NineHillsMotorcycles.com – Online Source for the Latest Automobile Trends

• Tesla stock is on pace for its worst year on record as trading in 2022 comes to a close.
• Shares have lost about 65% from the start of the year.
• CEO Elon Musk has faced pressure from investors over his preoccupation with Twitter.

Tesla stock ticked up Friday, the last trading day of 2022, but is on track to close out its worst year in the company’s history.

Shares have lost about 65% from the start of the year, amounting to a loss of more than $700 billion in market value.

Investors have sounded the alarm on slowing demand and vehicle production, a sluggish market share in China, Fed rate hikes, and CEO Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter.

The Tesla stock sell-off has far outpaced the losses of major indices including the S&P 500 and the tech-heavy Nasdaq, which are down 19% and 33%, respectively, for the year.

But Musk, who has also seen his personal net worth tumble alongside Tesla shares, has tried to shrug off the carnage.

“Don’t be too bothered by stock market craziness. As we demonstrate continued excellent performance, the market will recognize that,” he told Tesla employees in a message earlier this week.

After touching an all-time high in November 2021, share began trending lower. But he majority of the downturn in the stock has come since Musk completed his takeover of Twitter, where he is also serving as CEO, in October.

A big shift also occurred that month at Tesla, which walked back expectations that the company would increase production by 50%.

Investors and analysts have since displayed growing concern that Twitter is taking away Musk’s focus on Tesla with his politicized tweets hurting the EV maker’s brand as well.

BCA’s wholesale used car values declined by 3.8% in November as car buyers’ cost-of-living focus on savings and an evolving stock mix influenced its auction activity.

The average sold price was £8,492 in November 2022 – down £331 month-on-month – as the remarketing giant reported “robust” buyer engagement and a rise in first-time conversion rate to over 80%.

But as BCA reported that the sector’s “one area of weakness” during the month proved to be used electric vehicles (EV), with guide price performance being significantly impacted, its sector rival Aston Barclay reported that the softening of EV values had encouraged car buying activity.

Budget appeal

As reflected in Auto Trader’s latest value depreciation rankings – published by AM today (December 19) – BCA saw values increase at the sub-£4,000 budget end of the market as car buyers look to save money.  

BCA UK chief operating officer Stuart Pearson said: “The cost-of-living crisis, inflation and higher interest rates are likely to be driving the increased activity levels in the budget sector, as motorists needing a used car will be balancing their household budgets with the cost of a replacement vehicle. 

“This change in model mix has naturally impacted the headline average value, however the devil is always in the detail with a number of sectors continuing to perform well, and others starting to be impacted.”

Pearson added: “With more new model electric vehicles entering the market, used values for EVs are really in the spotlight, and therefore it’s not surprising to see some pricing realignment as the cycle of three-year-old product returns. 

“We’ve also been spoilt with a long run of pricing resilience which can make any shift seem more dramatic, so at a time when household budgets are under as much pressure as anyone will remember, we’re working closer than ever to keep our sellers and buyers aligned to keep the market moving.”

Buyers look for EV value

Aston Barclay’s latest Desirability Index indicated that a softening of EV values had encouraged car buyers to invest in EVs for their forecourts.

The Tesla Model 3, which Cap HPI director of valuations Derren Martin flagged up for its high depreciation amid rising new car deliveries in recent months, rose to the top of the pile.

Renault’s Zoe hatchback also appeared in its top 10 most desirable used car buys, while the Nissan LEAF appeared in 9th place and the Peugeot e-208 in 14th.

“Some dealers are investing in used EV stock as prices have fallen by a few thousand pounds on some models,” said Mark Hankey, Aston Barclay’s chief revenue officer.

Hankey added: “Dealers are expecting the used market to bounce back in early 2023 so are investing in stock now while prices are lower. The sweet spot of the used market remains at sub-£10,000 due to the rising cost of living and we expect that to continue during 2023.”

For GREAT deals on a new or used Cadillac check out Carter Cadillac TODAY!

After a year with the 2021 Hyundai Palisade in Autoblog’s long-term garage, it proved to be the perfect vehicle for our family, as my wife’s daily driver, in particular. When Hyundai updated the Palisade for 2023, though, I began to wonder what we were missing. I’d get the chance to find out when one landed in my driveway for a week.

