Latest news with #Toyotas
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Trump tariffs help push U.K. auto sector to worst production figures in more than 70 years
The U.K.'s auto sector is reeling from its worst month for production since 1952—when the Morris Minor ruled the country's roads and Queen Elizabeth ascended to the throne—as Trump's tariff war added to a bearish environment for the country's biggest carmakers. U.K. plants producing cars like Range Rovers, Bentleys, and Toyotas pumped out 59,200 models in April, marking the lowest monthly output figure in more than 70 years, according to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Carmakers are set for their worst start to the year in production terms since 2009 and the depths of the Great Recession. Commercial vehicle exports fell by more than 75% in April as automakers digested the fallout of Donald Trump's tariffs on the car industry and his more sweeping plans announced on 'Liberation Day.' Cars bound for the U.S., which took around a sixth of the U.K.'s car exports, experienced a slight decline in April, with EU exports fuelling the biggest drop. U.K. luxury carmakers, including Rolls-Royce and Aston Martin, were regarded as being particularly vulnerable to a trade war because much of their appeal comes from keeping most production from its historic local plants. Jaguar Land Rover said in early April that it would be pausing U.S. shipments while it assessed the fallout from Trump's tariff announcements. The carmaker sold more than 128,000 cars to the States, its biggest market, in 2024. The end of March also marked the closure of Stellantis-owned Vauxhall's factory in Luton, where the carmaker employed more than 1,000 workers. Employees at the 120-year-old factory faced a stark ultimatum: a 140-mile relocation north or accepting a redundancy package. A calendar quirk of the Easter break falling later in 2025, which accordingly shuttered production for an extra two days over the bank holiday, also contributed to depressed production figures, the SMMT said. Indeed, March production figures showed nearly 80,000 vehicles being produced in the U.K. that month. April's awful production figures are likely to be an anomaly, and not just owing to the quirk of the calendar. Earlier in May, the U.K. and U.S. hammered out a landmark trade deal that would see import tariffs on cars to the States reduced from 25% to 10% for the first 100,000 vehicles. The development is expected to prevent a lot of pain in the U.K. auto market, and SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes is taking a victory lap after demonstrating the sector's influence on the U.K.'s international relations. 'Government has recognised automotive manufacturing's critical role in driving the UK economy, having successfully negotiated improved trading conditions for the sector with the US, EU and India in the space of a month,' said Hawes. 'To take advantage of these trading opportunities we must secure additional investment which will depend on the competitiveness and confidence that can be provided by a comprehensive and innovative long-term industrial strategy. Get this right and the jobs, economic growth and decarbonisation will flow across the UK.' This story was originally featured on
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
View Every Angle of the Upgraded 2026 Toyota bZ Electric SUV
read the full review Toyota is upgrading its electric SUV for 2026, and it also gets a name change from bZ4X to just bZ. The 2026 bZ gets a visual update that includes new headlights and new front and rear bumpers. The front end has the "hammerhead" lighting signature also seen on several other Toyotas. Toyota also changed the black plastic trim around the wheel wells to body color. The new bZ also gets upgrades to its powertrain, including more powerful electric motors. The interior feels more spacious than before thanks to a less obtrusive center-console design. There are now two wireless phone-charging pads for front-seat passengers. The touchscreen infotainment system is larger than before. The bZ is a five-passenger, two-row compact SUV. The top version of the bZ now makes 338 horsepower from a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive powertrain. The top battery is slightly larger than before, too, with an estimated capacity of 67 kWh. You Might Also Like Car and Driver's 10 Best Cars through the Decades How to Buy or Lease a New Car Lightning Lap Legends: Chevrolet Camaro vs. Ford Mustang!
