The News for August 12th, 2022

Welcome to the Hooniverse News! As always, this is a weekly recap of the biggest stories in the automotive industry without the fluff or bull. This week: GMC unveils all-new Canyon, Ford celebrates original Bronco with dealer markup bait, Porsche claims EV sedan record on the Nürburgring, and other coverage from the week.

2023 GMC Canyon

With the new Chevy Colorado still fresh in our minds from a few weeks ago, GMC has introduced their own version as expected. The GMC Canyon gets a new generation with many of the same enhancements as found on its cheaper sibling. But being a GMC means it gets nicer looks, fancier interior materials, and more tech. It also takes after the Colorado in that it elevates its off road game as well.

Exterior design between the Chevy and GMC differs the most at the front, where the GMC’s face features all LED lighting and chrome accents on its grille. They use keywords like “bold” and “aggressive” when talking about it, so you know it’s legit. There’s certainly no denying it’s a GMC truck with enough similarities with its larger stablemates to fit in. High ground clearance, trimmed corners, and all-new sheet metal create a unique look for the truck. Each Canyon, regardless of trim, sits higher and wider than the previous generation. This helps with improved approach, departure, and breakover angles, as does the removal of the front air dam.

One benefit to stepping up to the GMC is that all trims receive the more powerful version of the Colorado’s 2.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. In this guise it produces 310 horsepower and 430 lb.-ft. of torque.

The general layout of the interior is the same but basic things like air vents and trim pieces are changed. The Denali gets laser etched wood décor and leather appointments while the AT4X gets a Ceramic White and Obsidian Rush-themed cabin. An 11″ digital gauge cluster on the Denali and AT4X, heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats, a 6.3″ heads-up display, 7-speaker Bose sound system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a segment-exclusive sunroof. Another exclusive feature are the available front and rear underbody cameras to assist with off-roading – they even have a built-in wash function.

Those looking for serious off-road performance in a more luxurious truck might be interested in the AT4X trim. It’s almost like a Colorado ZR2 with more leather. It comes with a factory lift for 10.7″ of ground clearance and a 36.9-degree approach angle, Multimatic DSSV shocks, front and rear e-lockers, underbody skid plates, and 33″ MT tires. It will be available in limited numbers with the Edition 1 package which adds those optional underbody cameras, an off road front bumper with a safari bar, a COMEUP winch, and a 30″ grille light bar.

No word on pricing or a timeline for availability. But it should be on sale later this year. Good luck getting one for MSRP.

[Source: GMC]

Ford Bronco Heritage Editions

To celebrate the original 1966 Bronco, every 2023 Bronco body style will be available with a limited-run Heritage Edition that resurrects the classic styling of the original. The Bronco 2-door, 4-door, and Sport models will each have a “normal” Heritage Edition as well as Heritage Limited Edition models that are restricted to 1,966 units per model. Those currently waiting for a Bronco order get first dibs with deliveries beginning later this year.

The Bronco Heritage Edition and Heritage Limited Edition models feature a two-tone paint job that includes Oxford White accents all around, particularly the grille, roof, wheels, and the side stripe (not on the Bronco Sport). Providing contrast on the white grille is the Race Red “BRONCO” lettering. The paint options depend on which model you’re working with and whether you choose the limited or regular heritage option. The Heritage Limited Edition for all models is painted exclusively in Robin’s Egg Blue with Yellowstone Metallic and Peak Blue planned later on. If you just get the Heritage Edition, you’ve got five colors to choose from on the Bronco and seven on the Bronco Sport. Ford did not disclose what those options were.

The (big) Bronco models ride on 17″ aluminum dog dish-style wheels that are painted Oxford White on the Heritage Edition or black with an Oxford White lip on the Heritage Limited Edition. The Limited models also get metal Bronco script badging on the fender. 1966 vibes continue inside with plaid cloth seats, an Oxford White instrument panel with Race Red lettering, center console badging, and exclusive floor liners. The Heritage Limited Edition gets all this too but with leather-trimmed seats.

Heritage Edition Broncos are equipped as Big Bend trims with the Sasquatch package, meaning they get just about every piece of off-road equipment you can get. The 2.3-liter EcoBoost is the only engine available on the non-limited Heritage Model. Step up to the Heritage Limited Model and you get the Badlands series equipment and features and a 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6. They don’t specifically mention it, but it looks like this one gets Sasquatch too. You may notice I did not go into great detail regarding the Bronco Sport models. You’re right.

