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Runtime: 10:04
0:00 NHTSA Says No to Aftermarket Steering Wheel Emblems
1:07 IIHS Rates Pickup Rear Seat Protection Poorly
2:14 Battery Material Prices Will Keep Falling
3:06 GM Pauses Cruise Origin Production
4:05 Ram Reveals New 2025 1500 Pickup
6:50 Honda Ridgeline Getting More Rugged Trim
7:23 Li Auto Launching 540 Horsepower Minivan
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NHTSA SAYS NO TO BLINGED-OUT STEERING WHEEL EMBLEMS
I bet most people have modified their car in some way to suit their own needs, even if it’s a cell phone holder. Obviously, some people take car customization to higher levels than others, but there’s one aftermarket part that NHTSA is warning against. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says not to put aftermarket decals on steering wheels because they can fly off in a crash and potentially cause a serious injury. The decals are metal or plastic, usually covered with rhinestones or other decorations, and attach to the steering wheel with an adhesive back. NHTSA says these decals can easily be dislodged when an airbag deploys and turn into a projectile. It cites at least one driver who lost sight in one eye. So, NHTSA is urging driver’s not to buy these decals for any make or model and if an owner already has one, it says they should remove it.
PICKUPS FAIL NEW BACK SEAT PASSENGER CRASH TEST
And in other safety news, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety or IIHS says full-size pickups offer strong protection in side crashes but they fall short in back seat safety. This is one of the newest areas for safety testers to scrutinize. The safety group crash tested 2023 model year, crew cab versions of the Ford F-150, Toyota Tundra, Ram 1500 and Chevy Silverado in its updated moderate overlap front crash test that now emphasizes back seat safety. And it found they weren’t as good at protecting rear seat passengers. The Tundra earned a marginal rating, while the other trucks all were rated poor. The IIHS launched the updated test last year because the risk of fatal injury in newer vehicles is now greater in the rear than front seats. The IIHS says that’s because front seats now have improved airbags and advanced seat belts that are rarely offered in the rear.
BATTERY METAL PRICES TO STAY LOW
Last year, prices for metals used in EV batteries soared with automakers scrambling to lock-up supplies because they were concerned about long-term shortages. But that’s completely changed this year. Bloomberg reports that lithium prices have plummeted 70% so far this year, nickel has dropped 40% and cobalt prices are down as well. That’s because supplies have improved with production increases coming from China, Indonesia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The cool-off on electric vehicle sales is also pushing down the price of battery metals. And according to Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, supplies of lithium, nickel and cobalt will be higher than demand in the short term, meaning prices will remain low for the next several years.
GM PAUSES CRUISE ORIGIN PRODUCTION
General Motors is pausing production of its Cruise Origin autonomous shuttle. According to Forbes, Cruise CEO Kyle Vogt told employees that it has already produced hundreds of Origins and that it’s “more than enough for the near-term when we are ready to ramp things back up.” The move comes after Cruise recently paused all of its driverless operations in the U.S. because of safety concerns. Last month, the California DMV suspended Cruise’s driverless permits after one of its vehicles was involved in an accident with a pedestrian. That incident is also being investigated by NHTSA.
RAM DROPS V8 FOR 6-CYLINDER
Ram is dropping V8 engines from its standard 1500 truck lineup in favor of an in-line 6-cylinder. It’s the same 3.0L twin-turbo Hurricane engine that first debuted in the Jeep Wagoneer. Ram also provided some key details about the range extended version of the 1500, what it calls the Ramcharger. But let’s quickly run through the highlights of the new gas-only versions of the 2025 model year truck. Two power outputs are available. The standard output is 420 horsepower, while the high-output version makes 540 horsepower and can tow over 11,500 pounds. Exterior styling has some influence from the all-electric Ram concept, while the interior gets new digital displays, including a screen for the passenger. One last bit of tech is a new hands-free Level 2 system that it says works at all speeds on “approved roadways.” Now let’s jump to the Ramcharger, which is built on the new STLA Frame platform. The same that the new all-electric Ram REV is built on. Its system combines Stellantis’ 3.6L Pentastar V6 engine, a 130 kW on-board generator, a 92 kWh battery pack and two electric drive modules. Even though the front drive module is bolted directly to the engine, there’s no direct mechanical path from the engine to the wheels. Instead the engine is paired with the generator and it provides electricity to the battery, which then feeds the motor and wheels. Or in high demand situations the drive modules can take power from both the generator and battery. In that scenario, the Ramcharger can make up to 663 horsepower and do 0-60 in 4.4 seconds. It’s also capable of traveling up to 690 miles and towing up to 14,000 pounds. For a quick comparison, the fully electric Ram truck will have two battery sizes, either 168 kWh, which provides up to 350 miles of range, or a 229 kWh battery pack that provides up to 500 miles of range. The new Ram 1500 with the Hurricane engines will start arriving at dealers early next year. The all-electric version comes in Q4 of 2024 and production of the Ramcharger will follow soon after that. (Pictured: STLA Frame platform with range extender)
HONDA RIDGELINE GETTING MORE RUGGED TRAILSPORT TRIM
Speaking of trucks, Honda is coming out with a more rugged version of the Ridgeline. It’s giving the model its TrailSport treatment, which is a new trim line that’s offered on other vehicles as well and is more off-road focused. The Ridgeline TrailSport an off-road-tuned suspension, all-terrain tires, steel underplates and unique styling. Like the other version of the Ridgeline, the TrailSport will be built in the U.S. in Alabama and start arriving at dealers this winter.
