Thoughts Working at a Kia Dealership

In my time working at my local Kia dealership, I had the opportunity to spend lots of time with the Korean brand's latest models. Driving the cars to different lots, dealerships, and customers' homes both near and far away revealed much about each of them. Kia has built its brand around offering a comprehensive 10 year, 100,000 mile powertrain warranty, but how do its cars and SUVs stand on their own merits? Here are my thoughts about all the cars I drove on the job. However, there are a few models that I didn't get fully acquainted with. The dealership used a base-trim Sedona as a service shuttle; it reminded me of my family's old Ford Windstar. My dealership also never stocked any new Cadenzas. A used one showed up once, but I never drove it. As for the Kia K900, well, let me know if you ever see one.

Kia Forte

A surprisingly competent and composed small sedan with strong build quality and attention to detail. Available in a wide range of trim levels for different budgets. Top-spec 201 hp, 1.6L turbo GT is fun to drive and significantly undercuts rival sporty compacts on price. Models with the standard 147 hp, 2.0L engine return fantastic fuel economy. Many times driving on the highway I averaged high 40s or even 50 miles per gallon. Pity it doesn't come as a hatchback.

Kia K5

The Kia K5 improves upon all aspects of the Optima it replaces by leaps and bounds. Knockout exterior design and a completely overhauled interior move Kia's midsize sedan game up a level considerably. In a clever advertising campaign, Kia calls out other manufacturers for killing off their sedans while Kia "turbocharges ahead." The sedan market isn't dead yet, and Kia is determined to attract sedan shoppers to its dealers with the all new K5. Be on the lookout for the 290 hp, all-wheel drive GT out soon.

Kia Niro

How do you make sure your hybrid/electric vehicle doesn't suffer from any packaging compromises or performance issues that come from fitting extra batteries inside the car? The answer is you design a vehicle from the outset to accommodate the necessary electric hardware. While on the small side of the crossover spectrum, there is plenty of room in the Niro for a family of four and their cargo. If you have never driven a hybrid or electric vehicle before, the silent operation of the motor may be a bit disconcerting. The Niro can be pricy, but a combined fuel economy rating of 49 miles per gallon can result in significant savings at the pump.

Kia Rio

Don't let the Rio's low price, and admittedly chintzy ancestors fool you. The current generation Rio subcompact sedan and hatchback exceed their humble mission brief to deliver a classy and sophisticated experience with a smart layout and pleasing materials. 120 hp isn't much, but it is plenty adequate to move the Rio along at normal speeds. Ride and handling are also impressive for such a small car. The hatchback model adds more cargo space and slightly more passenger volume, making it the ideal choice.

Kia Seltos

The first ever Kia Seltos had an important job upon its introduction for the 2021 model year. It effectively splits the difference between the subcompact Soul and the compact Sportage by pairing tidy exterior dimensions and robust all-wheel drive with enough style and personality to stand on its own. The Seltos feels big on the inside and material quality is superb. Seltos buyers should never leave the showroom feeling shortchanged. Confident handling and aforementioned all-wheel drive should make the Seltos a hit here in New England.

Kia Sorento

Life for the Kia Sorento hasn't been easy. Forced to pull the brand along following the spectacular sales failure of the Borrego, the Sorento now finds itself regularly upstaged by its newer big brother, the Telluride. Despite this, the Sorento makes sense as a family vehicle in the ultra-competitive midsize crossover market. The interior layout is simple and straightforward with upper trim levels adding noticeable luxurious elements to class up the cabin. Acceleration is strong, and the vehicle rides comfortably enough to make long trips a breeze. A third row of seats comes standard, but should only really be used in emergencies. The Sorento functions much better as a two-row SUV with the third row folded flat to maximize cargo space.

Kia Soul

One of my personal favorite cars in the Kia lineup, the Soul's balance of style, practicality, and affordability is hard to beat. It manages the rare feat of being cheap without looking or feeling cheap. The fact that the Soul is popular with people ranging in age from 17 to 77 speaks volumes to its versatility and ease of use. True, it doesn't come with all-wheel drive, but the Soul's engaging handling and a set of proper tires should get the Soul out of most trouble spots.

Kia Sportage

The Kia Sportage holds the distinction of being one of the brand's oldest nameplates in North America, first debuting back in 1993. The vehicle has gone through quite a metamorphosis since then. There was a time when you could buy a three-door Sportage with a convertible roof! Now, the Sportage is a lynchpin to Kia's SUV lineup, and impressed me with its intuitive interior layout, comfy seats, and optional turbocharged engine. Although the current model is getting a bit long in the tooth, it continues to hold its own against the competition.

