The Toyota Land Cruiser Can’t Be Resold, but How Did Terror Groups Get So Many?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

First, I just want to say that Toyota does not intentionally give their vehicles to militant forces in the Middle East. Clearly, the brand is making an effort to prevent that, as we’ve seen through their recent statements regarding the second-hand sales of the Toyota Land Cruiser. However, it does beg the question: why do we see so many ISIS and Taliban militants with Toyota trucks, both old and new? It turns out, things are much more complicated than you’d think.

U.S. counter-terror officials have asked about this before

Yep, that’s a Toyota | John Cantlie via Getty Images

The image of a Toyota truck with a machine gun mounted on the back has become a defining image of conflicts in the Mideast, especially in our post-9/11 world. In fact, it became so linked with these conflicts that the United States Government noticed. Per ABC News in 2015, government officials asked Toyota to explain themselves. After all, it wasn’t just old Toyota Land Cruisers popping up in places like Afghanistan and Yemen, it was new ones too.

At the time, Toyota didn’t have much of an answer. And how could they? Unfortunately, it’s somewhat hard to keep track of a vehicle after it goes to a dealer. Sure, you can run the VIN, find out where it’s been serviced, et cetera. But, at the end of the day, that’s all ex post facto; after the fact. So, Toyota said, “Sorry, we’re trying to keep the Toyota Land Cruiser out of these conflicts, but they disappear once they’re sold.”

In defense of the Toyota Land Cruiser- and Toyota

A black 2022 Land Cruiser climbing rocks in the California hills
The new Land Cruiser certainly doesn’t look ready for war | Toyota

Frankly, that’s very true, whether we like it or not. Toyota, like other automakers, has dealers all over the world. Those dealers are at the end of the day, a largely independent business. Yes, that dealer is a “Toyota dealer”, but that usually means Toyota has a contract with them, nothing more. In a statement, the brand said that “Toyota has a “strict policy to not sell vehicles to potential purchasers who may use or modify them for paramilitary or terrorist activities.” No one wants to directly supply terrorists. You can’t sell cars if people think you do that.

But the reputation of the Toyota Land Cruiser for durability has gotten ahead of the brand, making it a popular choice in conflict zones. That has made the Land Cruiser rather desirable to terror groups. Like any armed force, they need reliable, versatile transport. The Toyota Land Cruiser is the HUMVEE of the Taliban. The Taliban, and groups like them, are using their funds to purchase or intimidate dealers into selling them these cars.

How can automakers prevent second-hand deals like this?

The Land Cruiser badge on the rear quarter panel of a black 2022 Land Cruiser
Toyota is trying hard to track Land Cruiser sales | Toyota

The dealer network is key to preventing these things. If a dealer won’t sell to “unscrupulous” third parties, it’ll be much harder for these vehicles to end up in the wrong hands. If Toyota is now focusing on third-party sales, that means they’ve done something to incentivize dealers. In all likelihood, that means pulling contracts from dealers, in addition to banning third-party sales. However, the damage has been done, and the Toyota Land Cruiser is now forever linked with these conflicts. At the very least, Toyota is trying its best to prevent that.

RELATED: This Toyota Supra Continues a Worrying Trend for Millenials and Gen Z

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Joe Biden’s Electric Dream Vs. Today’s Smoggy Reality

by Gabrielle DeSantis

President Joe Biden has a vision of the future that may not come to fruition. The 46th President of the United States of America takes the current climate crisis seriously. He believes that changing the automotive industry could, in turn, change the country for the better. The President would like 50% of all new vehicles produced in 2030 to be electric vehicles. Is this a reasonable expectation, or is Joe being unrealistic?

How many new cars in the U.S. are electric?

Tesla Model 3 electric cars | Xinhua/Wang Xiang via Getty Images

Electric vehicles account for roughly 2% of the new vehicle market share in the United States as of 2021. America’s northern neighbor Canada produces over double the amount of new electric vehicles. Countries like Iceland and Norway produce more new electric cars than gas-powered cars. America still produces more new electric vehicles than at least 10 other countries, but it is far from leading the charge toward an electric future.

China and the U.K. are also ahead of the United States in new electric vehicle production. Millions of new cars are sold in the united states every year, but less than a million of those new vehicles are electric. To make matters worse, the global pandemic has also hindered EV production and sales in America.

The majority of the new electric vehicle market share belongs to Tesla. Seasoned automaker Ford has introduced an electric truck and electric SUV to its lineup. The Ford F-150 Lighting and Ford Mustang Mach-E are in high demand, but Ford is struggling with semiconductor chip shortages.

Joe Biden and the future of electric vehicles

Joe Biden sitting at a white table in a chair dressed in a suit and tie in front of a blue background with engineering sketches of various things, such as road and bridges, wind turbines, electric vehicles.
Joe Biden | Getty Images

According to Reuters, President Biden met with representatives from some of America’s top automakers to discuss the future. Biden made it clear that he would like at least half of the new vehicles produced in the U.S. to be EVs in the next decade. Many American automakers expressed that 40% would be a more feasible goal. Automakers Stellantis, Ford Motor Co., and General Motors Co. released a joint statement claiming that they would work toward making 40-50% of new vehicle sales electric in 2030.

