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TimesLIVE
6 days ago
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
What's hot, what's not: Used car market trends in the Western Cape
There are several new entrants to the top 10 list, with the most notable addition being the Toyota Corolla Cross. Not featuring in 2021 (the locally built crossover was only introduced that year), it has reached sixth place in a short period, with 1,032 used examples sold in the Western Cape in 2024. This reflects its attractive package, with consumers drawn by the reasonable pricing, available hybrid drivetrains, practicality and appeal of the Toyota badge. Another similarly-sized crossover, the Volkswagen T-Cross, has also appeared on the list, in ninth position with 997 units sold. It has effectively replaced the Golf on the list, which has fallen out of favour with used car buyers in the Western Cape. The Golf, like the Ford Figo and EcoSport that were on the top 10 list in 2021, has since been discontinued (apart from GTI and R models),though the German brand has reintroduced regular models to the local line-up. As in Gauteng, the Nissan NP200, despite its discontinuation, has emerged as a popular choice on the used car market, reflecting a strong appetite for affordable, compact workhorses in a segment with fewer new options.
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Business Standard
01-05-2025
- Automotive
- Business Standard
Ford starts preparatory work to resume operations at its Chennai plant
The automobile company also finalised the components to be manufactured from the Chennai facility and it may resume work in the second half of 2025 New Delhi The US automaker Ford has started the preparatory work to restart the first phase of its operations at its Chennai plant, Tamil Nadu Industries Minister TRB Rajaa said on Wednesday, according to a report by The Financial Express. 'There was some slowdown (in the process) due to the regime change in the US, but now things are back on track,' Rajaa said. According to the news report, the automobile company also finalised the components to be manufactured from the Chennai facility, and preparatory work is underway for the same. However, it is still not clear if Ford would resume full vehicle production as it was planned. Citing the government official, the report mentioned that Ford may resume the manufacturing work in the second half of 2025. Trump tariffs affect After Trump imposed tariffs on several countries, it affected all of the industries globally, especially major sectors like the automobile industry. From imports and exports to manufacturing, companies are unable to take decisions, as many countries are still in conversation with the US to secure a trade deal. These talks are aimed at avoiding the high import tariffs imposed by Trump. US auto major Ford is also impacted by this uncertainty in the global market. According to the report, the company had a limited plan to export engines, gear systems, and transmissions instead of manufacturing complete cars. However, this limited plan still ran into trouble when the Trump administration put a high 25 per cent tax on imported cars and major parts, making it unclear if using India as an export base would still make sense. But in a big policy change, Trump signed orders on Tuesday that reduce some of the pressure. The 25 per cent tax will stay, but carmakers that complete their vehicles in the US will get a 15 per cent rebate, which lowers costs for those willing to do the final assembly in the US. Why did Ford exit India in 2021? Ford's exit from India in 2021 ended a long struggle to succeed in the country. Even though it launched popular cars like the EcoSport, Figo, and Endeavour, it could not keep up with rivals like Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, Tata Motors, and Kia, who led the market with their affordable, fuel-efficient vehicles. With $2 billion in losses and less than 2 per cent market share, it became too hard for Ford to keep running its business in India. Things got worse when its partnership with Mahindra & Mahindra fell apart in 2020, leaving Ford without a local partner to help in the price-sensitive market. Although Ford stopped making cars in India, it still supports its customers with parts and service and continues to export vehicles from the country.