Kia Stinger

It's rather unfortunate that the Kia Stinger has fallen off the radar as of late. Sales have slowed considerably, and there are questions as to whether the Stinger will live to see a second generation. The loss of the Stinger would be a heavy blow to Kia as well as the entire automotive industry. The halo cast by the Stinger has imbued several of Kia's models with greater degrees of sportiness. With a base price that undercuts similar models from Audi and BMW by several thousand dollars, and performance figures that keep the Germans within reach, the Stinger makes for a compelling performance sedan. When you enter a Stinger, you immediately know that you are getting inside something special. A flat-bottomed steering wheel, deeply bolstered seats, and a distinctive T-shaped shift lever communicate that this car means business. Rear legroom is generous, even though outward rear visibility isn't the best. It even comes with a hatchback, making loading things into the trunk a breeze. Don't let your significant other talk you out of getting a Stinger. Just mention all the practical benefits as well as the Stinger's 365 hp, twin-turbo V6.

Kia Telluride

2020 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. 2020 Motor Trend SUV of the Year. 2020 World Car of the Year. And now a two-time Car and Driver 10 Best award winner. Does the Kia Telluride lives up to the hype? Yes it does. Forget the K900. That car is a unicorn for the couple hundred people who know or care that it exists. The Telluride is the true flagship of the Kia brand. If you are looking for a new family vehicle, there are not many better choices out there than a Telluride. It's outer appearance is unlike anything else on the market, and the Nightfall Edition package, such as on the Telluride in the photo above, adds an appropriate level of menace to the vehicle. Build quality and materials are top notch and there are plenty of comfort, convenience, and safety features included regardless of trim level. Unlike the Sorento, the Telluride's third row is spacious, and can be enjoyed by children and adults. On the road, the Telluride drives smoothly, with the 291 hp V6 engine never feeling like it is struggling to move the car along. Loaded SX Tellurides top out just below $50,000, a relative bargain for the level of luxury you get. Car and Driver even jokes that people interested in the Telluride should buy one now before Kia realizes how good its car is and raises the price accordingly.

Toy Story at 25

Moviegoers on November 22, 1995 had no idea what they were in for when they lined up to see Toy Story for the first time. They were going to be the first people in the world to see a feature length animated film made entirely on computers. Leading up to Toy Story's release, executives at both Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios were nervous about how people would respond to a film unlike anything that had been produced before.

Earlier in 1995, Casper marked a cinematic milestone by featuring the first fully CGI character in a lead role. But Toy Story was going to be different. Not only were all of the characters CGI, their entire world would be created solely through the use of computer based animation. 

For Disney, a company that pioneered and mastered the art of traditional hand-drawn animation, Toy Story was a bold step in a new direction. For Pixar, a young animation company with roots in Lucasfilm's Computer Division before being purchased and spun off as an independent company by Steve Jobs in 1986, the film was a chance to prove that the technology they used to produce 3-D animated short films and TV commercials had reached a level of maturity capable of handling the processing power to create a full length movie.

As it turned out, no one should have worried. Toy Story opened at #1 that weekend and went on to become the highest grossing animated film of the year with a worldwide total of $362 million. The film was later recognized with Academy Award nominations for Best Original Song, Best Original Score, and Best Original Screenplay. It was the first time an animated film of any sort had been recognized for screenwriting. Director John Lasseter also won a special Oscar for the technical achievement Toy Story represented.

The success of Toy Story sent shockwaves through the movie industry, forever changing the way animated movies were made. By the end of the next decade, nearly all animation studios, including Disney, had switched to full CGI to produce their films. The benefits of animating solely on computers are tremendous. Up to this point, animated films were basically gigantic flip books - series of individual frames one after the other with everything having to be redrawn for each successive frame. Static elements like backgrounds could be carried over, but anything that changed shape had to be adjusted even if the changes were miniscule. With a computer, all elements of a scene - characters, background elements, props, etc. - are stored as separate assets, and can be replicated infinitely without any loss of quality.

This is particularly beneficial for franchise building if the studio wishes to spin off its movie characters into sequels, television shows, or video games. Take for example the 2001 animated film, Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius. Originally, Nickelodeon envisioned Jimmy Neutron as a TV series with an accompanying theatrical movie later down the road, but series creator, John A. Davis, suggested that the film be made first, so that the development team could create all assets at theatrical quality, and then reuse them for the TV series. The Jimmy Neutron TV series could then be made relatively cheaply since everything was pretty much already in place.