President Joe Biden’s goal is ambitious, especially considering that the U.S. has one of the lowest new electric vehicle market shares in the world. Americans aren’t letting go of gas-powered vehicles easily. The lack of charging stations across the country doesn’t help either. Many Americans believe that electric vehicles are impractical because they may need to charge frequently for long periods of time. Range anxiety is also a major issue with electric vehicles.

Which electric car is best to buy?

The Tesla Model 3 electric vehicle.
The Tesla Model 3 | Photo by Wang Gang/VCG via Getty Images

Joe Biden’s goal of selling millions of new electric vehicles in 2030 seems out of reach. That being said, there are actually plenty of great electric vehicle options on the market in the United States. Range and battery capacity are still major issues for many automakers, but Tesla seems to have things all figured out.

The Tesla Model 3 is the best-selling electric car on the market. The Tesla Model Y electric SUV makes up for a large portion of American new electric vehicle sales as well. President Biden has stated that he wants electric cars to be made in America by unionized workers. Tesla models don’t fit this criteria, but these vehicles are currently the electric industry leaders. Joe Biden’s electric dream has potential, but chances are the future will look a lot different than what he expects. If Tesla continues to create great value for consumers, it will dominate the future of the American automotive industry. Either way, less smog sounds pretty dreamy.

RELATED: President-Elect Joe Biden EV Plan Pays You To Buy A New Car-Here’s How

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5 SUVs With the Best Gas Mileage and Fuel Costs in 2021, According to CarGurus

by Gabrielle DeSantis

SUVs don’t have a great reputation for decent fuel economy. They’re heavy, bulky, and built for hauling cargo and people, not for gas mileage. But since the turn of the century, manufacturers have been working to squeeze more miles out of every tank. Some SUVs on the road today match or exceed the 40 mpg benchmark by which cars are measured.

Below, we’ve chosen the five most promising SUVs from CarGurus‘ “The Best Gas Mileage SUVs of 2021.” Some are stylish, some are built for off-roading, but all have one thing in common: They’re hybrids. That’s right — gas-electric technology isn’t just for the Toyota Prius and Honda Civic anymore.

Ford Escape Hybrid and Ford Escape PHEV: 41 mpg and 100 MPGe

2021 Ford Escape | Ford Motor Company

The Ford Escape stands atop the list. Both the hybrid and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) versions achieve 41 mpg using only gas. When regularly charged, the Escape PHEV can break 100 MPGe depending on the average trip distance.

It’s safe to say Ford SUVs getting 40 mpg wasn’t on anyone’s radar at the turn of the century. The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of around $700 for the Ford Escape Hybrid and PHEV. Priced from $32,650, the Escape is affordable if perhaps on the high end of entry-level SUVs.

Lexus UX Hybrid SUV: 41 mpg

Unsurprisingly, Lexus has produced a luxury subcompact crossover that looks good and drives well. Also, unsurprisingly, it’s the second-most expensive car on this list. Starting at just over $35,000, the Lexus UX Hybrid also manages 41 mpg in the city but falls to 38 on the highway for a combined 39 mpg. The downgrade on the highway puts the Lexus UX Hybrid at around $800 in annual fuel costs.

Toyota RAV4 Hybrid: 40 mpg

The Toyota Rav4 Hybrid barely breaks the 40-mpg barrier at 41 mpg highway/38 mpg city. Also costing around $800 a year in fuel, this model is the first crossover on the list with a tilt toward affordability. Prices start at only $28,650, and the 2021 RAV4 Prime is also available, but at a higher cost. The PHEV features plug-in technology to stretch gas mileage significantly further.

Honda CR-V Hybrid: 38 mpg

Doing what Honda does, the CR-V Hybrid is a solid, reliable vehicle at a slightly inflated price. 38 mpg combined (40 mpg on the highway and 35 mpg in the city) isn’t bad at an MSRP of $30,560.

Unlike some of the other models on this list, Honda didn’t release the CR-V Hybrid wasn’t until the 2020 model year. Given how long the automaker has been in the hybrid game (the Honda Insight debuted in 1999), it’s surprising it took this long.

But Honda has done it right, and the CR-V Hybrid has more power than the gas-only CR-V. Like SUVs with similar gas mileage, the CR-V Hybrid is estimated to cost $850 per year to fuel.

Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid: 35 mpg

The Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid marks a significant jump in price from the previous models, costing nearly $37,000. The vehicle manages around 35 mpg on gas alone and offers a plug-in option that bumps its fuel economy up to 90 MPGe.

If you’re in the market for a new all-wheel-drive SUV, the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid isn’t a bad choice. But it costs more than the equivalent Lexus. Fuel cost per year: $850.

