Week in Review: Top News from June 13 to June 19

This week’s news saw a lot of updates to popular models but most importantly we got more commitments to electrification from several OEMs.

Leading the charge is Lincoln announcing that it will electrify its entire lineup by 2030. To coincide with its 100th anniversary, it will debut its first dedicated battery-electric model. In total, Lincoln is releasing four EVs on a dedicated scalable platform that isn’t shared with the Ford Mustang Mach-E. It will also upgrade the Lincoln Way app with capabilities and features that will be useful to EV owners like access to a charging network, which includes Electrify America and plug and charge capability.

Electrify America has announced that owners of the 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS and 2022 Audi e-tron GT will enjoy complimentary DC charging for a specific time period. The Audi will be eligible for three years while the Mercedes gets two years. This will allow owners of both vehicles to take advantage of 350 kW chargers. This should allow the e-tron GT to be able to hit its peak of 270 kW while the EQS will be able to suck up energy at rates of up to 200 kW. Audi takes things up a notch by offering e-tron GT owners an option to add an Electrify America HomeStation or a NEMA 14-50 as part of the vehicle purchase.

Mazda has revealed that it plans to introduce 13 electrified vehicles globally by 2025. We know one of those is the MX-30, which will be available in EV and plug-in hybrid flavors in the U.S. Some of the standard hybrids will use a Toyota-sourced system and we suspect the two-row, midsize crossover being built at the Huntsville, Alabama facility is one of them. Mazda plans t maintain hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and all-electric powertrains in its lineup to cater to a broader audience. Vehicles on its new large car platform will likely use a Skyactiv-G inline-six-based system as a range-topping model. The existing 2.5-liter four-cylinder should remain in both naturally aspirated and turbocharged flavors. It could also be the basis for another hybrid system for both FWD- and RWD-based vehicles.

The Polestar 3 has been teased and it will be built in a Volvo’s South Carolina plant. Based on the sole teaser shown, the Polestar 3 will have a fastback-type roofline and could be low-slung just like current all-electric crossovers. It’ll be the first vehicle on a new Volvo Group platform designed specifically for EVs. In terms of size, the Polestar 3 appears to be a compact crossover, meaning it’ll be a rival to the likes of the Tesla Model Y and Audi Q4 e-Tron.

EPA fuel economy figures for the 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe PHEV have been released. Although it shares the same 1.6-liter turbo-four and six-speed automatic transmission as the standard hybrid, the Santa Fe PHEV gets a more powerful 99-hp electric motor and a larger 13.8-kWh lithium-ion battery. This brings total output up to 261 hp and enables the crossover to travel 31 miles in EV mode. In hybrid mode, the Santa Fe PHEV is EPA-rated at 33/32/33 mpg city/highway/combined and can travel up to 440 miles on a full tank and charge.

Honda has officially discontinued the Clarity PHEV and Fuel Cell. In a statement, Honda said that it plans to add more vehicles utilizing its two-motor hybrid system and plans to introduce its first dedicated EV in 2024. We’re betting the new hybrid vehicles are going to be the HR-V and the next-generation CR-V, both of which are due within the next six months to a year.

On the topic of Honda, pricing for the 2022 Civic sedan has been unveiled. The base LX will run you $22,700 before the $995 destination charge while the range-topping Touring tops out at $28,300 before destination.

Subaru has revealed a new addition to the Ascent lineup for 2022. The Ascent Onyx Edition gives you the blacked-out look and starts at $37,995 before the destination fee. In addition to the cosmetic tweaks, you also get rear automatic emergency braking, keyless entry/start, a heated steering wheel, and a power liftgate. The sole option package available adds built-in navigation, a panoramic sunroof, and a retractable cargo cover. The 2022 Ascent starts at $32,995 before destination.

For 2022, the Subaru Impreza gets a new Sapphire Blue Pearl exterior color. The Limited trim is now available only as a hatchback. Pricing starts at $18,795 before destination, making the Impreza one of the most affordable cars with AWD standard.