Toy Story also furthered the burgeoning trend of getting A-list celebrities to lend their voices to animated projects. Disney films of the 1990s were slowly beginning to feature well-known actors in voice over roles, the most famous of which being Robin Williams as the Genie in 1992's Aladdin. But Toy Story raised the bar by featuring a cast made up almost entirely of celebrity performers and character actors whose voices were immediately recognizable to adult viewers. Even so, there was still a stigma among actors about not being able to show their faces in a movie role. Tom Hanks only signed up for his now iconic role as Woody after seeing some animation synced to his voice from Turner & Hooch. Tim Allen on the other hand signed on instantly for the role of Buzz Lightyear. Allen was approached after Pixar's first choice, Billy Crystal, dubious of the potential of the project declined to participate, a decision he later regretted. Crystal would later take on the role of Mike Wazowski in Pixar's 2001 film Monsters, Inc.

But perhaps Toy Story's greatest achievement was establishing a blueprint that all Pixar films since have stuck to, putting the story first. While audiences were undoubtedly wowed by the impressive technology behind the film, it was the story of Woody and Buzz learning to work together and make their way back home to their owner, Andy, that kept audiences coming back for more. Future Pixar films continued this theme. By not talking down to children, but instead talking up to adults, the people at Pixar created movies that the whole family could enjoy. 

Moviegoers certainly lined up to support Pixar, with Pixar films outgrossing Disney animated films on a regular basis. Realizing Pixar's prowess at filmmaking, Disney purchased the animation studio outright in 2006 for $7.4 billion in 2006 and installed Steve Lasseter as Chief Creative Officer. Even so, it would take until the release of Frozen in 2013 for a Walt Disney Animation Studios film to earn more money than a Pixar film released the same year. It is also worth noting that Toy Story 3 released in 2010 became the first animated film to gross more than a billion dollars worldwide.

Twenty five years later, the effects of Toy Story continue to be felt throughout the movie industry. Constant advances in computer technology make it easier than ever to produce animated movies with incredible attention to detail. Voicing an animated character is no longer something to be ashamed of, but rather a prestigious addition to an actor's resume. And animated movies no longer just exist in the realms of children's entertainment, they can be enjoyed and beloved by adults as well.

Happy Anniversary, Toy Story!  

Jaguar Prunes Lineup Amid a Changing Luxury Landscape

The business of selling luxury cars isn't what it used to be. Customers are no longer expected to leave dealerships in big, V8-powered sedans. Nowadays crossovers and SUVs reign supreme, and there is a growing expectation that they will be powered, at least in part, by electricity.

Some carmakers have already adjusted for this new reality. Buick and Lincoln are now SUV-only brands for the first time in their history. Volvo has promised that half of the vehicles it produces will be fully electric by 2025. Mercedes-Benz is staying busy adding new models to its EQ electric subbrand.

Jaguar is in the midst of carrying out its own plans for the future. For 2021, the British luxury brand has dropped the XE sedan and the XF Sportbrake - Jaguar-speak for wagon - from its US lineup. The XF sedan continues on with a reshaped front end and a significantly updated interior. Base prices drop by $7,105 to help mitigate the loss of the entry level XE, and all XFs will be powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine making either 246 or 296 horsepower. The XF is also Jaguar's last sedan standing, at least until a new, all-electric XJ arrives. It joins the E-Pace, F-Pace, and I-Pace SUVs, as well as the F-type sports car.

Jaguar has never been a major player in the American market. Annual sales have been around 30,000 units for the last two years. For comparison, that's about the number of cars BMW sells in a month. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Jaguar has sold a little over 16,000 cars according to data compiled by GoodCarBadCar. Of that total, the F-Pace accounts for 7,891 vehicles.

Both the XE and the XF Sportbrake have been slow sellers, so cutting them from the lineup makes sense as way to reign in expenses. Only 3,551 XEs found homes last year, and less than 250 Sportbrakes have been sold over the course of three years according to Road and Track. Jaguar's sister brand, Land Rover, has sold 52,335 cars so far this year, further accentuating the shift in consumer preference toward SUVs.

With so little market share, positioning itself as a sporty, electric alternative to mainstream luxury vehicles appears to be Jaguar's best bet. However it must act quickly. As mentioned above, Mercedes and Volvo are steaming ahead to an electric future, and Audi and Porsche have also released their first all-electric model lines. Jaguar needs to capitalize on its core strengths: distinctive design, motorsports heritage, and wholesome British charm to keep loyal buyers coming into its showrooms and attract curious new prospects to the brand.

New Grand Wagoneer Pushes Jeep Further Upmarket

Hard to believe, but Jeep has been without a three-row vehicle in its lineup since it discontinued the Commander back in 2010. That will soon change with the arrival of the Jeep Grand Wagoneer next summer.

Sitting on the same body on frame platform as the Ram 1500, the Grand Wagoneer debuted on September 3 as a near production ready concept. Dimensions and powertrain specifications were not announced, but it seems likely that V-6 and V-8 gas engines, a plug-in hybrid setup, and quite possibly a diesel engine will be offered. Standard four wheel drive is a given. In fact buyers will be able to choose between three 4x4 systems. Both short and long wheelbase versions will be built. Lower content versions will be called Wagoneer, while the Grand Wagoneer name will be used on the upper trim levels. 