Here are the most interesting differences I noticed in the new Palisade, in order of when I noticed them:

Looks

Look, I’m not buying a Palisade for appearances, but I can’t help but notice the differences. The grille is the most glaring change, and bigger may not be better. The lights and rear bumper are revised and there are new wheels. I think I’m more fond of the old design overall, but it’s not different enough to really make me care. Little nips and tucks are basically an obligation as part of any refresh, and it’s the practical updates that matter here.

Better door access

Our old Palisade has a button on the front doors. You have to press it both to lock or unlock the door. With this new one, you can grab the handle, and it will unlock. Instead of an actual button to depress to lock it, it’s a touch-sensitive, button-shaped square you tap to lock the door.

Now if only they’d add the same function to the rear door handles.

Digital HVAC screen

We still have physical controls, but there’s also a digital screen between the HVAC dials. It seemed kind of pointless at first glance, as I’d just prefer to use those dials to adjust. The key here, though, is that this feature means you don’t have to use the infotainment screen to adjust the rear climate controls from up front. OK, I’m sold. I’m still going to use the actual dials to adjust the front temperature, though.

Rearview mirror camera

I love this addition. I mentioned in my first Palisade road trip review what a boon it would be for times when the car is full to the brim with cargo. I was told on another Hyundai press trip that the folks there had read that review, and that I’d like some of the changes that were coming. Apparently this was one of them, and they’re right; I greatly appreciate the option of a rearview mirror camera

This is a great version, too. You can adjust the brightness, and even the latitudinal aim of the camera feed. Got a trailer you need to see over? You can aim the camera up. Want to be able to admire the grille of the car behind you at a stoplight? Aim it down. This is a rare if possibly unique feature.

Lane-centering steering assist without cruise control engaged

In our 2021 Palisade, you’ll get a little bit of lane-keeping assistance with adaptive cruise control off, but you have to have that engaged to use the actual lane-centering feature that helps steer you through curves. In the ’23, if the cameras can find the lanes, you can tap that little steering wheel button to get steering assist. Big whoop, right? Lane-centering tech usually sucks. Actually, that’s not the case with the Hyundai, Kia and Genesis vehicles I’ve driven, and especially in something as big as the Palisade, a lane-centering system that works quite well can help make driving a little less stressful.

Semi-automated lane changing

The ’23 Palisade can now be upgraded with the Highway Driving Assist II system. This sequel to the original HDA I system found on the outgoing Palisade adds to the adaptive cruise control and lane-centering system automated lane changes. When the system is active, tap a turn signal and if the coast is clear, the vehicle will help you steer into the next lane. It just does it a lot slower than I’d like, so I still do it the old-fashioned way, and at my own speedier pace.

HUD shows positions of cars around you

Instead of just letting you know when you’re behind another car and your blind spots are occupied, the HUD shows more precise positions of the different cars it can see around you. So if there’s one in your blind spot, and another on the other side just past your front fender, you’ll see them represented as blocks around your virtual vehicle in the display.

Ergo Motion seat

Now the driver can get a massage in the Palisade. It’s not the best massage, and I usually don’t use that function when better versions are available, but it might help keep you feeling fresh over longer drives. The side bolsters are adjustable, too. Like Mercedes-Benz’s Multi-Contour seats, the new Palisade’s side bolsters can tighten up to hold you in place better as you switch drive modes or drive more aggressively. It’s a neat trick, but I’m not sure how useful it is in a lumbering SUV as opposed to a small sports sedan.

Cargo pouch on the side of the captain’s chairs

My son spotted the little cargo nets on the sides of the captain’s chairs. They’re just an extra spot for passengers to stash items, which is always handy, especially when trying to keep kids occupied during longer road trips.

A new parking camera view

Does this (see pic below) do anything for you? I don’t find it particularly game-changing, but maybe there’s some parking situation that merits it. A simple, top-down surround view is good enough for me, providing all the info I require when parking.

USB-C ports

There are still the old-school USB-A ports present, but some of them get replaced with the newer USB-C format. As more of the devices in my life switch to this format, I like to see that the car is future-proofed for them.

Heated third row

The way-back seats are now available with a heating function. I don’t put people back there often enough to care.