LI AUTO LAUNCHING 540 HP MINIVAN
Chinese automaker Li Auto’s first BEV, a new minivan called the Mega, will have some pretty impressive specs. It features a nearly 103 kWh battery pack that provides up to 700 kilometers or 434 miles of range, two electric motors that combine for 400 kW or over 540 horsepower and will do 0-100 km/h in 5.5 seconds. For reference, it’s about the same size as a Chrysler Pacifica. And despite those weird looks, the Mega is more aerodynamic than a Porsche Taycan. Sales are expected to kick off next year with a start price around $69,000.
But that’s a wrap for today. Thanks for joining us.
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Surprising that the RAM tow rating isn’s higher given that it’s a new design. Also of note, every redesign makes the front fenders more and more subtle.
On the IIHS crash test results: Alright… Brace for higher vehicle prices yet again (after even more safety measures begin to be required for back seat passengers – besides the 2-dozen air bags, curtains, bolsters, pouches, folds and creases already aiding in record-high vehicle manufacturing costs.)
I think NHTSA is on point with its recommendation of removing and never installing ‘scrapnel’ on your steering wheel airbag.
Perhaps Ram’s range extender is being introduced at a more favorable time; the Chevy Volt was good (and owners liked it) but it didn’t garner widespread adoption. And even though the Volt did engage (sometimes) with the gas engine and the driveline, it is similar enough, to be considered almost the same thought process for extending range.
The new Ridgeline is the right size (for me), but I’d rather a Chevrolet (of same or similar size); just my prejudice.
So, Li Auto is trying to make sure we have a generation of infants with really strong neck muscles? Who really needs a minivan with 540hp?
The Li Auto Mega appears to have adopted some of the CyberTruck’s styling cues, and pricing.
MJB; Yeah, wasn’t it the IIHS that wanted an airbag recall because like 4 bags had premature ignition in 10+ year old cars? As these vehicles age it seems reasonable to assume with rust, corrosion and time that these airbags might pose a risk the older they get. So why not push for even more airbags to be placed in the rear seats where the kids sit, simply because the front seats have become so well protected, they are now safer than the rear seats. No actual data to provided saying anything needs to be done. Just that the rear is worse than the front seats. Just seems like a study backed by an airbag company or institute that creating data for the sake of self preservation.
As much as I’ve always liked the chrome front bumpers on Ram’s pickups, I’m liking that new color-coded one even more.
lambo2015: Agreed!
It’s the “perceived” danger to rear seat passengers that becomes a clarion call to action. There was a time when all passengers were in danger of death or dismemberment simply because seatbelts didn’t even exist and some parts of interiors were still made of metal. But we’re now safer than ever inside a car. Motorcyclists are about the only ones whose safety has not improved by much over the past 100 years.
It’s the same with vehicle reliability. Today, even the most unreliable car is 10X more reliable than cars from just 40 years ago.
The Ram range extender is interesting, but it’s a given that it will get horrible mpg running on gas, with no mechanical connection from the engine to the wheels. It will make sense for some people, those who will drive it mostly on plug-in power.
I hope the highly boosted little six in the Ram doesn’t need premium gas. That would negate the possible mpg improvement over the V8 in a big way.
Ram may be onto something with the combination of ICE and EV in pickups. While I am not a fan of PHEVs in general, this may be a good compromise in a pickup. Use the EV when you can, but have the ICE backup for towing or longer range needs. There are many places in North America where even gas stations are few and far between. Good luck with that high speed charger.
They should try to Voltize that Ram PHEV. The Volt got fairly respectable mpg on gas, with its mechanical ICE/wheels connection under some condition, but series only? It will be bad.
Kit,
If the MPG of the RAM on generator mode is bad, that might actually be a good thing. Lets say that it got 30MPG in generator mode. At that point why plug in at all? If it gets 8MPG though in generator mode, well then you are incentivized to plug in as often as you can and suffer the MPG only when you must, such as towing long distance. It would end up being the best for the environment.
I remember the story here about drivers in Germany not plugging in their company provided PHEVs since the fuel economy was reasonable and the company was paying for the gas anyhow. If they all had a RAM PHEV that got 8MPG in generator mode, I guarantee they would be plugging in as the company would crack down on those people. No government intervention needed LOL
It would even be a win for the environment as it would have the trucks on EV Mode most of the time unless you are towing. Otherwise the buyer would purchase a gas or diesel truck and emitting carbon all the time with every drive everywhere because they are buying for the 10% time that they are towing. The real downside though is that this set up is likely going to be very expensive and may not sell as a result.
Whether battery material price full or not, the prices for the vehicles those batteries are in will not!
MERKUR, yep, true, especially if businesses buy them and are paying for gas, they’ll want them plugged in when possible.
It’s good to see the idea of an upper bound to battery size gaining traction. Endless capacity growth presently makes no sense, given diminishing returns, total costs, and not least availability.
I’d really like to see a powerful, mid-size hybrid truck with a longitudinally mounted four, and electric-only range in the 100-130 miles bracket.
What all these hybrids could benefit from is a modern, fully automatic charging solution. Wireless high-voltage chargers have become a lot more efficient, and any loss below ~10% has to be vastly preferable to operating on the range-extender alone.
*transversally
Sean, there are not only cost and availability issues with huge, 200 kWh batteries, but they would take a very long time to charge unless using multiple chargers.