Week in Review: May 30 to June 5

This week’s news was filled with lots of product reveals out of Toyota, BMW and Kia. Plus we finally get a second addition to the reborn compact pickup truck segment.

Toyota unveiled a slew of new special edition models and updated 2022 vehicles. They include the new TRD Sport trim for the 2022 4Runner, a Trail Edition 4×4 for the Tacoma, and the A91-CF Edition for the Supra. Last week, Toyota also showed off the Prius Nightshade Edition and the Highlander Hybrid Bronze Edition. The Sienna Woodlands Special Edition was revealed earlier this year. Toyota also updated the Tacoma TRD Pro with an updated suspension setup aimed at making it more capable when the pavement ends,

Read more on the updated 2022 Toyota models and special edition variants here.

The 2022 Corolla Cross has officially arrived in the U.S. it will slot between the C-HR and RAV4. It shares the same 169-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder as the Corolla sedan and hatchback. Unlike the C-HR, the Corolla Cross will be offered in FWD and AWD configurations. Toyota hasn’t said whether a hybrid powertrain will be available but according to our colleagues at CarBuzz, it will follow at a later date after Toyota showed a glimpse of a blue-highlighted Toyota badge during the Corolla Cross presentation. Expect that version to get AWD standard and use the same 2.0-liter-based hybrid setup found in the Lexus  UX.

Toyota held the North American debut of the bZ4X Concept at its headquarters in Plano, Texas. This will be Toyota’s first battery-electric vehicle underpinned by the e-TNGA platform. It will be co-developed with Subaru who is also using the platform for the Solterra. In terms of size, the bZ4X Concept is similar to the RAV4, and it has a production-ready interior. The production version is scheduled to debut before the end of 2021 and will go on sale in 2022.

Enthusiasts rejoice because the second-generation 2022 Toyota GR86 has arrived. Like its twin, the Subaru BRZ, the GR86 uses an updated version of the previous car’s platform and uses more aluminum to keep weight in check, and has a lower center of gravity. Under the hood is a new 2.4-liter flat-four with 228 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque. As before, you can choose either the standard six-speed manual or an optional six-speed automatic transmission. Two trims will be available: the base GR86 and the GR86 Premium. The latter gets 18-inch alloy wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires. Both versions get a limited-slip differential as standard. Pricing should remain similar to the outgoing 86 starting at around $28,0000.

BMW officially announced pricing for the i4 and iX models. The i4 will be available in eDrive40 or M50 guise, the latter of which is the first BMW EV to wear an M badge. Prices start at $55,400 for i4 eDrive40 and $65,900 for i4 M50 before the $995 destination charge. Both will use an 83.9-kWh battery, allowing the i4 eDrive40 to travel up to 300 miles on a charge. the i4 M50 has less range at 245 miles however you make up for it in power because it makes 536 hp and 586 lb-ft of torque from its two electric motors. The single-motor i4 eDrive40 is good for 335 hp and 317 lb-ft.

The iX all-electric crossover will be available in xDrive50 flavor initially and can travel up to 300 miles per charge thanks to the 111.5-kWh battery. Total output is 516 hp and 564 lb-ft from its two electric motors. Prices start $83,200 before the $995 destination charge. A performance-minded iX M60 will follow and offer over 600 hp. BMW could also add an entry-level iX xDrive40 could also follow suit.

Both the i4 and iX will be able to charge at a peak rate of 200 kW. This allows the i4 to charge from 10 to 80 percent in 31 minutes while the iX in roughly 40 minutes due to its larger battery. BMW’s iDrive 8.0 interface will also be standard, featuring over-the-air updates and a single curved glass housing two displays.

For 2022, Jaguar has dropped the four- and six-cylinder engines on the F-Type. In their place is the P450 variant, which uses a detuned 5.0-liter supercharged V8 good for 444 hp and 428 lb-ft. This is the first time a rear-drive V8-equipped F-Type has returned to the lineup since 2015. The 575-hp F-Type R remains the range-topping model and gets AWD standard.

Kia officially teased the 2023 Sportage, which will be sporting an angry (or hungry) new face. Like its Hyundai Tucson sibling, two versions will be available a standard wheelbase model for Europe and most of Asia, and a long wheelbase one for North America, Korea, China, and the Middle East. Powertrain options should mirror the Hyundai’s, too, with hybrids sitting at the top of the food chain. However, the base engine could either be a naturally-aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder or a turbocharged 1.6-liter like the K5 sedan. The piece-de-resistance on the 2023 Sportage will be the technology because it will be the first Kia to house two displays under a single piece of curved glass.

The 2022 Kia K5 has also been announced and it’s now available with the surround-view monitor on the EX and GT grades as part of the Premium or GT1 package respectively. The GT is also now offered with a two-tone Chestnut Brown leatherette upholstery. The GT-Line AWD trim is now available with the Premium package, which adds a panoramic sunroof, a heated steering wheel, navigation-based adaptive cruise control, LED projector headlights, and Highway Driving Assist. Pricing starts at $23,690 for the base LX trim before the $995 destination charge. The range-topping K5 GT costs $31,090 before destination. AWD is only available on the LXS and GT-Line models, which cost $26,490 and $27,690 respectively before the destination charge gets added.

Pricing for the 2022 Kia Stinger GT Scorpion Special Edition has been announced. RWD models will set you back $52,585 before the $1,045 destination charged while the AWD variant starts at $54,785. The Stinger Scorpion Special Edition adds a body-colored rear wing, black 19-inch alloy wheels, black or red Nappa leather upholstery, carbon-fiber interior trim, black side mirror covers, black fender accents, and dark exhaust tips. Only 250 units will be produced and will be available in three colors: Snow White Pearl, Aurora Black, and Ceramic Silver.

Ford has revealed the name of its compact pickup truck: the Maverick. This unibody-based model will be the second to join the recently revived compact truck segment and will be officially revealed on June 8 with the help of Gabrielle Union.