Motor Trend
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Motor Trend
2026 Toyota bZ First Drive: A Notable Improvement?
The 2026 Toyota bZ's midcycle refresh goes somewhat beyond the usual. First, the name sheds some characters—gone is '4X,' leaving just 'bZ.' (It's short for 'Beyond Zero,' Toyota's planned nomenclature for electrified vehicles that's now been quietly shelved.) 0:00 / 0:00 But the bigger story is in the powertrain. A slightly larger battery pack is teamed with new permanent-magnet motors to deliver more punch whether you go front- or all-wheel drive. The bZ can also go farther on a charge—a major sore spot from before when compared to the competition. We drove a 2026 Toyota bZ Limited AWD and came away pleased with the changes. Now packing a slightly larger 74.7-kWh battery and a combined 338 hp, this version of Toyota's electric SUV feels noticeably more eager and refined. It also ditches its CCS plug in favor of the now-standard North American Charging Standard (NACS)—aka the Tesla port—making it easier to juice up on the go. These upgrades alone make the new bZ a far more compelling choice than before. Addressing the Main Concerns In the fiercely competitive electric SUV segment, the bZ4X stuck out—but not in a good way. With a range of just 222 to 252 miles depending on the spec, it lagged well behind rivals such as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6, which both comfortably clear the 300-mile range mark. The 2026 bZ isn't a range champ now, but it is a lot better with much more respectable figures of 235 to 314 miles. There are also now two battery packs. The prior pack increases form 71.4 kWh to 74.7 kWh, while a smaller, 57.7-kWh pack is now used in the base model. However, even the base model has more range than before despite the smaller battery. Another welcome upgrade for the 2026 Toyota bZ is that healthy boost in horsepower for all-wheel-drive models. The new bZ finally feels quick enough to hang with the pack. Toyota claims a 0–60-mph time of 4.9 seconds; we'll wait to put this EV through its paces with our testing equipment before stamping it official. However, it's not all brighter sunshine and quicker acceleration. The base bZ—specifically the XLE with front-wheel drive—makes just 168 horsepower. We didn't get seat time in that version, but it sounds like a recipe for sluggish acceleration and a heavy feel. Step up to the XLE FWD Plus or Limited FWD, and you'll get a more respectable 221 hp, which should be fine for daily driving. In terms of styling, the awkward black body panels that made the front end look bulky and weird are gone. The new body-color panels are sleeker and give the 2026 bZ a cleaner, more polished—and less ugly—look. How Does It Drive? One area the bZ4X got right was ride quality. The 2026 bZ carries that torch forward; it glides over broken pavement and potholes with confidence, keeping the cabin calm and quiet. In fact, this is one of the nicest-riding Toyotas we've experienced. Body control stays tight through corners, and the handling feels settled and refined overall. It's the kind of composure you'd expect from a more premium badge. We do wish Toyota had added more noise mitigation, as tire noise becomes quite noticeable at speeds above 50 mph. Some extra NVH tuning or sound-insulating glass could go a long way toward making the driving experience feel as refined as the ride. The steering strikes a nice balance—soft enough for comfort but connected enough to keep you engaged behind the wheel. The more powerful members of the lineup actually deliver some fun now. Keeping the Goods and Some of the Bads The 2026 Toyota bZ keeps the same overall dimensions as the outgoing bZ4X, with just a slight bump in ground clearance by about an eighth of an inch. Its wheelbase is longer than the freshly unveiled 2026 Toyota RAV4's, translating to seriously a spacious interior. Back-seat passengers get generous head- and legroom, and with a flat floor, three adults can sit comfortably without feeling cramped. Cargo space is no slouch either: 27.7 cubic feet behind the second row and a whopping 94.4 cubic feet when the seats are folded down. There's plenty of room for gear, groceries, or weekend adventures. The interior is a mostly inoffensive place, but we still don't love the speedometer's placement above the steering wheel rather than behind it. That pushes the steering wheel lower than usual, making for a somewhat awkward driving position that takes time to get used to. The 2026 bZ's charging speed does not increase. All models still top out at 150 kW, which is average for the segment, and it means the bZ can't take full advantage of those ultra-fast 350-kW chargers popping up around the country. Toyota estimates it takes about 30 minutes to go from 10 to 80 percent, which is noticeably slower than rivals like the Hyundai Ioniq 5, which can hit that mark in just 18 minutes. Is the 2026 Toyota bZ Worth It? Those looking for a state-of-the-art EV won't necessarily find it in the bZ, but they will find a meaningfully updated SUV that brings Toyota's usual strengths to the electric world, namely a smooth ride and roomy interior.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
