ. With his transfer to the new position of general director, the position of executive director at the plant will be eliminated. Adil Shirinov remained at Sollers, he holds the position of Chairman of the Board of Directors.
Also today we talked regarding the new crossover Mazda CX-90 and range of cars from Russian dealers BMW. And the updated Mercedes-Benz GLE debuted tonight: wait for the story regarding it tomorrow.