With prices expected to span from $60,000 to over $100,000, the Wagoneer / Grand Wagoneer goes toe-to-toe with a full spectrum of competitors from the Chevrolet Tahoe and Ford Expedition to the Mercedes-Benz GLS and the Land Rover Range Rover. As such, the Grand Wagoneer is equipped with plenty of wood, leather, and screens to satisfy the modern luxury SUV buyer.

During the introductory presentation, Jeep President, Christian Meunier, stressed how the Grand Wagoneer is a different kind of Jeep.

"The Jeep customer," said Meunier, "loves travelling, camping, and fishing. The Wagoneer driver would rather go golfing on the finest courses or cruising on their sailboat. If Jeep was a house, it would be a cabin in the woods. The Wagoneer, a glass house on the ocean. In our vision, Wagoneer will become a portfolio of SUVs that will redefine American premium and deliver a unique customer experience."

Ralph Gilles, Fiat Chrysler Automobile's Head of Design, echoed this sentiment. "We look at what Jeep means to most people. A Jeep, of course, has this incredible overtone of adventure. And we look at what Wagoneer can mean and it's the same idea but executed in a much more artisanal way."

Gilles likened other Jeep models to rugged hiking backpacks, while the Wagoneer is more akin to a luxurious designer backpack. It certainly looks the part with plentiful chrome trim, 24-inch wheels, backlit badging on the front and rear of the car, and LED lights front and rear which also run between each of seven slots of the signature front grille.

With the on sale date of the Grand Wagoneer almost a year away, there is still plenty of time for car buyers to decide whether a $60K+ three-row Jeep is the right car for them. Jeep owners are among the most passionate and loyal people out there when it comes to supporting their brand, so current owners looking for a larger car will certainly be excited.

And if the notion of spending close to six figures on a Jeep seems strange, you may not have noticed that Jeep vehicles have been climbing steadily in price for several years now. It is not uncommon to spend more than $50,000 on a new Wrangler or a Gladiator. Even a fully loaded Renegade can crest $30,000. The Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk with its legendary 707 horsepower, 6.2 liter Hellcat V-8 already comes close to $100,000. When people pay for a Jeep, they are also paying for membership into an exclusive way of life. Jeep is betting big that the Wagoneer and the Grand Wagoneer will provide owners with a distinctly American luxury experience no other domestic or foreign SUV can match.

My Favorite Racing Miku Designs

Photo: Good Smile Racing

If you follow Japanese Super GT racing, chances are you are familiar with the Good Smile Racing team. The Good Smile company is primarily involved in the production and sale of figures and toys, usually based on anime, manga, and video games that are popular in Japan. In 2008, Good Smile Company became the primary sponsor of Studie GLAD racing, a BMW team that took part in the GT300 division of the Super GT series. Good Smile used the opportunity to promote their Hatsune Miku merchandise through a licensing partnership with Crypton Future Media, the creator of the Vocaloid software that Hatsune Miku is a mascot for.

In 2010, after Studie took a leave of absence from the series, Good Smile Company formed their own racing team and continued to use Hatsune Miku as a mascot on a Porsche 911 with Team COX as a partner. The team, known as Good Smile Racing, switched back to BMW the following year after Team COX withdrew from the series, and re-entered a partnership with the returning Studie. The partnership between Good Smile Racing and Studie lasted until the end of the 2013 season and both teams went their separate ways. Good Smile Racing fielded a BMW Z4 for 2014 before changing over to its current partner, Mercedes-AMG.

Good Smile Racing won its first GT300 championship in 2011 by winning three out of eight races. They would later win another two championships in 2014 and 2017, becoming one of the most successful Super GT teams in series history. The team is very active on social media, sharing the race atmosphere to fans online, live streaming before and after races, and inviting fans to team parties. Good Smile Racing also employs a distinctive Personal Sponsor System. This system enables fans from all over the world to directly support the team.

Hatsune Miku's design has been adapted into a Racing Queen version for each season since 2010. The following list is my personal ranking of each design from worst to best. All following photos are from the official Good Smile Racing website.

#11 - 2015

This was an interesting year to say the least. It was Good Smile's first year with Mercedes yet it was Mercedes' last year with the SLS. It's most unfortunate that the beginning of this promising partnership kicked off with what I believe is the worst Racing Miku design. It doesn't look like her at all. The hair is far too spiky and something about the face is just off.

#10 - 2010

Like 2015, this version suffers mainly by not really looking like how Hatsune Miku is depicted in other media. I think the orange suit is also throwing me off.

