Social media challenge spurs car thefts
If you have a Kia or Hyundai vehicle, you may want to take extra precautions. CNBC reported that a challenge on TikTok and other social media platforms has car owners and police departments on alert across the country, daring young teens to steal certain cars off the street using a USB cord. Certain makes and models of 2010-2021 Kia and Hyundai vehicles that use a mechanical key, not a key fob and push-button to start the car, are particularly vulnerable. Investigators told CNBC the trend started last year and the number of cars being stolen is continuing to surge across the country. In St. Petersburg, Florida, police reported more than a third of all car thefts there since mid-July are linked to the TikTok challenge. Los Angeles officials say the viral trend has led to an 85% increase in car theft of Hyundais and Kias compared with last year. The story is the same in Chicago, according to Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart. “In our jurisdiction alone, [thefts of certain models are] up over 800% in the last month,” he said. “We see no end in sight.”
Ford rolls out more hands-free technology
Ford Motor Company said it is making hands-free driving even better by launching BlueCruise 1.2* and Lincoln ActiveGlide 1.2 with new features – including hands-free lane changing – and system updates to create more of a human-like driving feel. The available new system starts arriving on vehicles from the factory this fall – beginning with the Ford Mustang Mach-E.
Available BlueCruise 1.2 and ActiveGlide 1.2 include three new features:
- Lane Change Assist can help drivers move through traffic on the freeway with more confidence while using BlueCruise. The system will perform a hands-free lane change when requested by the driver tapping the turn signal, and it can even suggest if a lane change would be beneficial when following slow-moving traffic.
- Predictive Speed Assist automatically and smoothly adjusts the speed as drivers approach a sharp curve and will help signal the driver ahead of time when a speed change is about to occur, so they understand why the vehicle is slowing.
- In-Lane Repositioning makes the hands-free highway driving experience feel more natural, keeping the vehicle in its lane while subtly shifting the vehicle’s position away from vehicles in adjacent lanes – especially helpful when next to bigger vehicles such as semis.
Ford engineers also are dedicated to improving its ADAS to deliver more human-like driving performance, in addition to refining visuals, sensing and steering experiences. They’ve also been continually improving maps with over-the-air updates identifying prequalified sections of divided highways where BlueCruise can be used – currently spanning more than 130,000 miles.
Jeep expands Wrangler 4xe lineup
The Jeep Wrangler 4xe got a boost to its electrified lineup at the 2022 Detroit Auto Show with the debut of the new heritage-inspired 2023 Jeep Wrangler Willys 4xe.
“Jeep Wrangler 4xe customers looking for the ultimate combination of capability and electrification, with a vintage twist, can now have it in the 2023 Jeep Wrangler Willys 4xe,” said Jim Morrison, senior vice president and head of Jeep brand North America. “The debut of the new heritage-inspired 2023 Wrangler Willys 4xe pairs 49 MPGe, 470 lb.-ft. of torque with unmatched Jeep capability, a 2.72:1 4WD low range ratio, heavy-duty Dana 44 axles and a new entry price point to the 2023 model year Wrangler 4xe lineup, which continues to be the best-selling plug-in hybrid in America.”
The 2023 Jeep Wrangler Willys 4xe boasts the performance and efficiency of 375 horsepower, 470 lb.-ft. of torque, a 17 kWh battery that readily handles most daily commutes, including 21 miles of all-electric range, as well as hours on the trail with electric-only power. and it all off with the go-anywhere capability of a 2.72:1 Selec-Trac full-time 4WD system, 30 inches of water fording, heavy-duty Dana 44 axles and mud-terrain tires. Willys 4xe factory suspension lift delivers 10.1 inches of ground clearance.
With a starting U.S. manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $53,995 (excluding $7,500 tax credit and $1,595 destination), the heritage-inspired Willys 4xe brings a new entry price point to the Wrangler 4xe lineup, joining Rubicon 4xe, High Altitude 4xe, and Sahara 4xe. Ordering for the 2023 Jeep Wrangler Willys 4xe is available starting today with deliveries scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2022.