New Toyota RAV4: boxy looks, tech upgrade and PHEV-only in UK
Toyota has lifted the covers off the sixth-generation RAV4, with the family SUV bringing a striking new look and a generational upgrade in on-board tech. The car's dramatic styling is said to reference the off-road credentials of earlier RAV4s, with a boxier – almost Land Cruiser-like – silhouette and chunkier wheel arches. The new hammerhead lights front and rear bring its looks into line with those of the latest Prius and C-HR. Inside, the RAV4 gets a new 12.9in infotainment touchscreen that is the first to run on Toyota's new Arene operating system. Like Google's Android or Apple's iOS, it is a standard platform that will be rolled out across all future Toyotas, to enable quicker and easier development of new features. This, Toyota said, will allow it to develop new and more powerful safety and entertainment systems and introduce new functions through over-the-air updates rather than requiring prospective buyers to wait for a new model generation. At the RAV4's launch, for example, the Arene platform will arrive with new safety features, such as a rear-approach monitor devised to help drivers merge onto motorways. In the longer term, the brand has previously mooted functionality such as downloadable performance packs that replicate the dynamics of different Toyotas: drivers could, for example, choose a GR86-inspired chassis set-up for a spirited drive, before switching to more Lexus-like damping for the journey home. The new RAV4 will be offered exclusively with plug-in hybrid powertrains in the UK. Exact specifications have yet to be confirmed, but in Europe there will be a choice of 264bhp front-wheel-drive and 300bhp four-wheel-drive powertrains. The most powerful PHEV is capable of sprinting from 0-62mph in 5.8sec, and it can drive under electric power alone for up to 62 miles. Its 22.7kWh battery can be topped up at up to 50kW on a DC connection, taking 30 minutes to go from 10-80%, or at 11kW on AC. In Europe there will also be a choice of 181bhp and 188bhp regular hybrids, with front-wheel drive or four-wheel drive respectively. Also on offer will be a GR Sport variant with a focus on handling and featuring lightweight 20in alloy wheels, a 20mm-wider track, different dampers and stiffer springs. Inside, the GR Sport will get bucket-like sports seats, aluminium pedals and an abundance of GR badging. Pricing has yet to be confirmed but is expected to represent a small step up from the current RAV4 PHEV's starting price of £44,120. Deliveries are set to begin next spring, but an exact date has yet to be fixed. ]]>
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
As Baltimore ramps up parking enforcement, citations for one offense are skyrocketing
Baltimore is issuing thousands more parking citations this spring than it has in previous years after launching overnight enforcement. City data shows agents are writing the most tickets for one particular violation — parking with expired tags. Parking agents have issued over 13,000 citations for lapsed registration stickers in the two months since the Baltimore City Department of Transportation launched its '24-hour parking enforcement' plan on March 10, promising to clear up streets with overnight enforcement. That's 17 times as many vehicles with expired registrations cited for parking on city streets as during the same period last year, when agents only wrote 800 citations for expired tags. The targeting of expired tags this spring appears to be driving the recent bump in overall parking citations. Public data on parking violations shows that at least 51,000 citations have been issued this year since March 10, up 10.5% from the same period in 2024. A mayor's office spokesperson provided figures suggesting the jump in parking citations was actually twice that but did not respond to questions asking to clarify that data. The new overnight ticketing shifts allow parking agents to be 'more focused' on the job, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said in a March statement, making enforcement 'more effective and responsive' and giving crews 'the tools they need to get the job done.' Aiming at 'habitual offenders,' the city has ticketed some vehicles dozens of times. One vehicle has received over $1,200 in tickets since March for expired tags and parking in the same tow-away zone in South Baltimore. Cars with Virginia tags made up over 10% of recent citations. The most ticketed make of vehicle? Hondas, followed by Toyotas and Nissans. The crackdown on illegal parking was set to get even tougher, with new fines taking effect Monday aimed at repeat violators in Residential Permit Parking areas. While a first offense for illegally parking in a residential permit area remains at $50, a second offense within the same 12-month period will net a $70 fine. A third and fourth will cost $100 and $150, respectively. Have a news tip? Contact Dan Belson at dbelson@ on X as @DanBelson_ or on Signal as @danbels.62.