MSRP was published for these but there are few words more meaningless than “Ford Bronco’s MSRP”. Nevertheless, the Bronco Sport Heritage Edition starts at $34,245 and $44,655 for the Heritage Limited Edition. The Bronco Heritage Edition starts at $44,305 and goes all the way up to $66,895 for the Heritage Limited Edition. Add about $100k to each of those numbers and you’ll have your local dealer’s price.

[Source: Ford]

Porsche Taycan Turbo S claims Nürburging record

Porsche once again owns the series production electric car record at the Nürburgring Nordschleife. The Taycan Turbo S has posted a time of 7:33, a little over two seconds faster than the more powerful Tesla Model S Plaid did it last year – albeit controversially.

The lap time Tesla posted was legitimate, but it seemed the car was not quite production-spec. Test mules had been spotted around the track for weeks leading up to the record that showed some modifications had been applied which are not currently available on any Model S Plaid, namely aero improvements and tires that looked more aggressive than what the factory would later supply. But this Taycan Turbo S was all stock, excluding the racing seat and roll cage for safety measures (as is standard practice on all record attempts). TÜV Rheinland was on hand to verify that it was a standard production model.

It did, however, have a few upgrades applied at the factory since the last time it ran here. This Taycan was equipped with a new performance kit available through Porsche Tequipment and Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (already available). The performance kit includes 21-inch RS-Spyder-design wheels with road legal Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires which are newly available on the Taycan. Another element of the performance kit is a software update to the Porsche 4D Chassis Control to account for the added grip of the new tires and get the most out of them.

Owners who wish to save their P Zero Coras for track days can revert back to a less aggressive tire without needing to roll back the software update. However, this package is currently exclusive to Germany. If this package was able to turn the tables on a much more powerful car (1,020 hp on the Tesla vs 616 hp on the Porsche) with added aero using nothing more than factory-available tires and software, it’s gonna be worth the additional cost.

[Source: Porsche]

The Meyers Manx returns

The new EV Meyers Manx 2.0

In case you missed it from earlier in the week, this adorable little bastard is coming back. You can read more about it here.

What’s your automotive news?

hooniverse news whats your naws

That’s all I’ve got for you this week, so now it’s your turn. If you saw anything, fixed something, broke everything, or otherwise did anything even remotely car related that you want to share with your fellow hoon, sound off in the comments.

Have a good weekend.

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14 responses to “The News for August 12th, 2022”

  1. mdharrell Avatar
    mdharrell

    My two-stroke SAAB 96 and I just finished the Lemons Rally in California. From home to home this meant 3980 miles across nine days of driving, all somehow without mechanical difficulties. I am baffled but pleased.

    1. nanoop Avatar
      nanoop

      Kudos to Swedish Engineering and your American Patience!

    2. Neight428 Avatar
      Neight428

      Reduce velocity to keep those failure inducing forces in check! Amazing accomplishment for any old car.

  2. smaglik Avatar
    smaglik

    I did the one day car control clinic at the BMW Performance Center in Thermal, CA. The classes hold up to 24 people, and there were three scheduled for my class, and I was the only one that showed up, so I got the instructor to myself. It was a very fun and educational experience, as since it was just me and the instructor, I got much, much follow-up guidance when I would screw things up, and got to drive a ton. We did two different autocross setups, some panic stop and swerve maneuvers, and the skid pad, which was my favorite. I split seat time between the m340i and the new m235 (I think) xdrive. On a related note, the glass finally came in for the m3, so that’s getting installed Monday.

    I also bought another set of tires for the e91. For those of you counting (which I expect is none), that’s three sets (summers, winters, and now these) since April 2021. A few months back I was pondering how to get my snow tires to Michigan on sabbatical, looking into roof racks, etc. I was able to find a vendor who would ship each tire/rim for about $40 one way. So, there and back, I’d be in about about $350 or so…reasonable to me. Well, I can no longer find that vendor (I kinda wonder now if it wasn’t somewhat of a teaser to screw me some way), and the best I can find is just shy of $100/wheel. Faced with that, I decided to buy a set of very solid all seasons (Conti DWS06s…I think this is my 6th set of these across the vehicles) and pull the summer rubber off the rims, and use it later on. At least for this $800, I’ll get something out of it.

  3. Maymar Avatar
    Maymar

    Found shocks and struts (Bilsteins) for the 2, and at least managed to get the rears installed in a couple hours earlier this week. Thought everything went well, the car is driving much better, but now it’s sounding like something isn’t quite properly tightened. I gave a half-assed effort last night to tighten up the three accessible bolts, but that didn’t seem to work. Not sure if I have to torque them more, or get it all back out and tighten the top nut further.