#9 - 2011

Not a bad design. All the right colors are there, her face just has no personality. It must also be noted that this design was on the car that won Good Smile Racing's first championship.

#8 - 2020

I'm not a fan of the chibi style going on here. I always pictured Hatsune Miku as being around 16 or 17. Here she looks like she's either 13 or 14. The outfit is kind of odd, too.

#7 - 2016

2016 put the Good Smile Racing drivers into a Mercedes AMG GT3 for the first time. It also saw the return of the orange Racing Miku outfit. This design is also a little too chibi for my taste, but not as bad as 2020's. I think this design makes a better use of orange than 2010.

#6 - 2014

Remember what I said earlier about Hatsune Miku's age? Well, here she looks like she's about 23. It's a very different aesthetic that this time I think goes too far in the other direction.

#5 - 2012

All the right colors are there. Not a bad looking outfit either. We're definitely heading in the right direction now.

#4 - 2013

When someone mentions Hatsune Miku to you, this is most likely what you see in your mind. Great design all around.

#3 - 2017

First of all, I really like this one. It's easily my favorite of the softer edged designs. The outfit is adorable and her face is full of life. My only problem is I'm not sure people would recognize her without the Good Smile and Crypton logos. Her hair here is just a little too green that I don't think it will click with the majority of people that it's supposed to be her.

#2 - 2018

This design fixes the previous one by adding a bit more blue to her hair. She also has one of the more unique outfits of the bunch.

#1 - 2019

And here is my favorite Racing Miku design. Everything is spot on. Great hair. Great face. Awesome outfit. No doubt in anyone's mind who this is.

That's it for my list. Which Racing Miku design is your favorite? I'd love to know!

A Look at Pokemon Stage 2 Premium Checklane Blisters

The Pokémon Company is trying something different with the release of Rebel Clash. In addition to established two-card evolution blister packs, Rebel Clash marks the return of three-card premium checklane blisters. Buyers of this product will be able to add a complete Basic, Stage 1, and Stage 2 evolution line to their Pokémon trading card collection or their competitive decks.

Stage 1 blisters have been exclusive to Target stores since the release of the Team Up expansion last year. It appears that the Stage 2 blisters will only be sold at Wal-Mart, which is where I found the Galarian Obstagoon blisters featured in the photo at the top of this post. Also available is a blister featuring a complete line of Gastly, Haunter, and Gengar. Both the Obstagoon and Gengar lines first appeared in February's Sword & Shield base set, with Obstagoon and Gengar themselves being printed as rare holographic cards.

In addition to the Galarian Zigzagoon, Linoone, and Obstagoon cards, the blister includes a booster pack from the latest Pokémon Trading Card Game expansion, a code card to unlock the rare holo Stage 2 card in the Pokémon Trading Card Game Online, and a coin to be used while playing the game.

In a surprise change from premium checklane blisters released during the Sun & Moon era, the highest stage evolution cards retain their in-set holofoil treatment, making them no different from versions found in booster packs.

Running the numbers for the value you get from a Stage 2 premium checklane blister gives an iffy picture at best. These things sell for $6.99 apiece. A Stage 1 premium blister costing $4.99 contains everything else in the Stage 2 blister minus the middle stage evolution card. Two extra dollars for one uncommon card? I think not.

Value-wise, the Stage 1 premium checklane blisters are a much better deal, selling for the same price as a standard single card blister. Blister packs in general serve mainly as a way for young collectors to easily obtain holographic cards of popular Pokémon to add to their collection. That being said, Galarian Obstagoon is seeing some dominance in competitive play right now; but you can most likely purchase enough Zigzagoon, Linoone, and Obstagoon cards secondhand to make a full playset for the price of one of these blisters.

These new Stage 2 premium checklane blisters don't make a whole lot of sense for competitive players. But if you're just a casual collector looking to add a full line of Pokémon to your binder, they may be worth a look.

Nissan Will Drastically Cut Global Lineup

On May 28, Nissan announced that it will cut its global lineup of cars, trucks, and SUVs by 20 percent. The cuts will trim Nissan's fleet from 69 vehicles to just 55. The announcement comes amid the Japanese company's first annual loss in 11 years.

However, Nissan also released a video on its YouTube channel that teases 12 new vehicles to look forward to in the coming years. The video begins with silhouettes of cars driving by the first letter of their name. In alphabetical order, we can surmise that the letters correspond to Ariya, Armada, Frontier, Kicks, Micra, Navara, Note, Pathfinder, Qashqai, Rogue, Terra, and Z.

Yes, you read that correctly. Nissan is going to be bringing a new generation Z sports car as a replacement for the 370Z that has been sold here since 2009. No specifications are known at this time, but it seems like the new car will hew closely to the styling of the 370Z while adding some throwback elements from the original Datsun 240Z.