Phone-as-key

I had forgotten this was now an available future, and didn’t get the chance to test it out, but it’s something I’ve often wished was included in our own Palisade. Sometimes, I don’t want to run back in the house (and take off my snowy boots, hunt for the fob and get my boots back on) when I’m already late getting the kids, or if I just want to grab something out of the vehicle.

Final verdict

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade feels familiar, obviously, compared to earlier model years. We’re not sure about the styling updates, but there are plenty of other changes that actually make a difference. They’re not big enough that we’re racing out to replace my wife’s 2021 model with the 2023 refresh, and some of the updates don’t make much of a difference at all. But, the ones that do make a difference do so because Hyundai put some legitimate thought into how they could help the driver. We look forward to using them, and whatever new innovations are integrated by then, when we go to buy our next vehicle from the Hyundai family.

Related video:

For GREAT deals on a new or used Nissan check out Regal Nissan TODAY!

Ram is recalling a total of 1,234,657 pickup trucks in the United States (plus a few hundred thousand sold outside the U.S.) to address tailgates that could pop open while driving. According to documentation posted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “Misaligned tailgate strikers may cause a failure to properly latch the tailgate.” If that happens, the tailgate could pop open unexpectedly, regardless of whether the vehicle is stationary or in motion. If that were to happen with a load in the truck bed while the vehicle was being driven, it could allow cargo to fall out, endangering other drivers.

Between June, 2019 and November, 2022, the automaker says it received 15 customer assistance records, 736 warranty claims, and 101 field reports potentially related to this issue, but isn’t aware of any accidents or injuries potentially related to the issue. Stellantis, which owns the Ram brand, will reimburse any owners who paid to have this issue resolved in the past. No parts need to be replaced to fix the problem, just realigned.

According to NHTSA’s documentation, on June 13, 2018, the automaker started building 2019-model-year trucks. Trucks built from that date until July 10, 2022, are included in the recall. After that date, “improved alignment tooling was implemented in vehicle production,” which seems to have solved the problem. Still, less than 1% of all trucks are thought to be affected by the misaligned tailgate strikers. The automaker will notify dealers and begin notifying owners on or about 01/27/2023.

Related video:

For GREAT deals on a new or used Chevrolet check out Tracy Chevrolet TODAY!

Before Toyota introduced the High Riding Coupe to the market — known to us as the C-HR — the automaker showed two concepts at European auto shows in 2014 and in 2015. The second-generation C-HR will reach dealerships in the near future, so it’s time for another concept. The automaker’s European Design Development center drew the first, and the France-based designers are back with the second, called the C-HR Prologue Concept.

The design details on the first concept had names like Diamond Shape for the sheetmetal and Keen Look for the front fascia. This new concept is advertised as going even bolder, with even shorter overhangs, “diamond-cut” sheetmetal, a “hammerhead” face, and a tri-tone color scheme. Side-by-side photos show how the new concept has advanced from the 2015 version. It’s likely that much of what we see is what we’ll get, although the tri-tone might be a bridge too far.  

The big news is the addition of the plug-in hybrid powertrain for the European market, the internals borrowed from the new Prius Prime. Over there, it will join the two standard hybrid models, one a 122-horsepower trim with a 1.8-liter heart, the other a 184-hp trim with a 2.0-liter heart. If the Prius‘ output figures carry over, a top trim C-HR perhaps given the GR moniker would climb to 220 hp. A more modest power boost closer to 200 horses is a better bet. Project manager Andrea Carlucci said the 1.8-liter version will carry on in order to keep the C-HR’s price point accessible.

Toyota hasn’t mentioned battery capacity for the PHEV, only saying the packs will be built in Europe. There are also no other details about what else to expect from the successful C-segment entry save that it’s got more interior room. 

We don’t get the hybrid, our market limited to a non-hybrid 2.0-liter gas engine with 144 horsepower. If the previous concept-to-market cadence holds here, the second-gen C-HR should roll out in about a year for Europe, and we’ll find out how much of the new goodness is headed our way. 

Related video:

For GREAT deals on a new or used Land Rover check out Land Rover Princeton TODAY!

As part of its goal to have zero-emission aircraft enter service by 2035, Airbus has announced the development of a hydrogen fuel cell designed for airplanes. Unlike Rolls-Royce’s recently announced jet engine that burns hydrogen directly, it would use an electric motor just like fuel-cell cars, while emitting only H2O. It could eventually be employed in commercial aircraft that could carry up to 100 passengers around 1,000 nautical miles (1,150 miles), the company said.