    Fronts will follow whenever I have time, I guess?

  4. I_Borgward Avatar
    I_Borgward

    Today: Musical cars. Currently-croaked car, beached in garage, waiting to be pushed out (I can’t do it alone, at the mercy of friends who will probably show up… later?). Potentially-croaked-if-not-repaired car waiting to take its place. Third car on loan. This leaves my old Econoline to drive. For the first time in decades, I’ll again have… four cars, but only one that I can drive for the next several days.

    In other news: Happy to have a garage to work in, a herd of cars to work with, an Econoline to drive. Happy to be here.

  5. scoutdude Avatar
    scoutdude

    Got the fan clutch, and pulleys installed in the Mountaineer, It will cool down while idling now! However the temp still starts to climb too much under a moderate load in the 70 degree weather I tested in. So yeah it looks like it needs a radiator just trying to decide whether I go for one from the wrecking yard, or just bit the bullet and get a new one.

    Got the EVAP canister installed in the F-250 but haven’t taken it to fill up and see if it has fixed the problem. I am going to cut open the old one and see just how much dust had made its way in. I had cleaned out the vent filter when I got it because it was plugged. The blow through test of the old one did reveal that it was pretty plugged.

    I’m rolling up on 500 mi on the Marauder since I did the first change of the diff fluid after the repairs. So I’m going back in, fingers crossed that the area behind the magnets don’t have big bushy beards of metal particles like they did after 250 miles.

  6. mdharrell Avatar
    mdharrell

    Had someone asked me to rank the various dead marques in or near my garage in order of likelihood of revival, I admit that although American Microcar would not have been at the bottom of the list, it also would not have been at the top:

    https://americanmicrocar.com/

    1. Sjalawoohoo Avatar
      Sjalawoohoo

      I see several issues with some of the statements:

      The microcar 2.0 is a smart-looking two-seater, sufficiently compact to be immune to traffic jams and parkable in-between cars like a motorcycle. New lithium battery technology provides near unlimited range.

      …but in a suburban context, this is a great mobility appliance!

  7. outback_ute Avatar
    outback_ute

    Been working on a car still, kind of frustrating because I’m now at the point I’ll be doing well to have it running for an event in early October – and that’s ignoring all the “while you’re in there” opportunities like painting the engine bay while the engine was out (its back in now).

    So I’ve been procrastinating slightly by doing more parts-stash sorting than really needed as I look for parts.

    Next thing – new clutch slave cylinder, although I think I will have a look at the masters too (they are under the fuel tank so not easy to get to)

  8. nanoop Avatar
    nanoop

    The free scooter Is alive! It needed a new cylinder and a de-tuned carburetor (the one that came in the basket was too large, wrong-handed, and leaky), and the healing hands of a carburetor whisperer.
    Even Mrs nanoop took it around, and we are kind of clueless about it now:
    Combining the disadvantages of a bicycle with the disadvantages of a car? You still get wet, you are restricted where you can drive, and it’s still rather dangerous in dense traffic…

  9. Neight428 Avatar
    Neight428

    EFI install on the Trans Am complete and finally successful at least from a functional perspective. The source of the fuel leak was user error, the pipe thread to AN adapters going into the pump sending unit felt tight when I put them on initially, but they were way short of bottomed out and gas was flowing out rather freely. I managed to sink in another 1/4 inch of threads with a longer wrench and fully unleashed righteous anger.

    First impressions are very positive. It starts quicker and idles much happier as it is warming up and doesn’t stall when I put it into gear within 10 minutes of starting. Watching A/F ratio real time is a nifty trick. The throttle linkage is really sensitive, so it amplifies the effect, but getting rid of the quadra-bog and optimizing the stoichiometry really feels like I’ve uncorked some power too. I can’t wait to clear another weekend or two and swap out the ignition for the Holley setup that controls the timing. I still need to figure out an air cleaner stud that offsets correctly, the Q-jet version that I had was too long to work with the Sniper unit. I’ll likely ultimately go with a kit that reconfigures the whole shaker/air filter setup and allows me to use the much better intake manifold that I have sitting on my shelf.

    1. outback_ute Avatar
      outback_ute

      Sounds great

    2.  Avatar
      Anonymous

      Congratulations, glad to hear it was successful!