Other SUVs with great gas mileage

In addition to the five models listed above, a few other SUVs won’t break your fuel budget. The Toyota Highlander Hybrid might give you sticker shock at $38,510, but it gets 36 mpg combined and costs $900 a year in fuel costs.

The Lexus UX 200 is the smallest SUV in the brand’s lineup, offering only 32 mpg combined and costing $950 a year to fuel. But the purchase price is on the low side for a Lexus, at only $32,900.

But the Nissan Kicks starts at just $19,500 and offers 33 mpg combined for $950 in annual fuel costs.

However, the absolute cheapest SUV on the list is the Hyundai Venue, at only $18,750. Getting 32 mpg combined, it costs $1,000 per year in fuel costs.

As the above roundup demonstrates, hybrid SUVs are entering the mainstream, and there’s one for nearly every budget.

RELATED: Both Car Prices and Gas Prices Are Rising, and Fast

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Why was the Original Acura Integra Discontinued?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Acura recently announced the return of the Integra nameplate in 2022, which is huge news for anyone that’s into Japanese sports cars from the 90s. As Honda and Acura fanatics, this announcement brings back feelings of nostalgia in addition to high-revving hopes for the future. But it also made us wonder why the original Integra was discontinued in the first place.

The Acura Integra was an entry-level sports coupe

1986 Acura Integra | Acura

The Integra made its debut back in 1986 alongside the Acura Legend. The Integra was the brand’s entry-level sports coupe that offered more luxury and power than a Honda Civic, but it wasn’t as stately as its luxury sedan stablemate. However, the Integra had its own unique personality.

While the first-generation Integra had a short, four-year production run, the automaker offered it in a three-door and five-door hatchback set up in addition to a four-door sedan. Under its hood was a naturally aspirated, 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that produced 113 hp and 99 lb-ft of torque, however, a mid-cycle refresh yielded an increase in power to 118 and 103 lb-ft, respectively.

As stated before, the Integra was more luxurious and sportier than its Civic cousin, as such, the first-gen Integra also came with power windows, a sunroof, cruise control, and an audio system with a cassette deck, reports Motor Trend.

The second-generation Integra offered a streamlined look

The second-generation Integra was produced from 1990 to 1993 and it was a drastic change from its predecessor. This time, Acura limited the Integra to a two-door coupe and a four-door sedan configuration, the five-door hatchback was dropped. The automaker updated the car’s styling as well, using a more streamlined approach that incorporated flush-mounted headlights and smoother body lines.

There was more power under the hood in the form of a larger 1.8-liter engine that made 130 hp and 121 lb-ft of torque, but that was upgraded in 1992 to 140 and 126, respectively. That power was routed to the front wheels via a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. The real kicker, though, was that the second-gen Integra incorporated a front and rear double-wishbone suspension in addition to anti-lock brakes on the higher GS trim level.

Speaking of higher trim levels, one of the most important introductions from this generation of the Integra was the inclusion of the GS-R trim level in 1992. The Integra GS-R was the first of its kind to feature Honda’s VTEC (Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control) technology, which was used in many Honda and Acura models from then on. The Integra GS-R was powered by a 1.8-liter engine that pushed out 160 hp and 117 lb-ft of torque and could be spun all the way up to 8,000 rpm.

The third-generation Integra is the most recognized

1997 Acura Integra Type R
1997 Acura Integra Type R | Acura

When hearing the name “Acura Integra,” the third generation is probably what comes to mind the most. Also known as the “bug-eye” Integra, this edition of the sports car features quad round headlights and much sleeker styling cues than its predecessors.

The third-gen Integra was produced from 1994 to 2001 in a three-door hatchback or four-door sedan body style. This time, Acura equipped the car with a naturally aspirated 1.8-liter non-VTEC engine in the lower models and a higher-output 1.8-liter VTEC engine for the higher-trim GS-R. The former put out 140 hp while the latter produced 170 hp and 128 lb-of torque while revving all the way up to 8,100 rpm.

The real news during this time was the release of the Integra Type R in 1997, which lasted until 2001. This track-ready version of the Integra featured a seam-welded chassis, an upgraded suspension, larger brakes, and a higher-revving 195-hp, 1.8-liter engine.

The Type-R also weighed less than the GS-R and was equipped with a limited-slip differential for bettering cornering. Some say that the Integra Type was one of the best-handling front-wheel-drive cars of all time. We find that hard to disagree with.

Why was the Integra discontinued?

2006 RSX Type S in orange
2006 RSX Type S | Acura

The Acura Integra was discontinued after the 2001 model year in favor of the forthcoming RSX in 2002. The RSX did a decent job acting as the entry-level luxury coupe, however, some will say that it never had the same soul as the original Integra.

Nonetheless, we’re excited to see the Integra nameplate coming back in 2022. We suspect that the brand will release it as a coupe and sedan configuration, but we’re keeping our fingers crossed for a Type R variant.

RELATED: Meet the Integra That’s Actually a Honda Civic

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