USA Today
10-03-2025
- Automotive
- USA Today
Ford, Mercedes, Volkswagen among nearly 260,000 vehicles recalled: Check car recalls here
Ford, Mercedes, Volkswagen among nearly 260,000 vehicles recalled: Check car recalls here Show Caption Hide Caption Car recalls: Why they happen and what buyers should know Why do car recalls happen? Here's what to know if your car has an open recall. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued multiple recalls last week, including notices for over 175,000 2024 to 2025 Volkswagen Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. Are you looking to see if any recalls were issued on your vehicle? If the car isn't listed below, owners can check USA TODAY's automotive recall database or search NHTSA's database for new recalls. The NHTSA website allows you to search for recalls based on your vehicle identification number, or VIN. Here's what you need to know about the vehicle recalls published by NHTSA from March 3 to March 9. Volkswagen recalled over 175,000 vehicles for loose engine cover Volkswagen recalled certain 2024 to 2025 Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles as they may have an engine cover that may have been improperly installed after vehicle service. The loose engine cover may come into contact with hot engine surfaces and increase the risk of a fire, according to the NHTSA. Dealers are to remove the engine cover for free and owner notification letters are to be sent April 18. Affected vehicles: 177,493 Lincoln Navigators recalled for short circuiting logo lights Lincoln recalled certain 2015 to 2017 Navigator SUVs as the LED logo lights on the exterior mirrors may short circuit. Potting material in the lamps did not correctly adhere to the wire terminals in the lamps, potentially causing gaps or cracks where water or conductive fluid could penetrate to the lamp's circuit board − according to the recall report. Also, short detection parameters were not updated from the previous model's incandescent lamps. Dealers are to disconnect the lamps free of charge and owner notification letters are to be sent March 24. Affected vehicles: 35,328 Ford recalled EcoSport crossovers due to disconnected axel shaft Ford recalled certain 2021 to 2022 EcoSport vehicles due to a potentially disconnected axel shaft. The crossover could have a front axle half shaft that may disconnect from the transmission, which can result in a loss of drive power − according to the NHTSA. Dealers are to inspect and replace the half shafts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are to be sent April 7. Affected vehicles: 18,648 Audi recalled vehicles as on-board charger may fail Audi recalled certain 2024 to 2025 Q4 E-Tron SUVs and Q4 E-Tron Sportbacks as well as some 2024 ID.4s as they may have a faulty on-board battery charger. The faulty charger may stop charging the vehicle's 12-volt battery, which can result in a loss of drive power, according to the NHTSA. Dealers are to replace the charger for free and notification letters are to be sent April 29. Affected vehicles: 13,769 Ford recalled vehicles for bad fix Ford Motor Company recalled vehicles under both its namesake brand and Lincoln after an incorrect fix for a previous recall. A software error may cause a towed trailer equipped with an electric or electric-over hydraulic brake system to not brake. The affected vehicles include: 2021 to 2022 Ford F-150 2022 Ford Maverick 2022 Ford Expedition 2022 Lincoln Navigator 2022 F-250 2022 F-350 2022 F-450 2022 F-550 Dealers are to update the brake control software for free and owner notification letters are expected to be mailed April 14. Affected vehicles: 10,627 Mercedes Benz recalled vehicles for software error affecting alternator Mercedes Benz issued a recall covering six models due to a software error that could cause the high-voltage starter alternator control unit to fail. The affected models include: 2023 to 2024 AMG GT 63 S E Performance 4-door coupe 2025 AMG GLC 63 S E Performance GLC 63 S E Performance Coupe AMG GT 63 S E Performance 2023-2025 AMG S 63 E Performance 2024-2025 AMG SL 63 S E Performance Each of the models have a hybrid powertrain. Dealers are to update the software free of charge and notification letters are to be sent April 29. Affected vehicles: 2,943
Yahoo
02-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Six cars from the past decade that never should've been made
For every 50 'Ten Best' cars list written, there should be at least one that captures automotive regrets of the worst kind. In 2025, it's easy to find a good car from virtually every automaker, but there are some major fubars, too. Over the past decade, there have been some cars that have missed the mark so badly that they make us wonder how they ever made it to production. The reasons are myriad. Whether due to poor performance, weird styling, or a complete misunderstanding of what buyers wanted, these six cars serve as reminders that not every idea should get past the bean counters and hit showroom floors. Let's take a look at the vehicles that should never have been Ford EcoSport looked so awkward that it came across as the kind of crossover your budget forced you to buy instead of one you wanted to buy. When it hit the U.S. market in 2018, it felt like an afterthought—because it kind of was. Originally designed for international markets, the EcoSport arrived late to the subcompact SUV market. Not only was it dog slow with a wheezing three-cylinder engine, but the EcoSport looked cheaper than it was. The tiny wheels juxtaposed against overly thick fender trim were all wrong, and it looked more like a roller skate on wheels than a small crossover. The interior was almost as bad as the exterior. Cheap plastics were abundant, and the overly thick dash belied the car's diminutive stature. The weak-sauce 166-horsepower engine was only partially offset by the decent steering. Unfortunately, the ride was bumpy, the handling uninspired, and the 50 cubic feet of cargo space was quite a bit less than its competitors. Ford quietly killed it in 2022, and no one will miss it. The first- and