The video then fades to a wide shot with all 12 vehicles driving side by side. The vehicles drive toward and eventually pass by the camera. Finally, vehicle names flash one after the other on screen: Ariya, Armada, Frontier, Kicks, Navara, Note, Pathfinder, Qashqai, Rogue, Terra, X-Trail, Z.

Curiously, there is no mention of the Micra. It's place in the list has been taken up by the X-Trail, which is what our Rogue is known as in the rest of the world. Please keep in mind I'm only guessing that the M car is the Micra. It is definitely smaller than the Rogue, which means it can't be a Murano. Yet it appears to ride quite a bit higher than the Note. There are no other vehicles with names that begin with M in Nissan's lineup. The car to the left of the mysterious M car is definitely the Kicks, and the truck to the right of it is definitely the Navara.

What do you readers think? Did Nissan make a mistake, and this car is actually a reimagined X-Trail? Or could the next generation Micra transform into a crossover?

The other question this video raises is what is going to happen to Nissan's US lineup. The video shows plenty of crossovers and trucks, but no other cars aside from the Note (which isn't sold here) and the Z. Based on the video, the Armada, Frontier, Kicks, Pathfinder, Rogue Sport (i.e. Qashqai), and Rogue are safe. That leaves, the Titan pickup, the two NV vans, the GT-R, the Leaf, and Nissan's entire sedan range.

Let's start with the sedans. The Versa is a prime candidate for the chopping block. It sells mainly on its low base price, and even then less than 67,000 found homes in 2019. As Nissan strives to reinvent itself into a profitable company, low volume, low margin cars like the Versa don't have much chance. The Sentra and the Altima are in better shape. Nissan sold 184,618 Sentras and 209,183 Altimas last year. As for the Maxima, only 35,076 left dealer lots. Pricing on the Altima ends where the Maxima begins, and there isn't much equipment on the Maxima aside from a V-6 that you can't get on an Altima. Nissan would be wise to prune the high and low ends of its sedan line to focus on the strong selling middle ground.

Nissan brought this GT-R to the 2019 Boston Auto Show.

Next we have specialty cars like the Leaf and the GT-R. The upcoming all-electric Ariya crossover pretty much spells the end of the slow-selling Leaf. Nissan remains committed to electric vehicles, and clearly hopes that more people will be attracted to the added practicality offered by the Ariya.

The GT-R should probably be dead by now. Everything that made it such a gamechanger back in 2009 has since been surpassed by other more modern sports cars. Then there's the price. At $80,000, the GT-R was a decent value in 2009. Fast forward to 2020, and Nissan is asking $113,000 for base GT-Rs. If a GT-R NISMO fancies you, prepare to cough up more than $200K for one. Nissan has made no indication when or if it will produce a new GT-R. A company wide restructuring provides the perfect opportunity for Godzilla to make a graceful exit.

The Nissan NV 1500 is a beast. Here I am sitting in one

at the 2011 Boston Auto Show.

The Nissan Titan and NV commercial vans are probably safe. Sales of the Titan have been decent in recent years thanks to a long overdue redesign in 2016. The small NV200 van is a worldwide product and thus likely to survive for a few more years. The larger NV comes in 1500, 2500, and 3500 configurations and is built on the same platform as the Titan. If the Titan survives, it seems likely that the NV will, too.

Now I'd like to hear your thoughts. What Nissan models do you think are most at risk? Where would you like the company to focus its efforts in the future? Feel free to let me know in the comments.  

New Venza and Sienna Electrify Toyota's Lineup

Are you in the market for a new family car from Toyota? 2021 might be a good year for you with redesigned versions of the Venza and the Sienna taking their places among the Japanese carmaker's popular people carriers.

Toyota Venza exterior

The Venza nameplate returns after a six year hiatus upon a two-row midsize SUV sold in other parts of the world as the Toyota Harrier. A harrier is a predatory bird as well as a breed of dog, and is a much cooler name than Venza. However, I assume Toyota executives believe Venza carries some familiarity to American car buyers, so they decided to stick with the old name. That being said, the new Venza bears near to no resemblance to the original. The first Venza was a sort-of all-wheel-drive wagon version of the Camry with some Highlander elements thrown in. It was too burly to be considered a true station wagon, and yet not butch enough to pass as an SUV like the Nissan Murano or the Ford Edge. This new Venza is definitely an SUV--or crossover if you prefer that term--and lines up much better with the Murano and Edge, plus newer competitors such as the Hyundai Santa Fe, Honda Passport, and Chevrolet Blazer.

As a trump card in a very competitive segment, Toyota has decided to offer the 2021 Venza exclusively as a hybrid. The Venza uses the same powertrain as the RAV4 Hybrid, a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gas engine and three electric motors to produce 219 horsepower. Fuel economy is expected to match the RAV4's rating of 40 mpg.