The 2022 Mercedes-AMG GT Four-Door Coupe gets some much-needed updates including the addition of the MBUX interface plus an updated AMG Ride Control+ suspension for the V8-powered models. A new AMG GT 53 Manufaktur Exclusive Edition joins the lineup. This gets the V8 styling package as standard plus 21-inc AMG forged alloy wheels, AMG puddle lights, a Neva Grey/Black Exclusive Nappa leather upholstery, natural grain ash wood trim, illuminated door sills, an AMG Edition badge on the instrument panel, and the Rubellite Red Metallic exterior color.

Toyota teased the next-generation Tundra once again with a shot of the engine cover. If we were to make an educated guess, iForceMax is the branding for the 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 that will power the truck. In the new Land Cruiser, it makes 409 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque. This engine could also form the basis of a new hybrid system specifically for body-on-frame vehicles and could likely sandwich the electric motor within the 10-speed automatic transmission.

A new report hints that Toyota intends to keep its powertrain lineup broad. Citing a Bloomberg story, Automotive News reveals that during a shareholder meeting, Toyota executives stood firmly on their stance to offer everything from standard internal combustion, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, battery-electric, and fuel cell. Toyota believes that this will cater to more consumers’ needs as it tried to streamline production and lower the cost of producing EVs. The automaker is looking at the life cycle of the vehicle rather than just the emissions it produces, according to the report.

Volkswagen has announced pricing for the 2021 ID.4 AWD. Pro and Pro S trims will be offered, meaning the standard equipment will be similar. The Gradient package will also be available. The base ID.4 AWD Pro starts at $43,675 while the ID.4 AWD Pro S checks in at$48,175 before the destination fee. The addition of a front electric motor bumps total output up to 295 hp combined while towing capacity increases by 20 percent to 2,700 pounds. Range drops to 249 miles per charge on the Pro while the Pro S is down to 240 miles. RWD models are rated at 260 and 250 miles for the Pro and Pro S respectively. Volkswagen says the ID.4 AWD can hit 60 mph in 5.7 seconds.

The 2022 Chevrolet Corvette lineup adds the IMSA GTLM Championship Edition. Based on the 3LT grade with the Z51 Performance package, this special edition model sets Corvette Racing-themed graphics package depending on the color. Cars finished in Accelerate Yellow get gray graphics while the ones in Hypersonic Gray get yellow ones. Additional features include yellow brake calipers, a high-wing spoiler in carbon flash finish, splash guards, black side mirror colors, and Black Trident alloy wheels with the “Jake” logo on the center caps. The interior features Strike Yellow and Sky Cool Gray colors mimicking the exterior scheme, standard GT2 seats, yellow seat belts, and a numbered plaque. Chevrolet will only make 1,000 units of the IMSA GTLM Championship Edition, which will cost an additional $6,595. Other changes for the 2022 Chevrolet Corvette include three new exterior colors: Caffeine, Hypersonic Gray, and Amplify Orange Tintcoat. Prices now start at $62,195 including destination for the coupe and $69,695 for the convertible.

The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning has allegedly leaked on Reddit and shows quite a range of options. If pricing is anywhere near what’s shown here, this truck could be one of the most expensive full-size entries when it goes on sale. However, take note that the $49,974 long-range model isn’t on the list. Why? Because you can’t buy one unless you’re a Ford Fleet customer.

After a recent leak, Toyota has shown the 2022 Tundra in its full glory. The single shot of the truck is of the TRD Pro model, which looks aggressive and rugged. It appears to have a significant suspension lift, too, hinting at its off-road-focused nature. The new Tundra will be on the TNGA-F platform that first appeared on the new Land Cruiser. and it’s specifically built for body-on-frame vehicles. Other models that will use that architecture include the next Tacoma, 4Runner, Sequoia, and Lexus LX.