last-generation Cascada came at the time when Buick's last decent sedan, the Regal, was on the way out. In the mid-2000s, Buick was struggling to build its near-premium image, and the Cascada was its short-lived path to creating more excitement. Unfortunately, the combination of boring styling, mediocre performance, and a cheap interior didn't make the Cascada remotely competitive in the near-luxury convertible space. The Cascada was powered by a 200-hp 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine mated to a six-speed automatic that routed power to the front wheels only. Not only did it fail to provide any driving fun, but the ride was stiffer than any Buick had a right to be. The Cascada's plasticky interior and already dated infotainment system belied its premium intentions, and it failed to get a foothold in the door of car buyers who wanted something more upscale in a droptop. Buick killed off the Cascada in 2019, and we still cringe when we see an unwitting driver without a care in the world behind the wheel of hoped its Smart Fortwo would make waves in the U.S. automotive market, but it ended up being a misfire of the worst kind. Not only was it a failure to read American car buyers and their love of trucks and SUVs, but the Fortwo was the answer to a question nobody asked. It was a subcompact car novelty that wore off quickly. It was cute and nimble, but its lack of power and relatively high price were the Fortwo's own worst enemies. It was tiny and easy to park in crowded urban environments (perfect for its European roots), but that was about the only thing it had going for it. It looked more like a death trap, especially when it was surrounded by trucks and SUVs that dwarfed it. To add insult to injury, the car was powered by a 0.9-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine good for a mere 89 horsepower. The Fortwo's gas mileage (34 city/38 hwy) wasn't overly impressive for the engine's limp output and shocking for a car this small. As fuel efficiency improved across larger, safer, more attractive, and more comfortable vehicles, the ForTwo's reason for existence quickly faded. Even an all-electric Smart car couldn't save it. Mercedes finally yanked Smart cars from the U.S. market in 2019. Good riddance. Looking like a tiny, short school bus on wheels, the Fiat 500L tried to capitalize on the charm of the smaller Fiat 500 hatchback but failed spectacularly. The combination of the strange length on what was originally a micro-car made it look like a ridiculous afterthought. This awkwardly proportioned compact MPV (multi-purpose vehicle) lacked the style and personality of its smaller sibling while offering none of the practicality buyers expected from a family-friendly car. It was the kind of car that made you want to wear a bag with eyeholes when you were driving. The 500L's sluggish acceleration from the 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder matched its dumpy looks. The cheap-feeling and super-plasticky interior, combined with its clumsy handling, turned off buyers and sent them to more practical, more stylish, and more reliable models. The 500L struggled in the U.S. market, and it never earned accolades. The model died a hushed death in 2020, and the world was better off for is now but a shadow of its former self, but it once had a whopping three models in the mid-2010s, one of which was the poor-performing and horribly named Chrysler 200. The brand's attempt at creating a competitive midsize family sedan resulted in a lame execution, which contributed to its painfully short lifespan. The sleek but somewhat boring sheet metal wasn't especially breathtaking. The 200 came standard with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 184 horsepower, while a 295-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 engine was available. Unfortunately, neither made the 200 especially fun to drive. The 9-speed automatic transmission was sluggish and unrefined, but at least the ride was compliant. Its success was also hampered by its cramped back row and cheap interior. The dash was overly bulky, and the materials quality was nothing to brag about, with a preponderance of black plastic and disparate shapes. Against the likes of the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, and the Chevy Malibu, the Chrysler 200 felt like an also-ran. Thankfully, Chrysler pulled the plug on the 200 in 2017, acknowledging that the company simply couldn't profit from a car so few people wanted. The Dart was a weird choice for Dodge. Although it resurrected a name from its own '60s muscle car, the 2010's Dart was anything but muscular and ran counter to pretty much every other model the brand was selling at that time. The hope was that the compact sedan would be perceived as sporty and fun. While it did offer a decent 184-hp 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, the base was a meager 160-hp 2.0-liter downside was its underwhelming fuel economy of between 26 mpg city and 29 mpg highway, as well as its lack of standard safety features and Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, unlike so many of its competitors. The car's ride and handling were passable, but competitors like the Honda Civic and Mazda3 outclassed it in every measurable way, including rear passenger room. Sales sputtered, and by 2016, the Dart was discontinued, ending Dodge's brief and ill-fated attempt to break into the compact car market. Every car manufacturer has its missteps, but these six vehicles stand out as some of the most misguided efforts of the last decade. Even in an era of modern automotive design and technology, there will always be losers in the game. If it's any indication of how poorly these cars were received, just try to find more than a glimpse of one on your local roads. None of them were hits during their brief lifespans, and they will go down in the hall of automotive shame for decades. Love reading Autoblog? Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get exclusive articles, insider insights, and the latest updates delivered right to your inbox. Click here to sign up now!