Toyota Venza interior

But why the decision to go all hybrid? For Toyota, it makes good business sense. Of the more than 448,000 RAV4s sold in the US in 2019, 20 percent were hybrids. The RAV4 hybrid has also usurped the Prius as Toyota's best-selling hybrid vehicle. With the Venza using much of the same hardware as the RAV4 but starting at a higher pricepoint, Toyota is able to reduce development costs and maximize profits.

Toyota Sienna exterior

Now let's take a look at the 2021 Sienna. This is the first total overhaul of the Sienna since the previous generation debuted a decade ago. The redesign moves the Sienna to Toyota's TNGA-K platform found throughout much of the brand's lineup. It also gives the Sienna a much needed helping of style. Siennas have traditionally borrowed styling cues from the current generation Camry, and this one is no different. It takes full advantage of the aggressive design language first introduced on the XV70 Camry in 2017. Just adding some character lines along the van's flanks make a world of difference and fix the slab sided appearance of the previous generation.

It may surprise some people when they open the hood and see that the 3.5-liter V-6 engine is gone. In its place is a 2.5-liter gas engine paired with two electric motors that produce a total of 243 horsepower. This marks a 53 horsepower drop compared to the outgoing Sienna's V-6. However, fuel economy is estimated to grow to an impressive 33 mpg. All wheel drive is still an option although now a third electric motor powers the rear wheels.

Toyota Sienna interior

Inside, the Sienna features what Toyota calls a Bridge Console. The shift lever, cupholders, a wireless charger, and small storage cubbies are all within easy reach of the driver or front passenger. Below that is a hollow space perfect for larger personal items such as a purse or a bag. It's an elegant, modern design that helps class up the entire cabin. The Sienna needs all the upscale ambiance it can find to help justify the $50,000 asking price on fully loaded top trim levels.

But even families shopping entry level models should find a lot to like here. The 2021 Sienna comes standard with automatic high beams, a pre-collision warning system with pedestrian detection, radar cruise control, and lane departure alert with steering assist. Available convenience features include four-zone climate control, seven USB ports, in-car WiFi, a rear entertainment system, reclining second row captain's chairs, and a voice amplification system that plays through the van's audio.

Look for the 2021 Sienna to appear on dealer lots by the end of the year with prices starting around $30,000. The Venza should arrive sometime in August with prices ranging between $35,000 and $45,000.

NASCAR iRacing is Not All Fun and Games

It may have started as a way for NASCAR drivers, teams, sponsors, and fans to stay busy while we all wait for the coronavirus situation to resolve itself, but last month, this fantasy sport has claimed some very real victims.

Let me first tell you a little about iRacing. The eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series is a series of sim racing events officially organized by NASCAR. The drivers compete on virtual versions of the racetracks the NASCAR Cup Series would have raced on each weekend had the real races not been postponed. Fox NASCAR, which normally broadcasts the real races, presents the iRacing events live on TV complete with commentary from Mike Joy, Jeff Gordon, and Larry McReynolds.

In some ways, it's pretty cool. Drivers who are not normally contenders for wins can go toe-to-toe with the drivers of the series' big budget teams. Shots of the drivers in their homes at their simulators are interspersed throughout the action. More than 900,000 people tuned in for the first eNASCAR race at Homestead-Miami Speedway and more than one million watched the following week's race at Texas. The races that have run so far have averaged 1.1 million viewers per race and have become the most watched e-sporting events in history.

Things appeared to be going well until a pair of public incidents involving two of NASCAR's rising stars cast a shadow on this otherwise welcome distraction from the hardships brought on by the coronavirus.

Bubba Wallace Rage Quits

Bubba Wallace at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in 2018.

The first incident occurred on April 5 when Richard Petty Motorsports driver, Bubba Wallace, got into an accident with Clint Bowyer on lap 11 of a 150 lap race at Bristol. Wallace had already used up his two quick repair resets and was sitting on pit road when he decided to quit the race. For any other video game, this wouldn't be that big a deal. However, this was a nationally televised event with each driver controlling cars emblazoned with their real life sponsor's livery. Wallace was also streaming a live feed of himself at his simulator on his personal Twitch stream. Wallace's virtual car carried pain relief brand Blue Emu, which had been a sponsor on the Richard Petty Motorsports number 43 since 2005. The brand was not pleased with Wallace's "rage quit," and terminated their sponsorship agreement immediately.

Wallace's historic career in the NASCAR Cup Series has certainly not been as successful as he hoped. Now in his third full year, the African-American driver has only recorded three top ten finishes and finished 28th in points in both 2018 and 2019. Wallace revealed in a June 2019 interview that he deals with depression. I know from experience how difficult that must be and the pressure he must put on himself to perform well at each and every race. Per Wallace's contract, he is safe at RPM through the end of 2020. However, he needs to show greater maturity if he hopes to continue to participate at the highest level of stock car racing.  