Airbus plans to test the engine by the middle of the decade on its A380 MSN1 aircraft, “currently being modified to carry liquid hydrogen tanks.” However, the technology appears to be designed for smaller, regional aircraft that use more efficient propeller, rather than jet, engines. As you can see on the rendering above, the fuel cell and propeller motor are attached to an A380 for testing, not necessarily as full propulsion for the large airliner. 

“Fuel cells are a potential solution to help us achieve our zero-emission ambition, and we are focused on developing and testing this technology to understand if it is feasible and viable for a 2035 entry-into-service of a zero-emission aircraft,” said Airbus VP for zero-emission aircraft, Glenn Llewellyn. 

The company didn’t provide any more details, but fuel cells are a well-known technology for cars. They’re far less efficient than battery electric vehicles (BEVs) if you count fuel production and conversion to electricity. However, they have more range, are faster to refuel and lighter — with the latter, of course, being essential for aircraft.  

As mentioned, Rolls-Royce just announced the successful test of a jet engine powered by burning hydrogen directly, another possible technology for future air transport. The company converted a Rolls-Royce AE 2100-A, a regional aircraft engine used in turboprop commuter planes, to work with the novel fuel source. However, the tech could theoretically be scaled up for larger planes.

There are still some major hurdles to overcome before hydrogen could ever be used to power airplanes. It takes four times as much hydrogen as regular fuel by weight for the same range, and the fuel must be kept under pressure. Still, it might be the only option available for aircraft in the near future, as battery technology is still much too heavy unless used for very short flights.

For GREAT deals on a new or used Nissan check out Gulfport Nissan TODAY!

Nissan has had its ups and downs in recent years, but the automaker hit the mark with its overhaul of the Z, so there’s hope for the brand in the future. Nissan just released its latest EV, the Ariya, and has plans for other electrified models, apparently including a future Leaf.

Nismo is a division of Nissan Motorsports, and it will play a significant role in developing a new electrified performance car for the brand. Nismo’s CEO, Takao Katagiri, told Autocar that Nissan is developing a new sports car for North America and Europe. He said of the UK, “this region is very, very special for us, especially for performance cars. So one thing I can say is, please wait. We are going to introduce an inspiring model to the UK market under the Nismo brand.”

Katagiri told Autocar the vehicle would come in hybrid and electric formats, but we’re likely to see hybrids hit the streets first. Company executives had previously told the publication that a performance EV would require solid-state batteries – a technology that is years down the road at best. Nissan could have solid-state batteries ready by the end of the decade, but it may be years before they’re ready for a sports car.

Nissan just released the new Z, but its other iconic sports car is going away after 2023. The GT-R will be discontinued, leaving the automaker without a halo performance option in its catalog. A hybrid or electric sports car would fill that gap for Nissan, and electric motors could open the door to even crazier performance for the brand.

Related video:

Looking to see all our inventory across our 20+ stores? Shop thousands of new and used cars at Wise Auto Group

When you think of armored cars, the presidential “Beast” limo and large SUVs likely come to mind. What you might not consider is that as the auto industry transforms itself to produce electric vehicles, we’ll start seeing more armored EVs. A South African company has a leg up in this area with the release of the first armored Jaguar I-Pace.

Armormax has offices around the globe, but its home base in South Africa is responsible for developing the armored SUV. Jaguar South Africa worked with the company to produce the I-Pace, and the work to add protection does not void or change the warranty.

Armoring a vehicle tends to add a ton of weight, but Armormax says the I-Pace takes advantage of its in-house materials. The company claims its protection material is the lightest in the world and notes the use of high-grade ballistic glass. The I-Pace offers a B4 ballistic protection rating, which covers handguns up to a .44 Magnum and shotguns. Armormax added run-flat tires and an external intercom system.

We don’t know if Armormax will offer the I-Pace outside of South Africa, but it likely won’t be cheap if it does. The U.S. I-Pace starts at more than $71,000, and that’s before buyers add any of Armormax’s impressive upgrades. The company offers gas masks, ballistic riot shields, bomb blankets, and more. If Bond-villain features are your thing, Armormax will sell you smoke screen systems, electric-shock door handles, and a road tack dispensing system.