Kyle Larson Says N-Word

Kyle Larson testing at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in 2017.

Things got worse the following weekend. Kyle Larson was caught uttering a racial slur during a iRacing event on Sunday, April 12. The race in question was not officially part of the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series, but it was broadcast on several social media streams including Larson's publicly accessible Twitch stream and an official NASCAR website. NASCAR wasted no time in indefinitely suspending Larson from the series and ordered him to take sensitivity training. iRacing also suspended Larson from taking part in future events. Larson issued an apology video on Monday, but the damage was done. All three of his primary sponsors cut ties with him and Larson was officially released from Chip Ganassi Racing on Tuesday morning.

The timing of the incident is particularly unfortunate for Larson as his contract with Ganassi was up for renegotiation at the end of 2020. Industry insiders widely considered him an attractive free agent for several top teams looking to adjust their 2021 lineup. While it is not impossible for Larson to return to NASCAR, it may be difficult to find a team or a sponsor willing to sign with him in light of this controversy.

Remembering that this isn't a game  

I for one cannot wait for the regular NASCAR season to resume. Video games are supposed to be just that: games. It's unfortunate that we live in a world where fantasy can't take place outside of reality anymore. I know this as well as anyone. As a job seeker, I cannot let anything give anyone a reason to turn me down for an employment opportunity. I carefully consider everything I post online and what it could possibly say about me. Nothing is too insignificant. Wallace only made one action. Larson only said one word. Both men will feel the result of these split second occurrences for the rest of their lives.

They May Be Old But They're Not Broken

In these turbulent times, people like to cling to that which is familiar. If data is to be believed, cars are no exception. The inspiration for writing this post came from a short article in the November 2019 issue of Car and Driver on the new Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro. In the article, author John Pearley Huffman writes, "Back in 2010, this generation's first full production year, Toyota sold 46,531 4Runners in the U.S. In 2018, 139,694 left dealer lots."

This caught my eye for a number of reasons. Here is a vehicle that has only received the mildest of updates since debuting during Obama's first term. With a starting price of around $34,000 which can rise to over $50,000, it is not exactly something every person or family can afford. Furthermore, there are better family SUVs out there, including Toyota's own Highlander. Fuel economy is a dismal EPA estimated 17 mpg combined. You would think that vehicles in 2020 could do better than that, and that our supposedly socially and environmentally conscious society would shun vehicles that can't.

But, as the numbers prove, that has not been the case. SUV sales have skyrocketed since the end of the Great Recession. I compiled sales figures for four of Toyota's SUVs -- RAV4, Highlander, 4Runner, and Sequoia -- going back to the year 2000. Every one with the exception of the Sequoia has exceeded their sales record from pre-recession days back when cheap gas and easy credit were taken for granted.

And it's not just Toyota that is riding this wave. The current generation Nissan Frontier dates back to 2005 and holds the distinction of being the oldest U.S. consumer vehicle in continuous production. Can you remember what you were doing in 2005? Regardless, the Frontier had its second best sales year ever in 2018 with 79,646 total sales. Sales figures for 2019 slid slightly to 72,369.

Finally, I'd like to bring some attention to the Dodge Challenger. In the 12 years the Challenger has been on sale, both of its competitors, the Ford Mustang and the Chevrolet Camaro, have each received a facelift, a redesign, and another facelift. The Dodge has soldiered on with only some minor updates and a barely noticeable facelift over the same time span.

Challengers regularly finish last in comparison tests with Mustangs and Camaros, but perhaps that misses the point. While all three could be considered muscle cars back in 2008, the Mustang and Camaro have evolved to become more like sports cars. Take a look at the new Camaro ZL1 1LE and the Mustang Shelby GT500. With their carbon fiber wings and splitters, they're just a few numbers and sponsorship decals away from taking part in a Trans Am race. While Chevy and Ford fight each other on race tracks, the Challenger is comfortable remaining a big, comfy boulevard cruiser. That seems to be fine for Challenger owners. Like the 4Runner, Challenger sales hit their peak in 2018 with 66,716 units. It actually outsold the Camaro by more than 12,000 units in 2019.

What does this prove? If anything, it proves that there are lots of people out there who shy away from the digitized future of automobiles. The 4Runner, the Frontier, and the Challenger are simple machines with simple purposes. One is a go-anywhere off roader, one is an affordable, no-nonsense compact pickup truck, and one is a muscle car with a capital M. They each have their audience that knows exactly what it wants, and familiarity most likely keeps that audience coming back again and again.