One Critic Called the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport A “Tarted-up Ford Escape”

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport is a popular SUV that has been hard for buyers to get ahold of this summer. In fact, one early Ford buyer listed the Ford Bronco First Edition on eBay for $150,000 due to its popularity. That doesn’t mean everyone is a fan, though, like this one critic.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport keeps getting mixed reviews

2021 Ford Bronco Sport | Ford Motor Company

In a review by the Post Gazette, the author found the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport lacking in some areas. In a surprising revelation, the Sport was compared to a Honda CR-V or a Subaru Forester. When it came down to it, most critics were looking for more from the new Bronco. But the Bronco Sport has been dubbed the “baby Bronco,” so is this an unfair comparison?

Later, the review says, “The Bronco Sport is tough but rough and outclassed by much of the competition. And definitely don’t expect the cool new Bronco — or, at least, one presumes that the Bronco will be much better.” That seems to be the consensus thus far.

“The Bronco Sport is all-new for 2021, and it reminds me of a tarted-up Escape.” Comparing the legendary vehicle to a Ford Escape is one day to throw everyone off. In theory, the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport is an exciting new SUV, but it isn’t living up to the hype yet. Is it just a watered-down version of the regular 2021 Ford Bronco?

Consumer Reports had similar thoughts about the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport

While drivers seem excited about the return of the Ford Bronco, Consumer Reports ranked it 13 out of 23 compact SUVs. It only racked up a 60 overall out of 100 for a score, and it currently has three open recalls. When it came down to the predicted reliability, Consumer Reports only gave the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport two out of five. The predicted owner satisfaction was a four out of five.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a loose or missing bolt in the suspension is causing issues. Another recall for the lower control arm is noted. Finally, a recall about the power train is listed from January. The NHTSA says that if the rear drive unit seizes, it could increase the risk of a crash.

Some of the highs noted by CR include the agility, braking, and character that the Sport offers. It also comes with a basic three-year, 36,000-mile warranty. Ford also includes five years, 60,000-miles for roadside assistance.

Edmunds offered a balanced review

Edmunds gave the Bronco Sport a well-balanced review. One of the main highlights was that the Bronco Sport was more capable on various terrains than an average SUV. It had some intelligent technology for everyday use and off-road adventures, plus lots of ways to customize it from the factory.

Edmunds noted that the Bronco Sport is based on the Ford Escape, an interesting tidbit. The Sport is supposed to be a more affordable and road-friendly version of the regular Bronco, which it achieves. The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport still has a lot to offer buyers when it comes down to it. Even if not everyone agrees, Ford made a pretty cool SUV with some off-road capabilities that not all vehicles can match.

RELATED: Ford Bronco Sport vs. Subaru Forester: More Capable SUV?

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Nissan Altima Sales Suffer as Production Halt Continues

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Nissan recently extended its halt in production, resulting in a decrease in Altima sales. The global pandemic has left the auto industry to deal with breaks in the supply chain, changes in consumer practices, and a worldwide semiconductor chip shortage. Analysts believe the ongoing problems could last well into 2023, leaving many automakers grappling with ways to keep the manufacturing lines running.

A global shortage of semiconductor chips is affecting automakers

The 2021 Nissan Altima | Nissan Motor Corporation

In early January 2021, automakers started to feel the effects of this parts problem, leading many companies to halt production temporarily. According to CNBC, the chip shortage could create a loss of $110 billion in 2021 sales revenue for the automotive industry. The crisis is affecting many automakers across the board. Analysts believe the “production of 3.9 million vehicles will be lost this year as a result of the shortage.”

CNBC reported the unprecedented issue has resulted in the Biden administration pumping $50 billion of the new infrastructure package into the U.S. semiconductor industry. “Biden has backed proposals for tax incentives to U.S. manufacturers to make the critical parts in America to avoid shortages in the future.”

Nissan has extended its production halt of the Altima

According to Automotive News, the sale of the Nissan Altima dropped 10% during the first half of the year, selling less than 62,000 units. This is because the continuing microchip shortage forced Nissan Motor Co. to temporarily stop production of the Altima at the Canton, Mississippi plant, where they build the midsize sedan.

The production line has been at a standstill since June 4, 2021, when the factory closed for two weeks for its anticipated summer shutdown. The automaker plans to stop production in the first half of August 2021 for two days each on the Nissan Titan and Frontier lines.

GoodCarBadCar tracks the sales history of all vehicles on the market today. According to its data, the Nissan Altima was experiencing steady sales since its inception in 2005. Before the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic hit, the annual sales for the Altima in 2019 were 209,183 units. Last year, sales dropped drastically to only 137,988 units. For 2021, that number is sitting at a mere 61,928, with more than half the year already in the history books.

In February 2020, monthly sales of the Nissan Altima were 19,909 units. By April, as dealerships around the nation closed down, that number plummeted to only 3,906 units. This year, the Altima is experiencing monthly sales of approximately 10,000 units, which pales compared to the 23,000 unit monthly average of years past.

How the chip shortage has affected other automakers

As the chip shortage continues, auto manufacturers are struggling to meet customer demand. Time reported that Ford expects to “produce 1.1 million fewer vehicles, leading to a $2.5 billion earnings hit.”

Meanwhile, Hyundai reported a 56% increase in sales ending May 2021. It is possible the automaker had the forethought to stockpile chips before the shortage hit. However, according to Hyundai sales chief Randy Parker, the company focused on manufacturing its best-selling models, the Hyundai Elantra, Tucson, and Santa Fe. Additionally, in April 2021, some of Hyundai’s other production lines temporarily shut down to address chip shortage issues.

Tesla also appears to remain unscathed by the supply chain problems plaguing most of the automotive industry. The innovative automaker has been developing technology to eliminate its reliance on microchips. Tesla can now update the software by directly linking to a vehicle with newly-created components. This means that Tesla drivers are unaffected by the delays experienced by the consumers of other automotive brands.

RELATED:  The 2021 Ford F-150 Is Struggling With the Chip Shortage

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Toyota Fears Land Cruisers Could End up in Terrorists’ Clutches

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The Toyota Land Cruiser has been in the news a lot this year. In fact, it’s often in the news year-round, thanks to its superior off-road ability. However, it appears there are other fans of the Land Cruiser beyond the off-road community. Due to this fact, Toyota is restricting sales in some areas. 

The Toyota Land Cruiser is an off-road master

A Toyota Land Cruiser driving in the desert | Edwin Remsberg/VWPics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

There’s something about leaving civilization behind as you travel down back roads that a regular sedan can’t do. While many off-road vehicles are legendary in their own rights, like the Jeep Wrangler, the Mercedes G-Wagon, and the Land Rover Range Rover, the Toyota Land Cruiser has a special place in the hearts of off-roaders.

Its ability to travel over a wide variety of terrain makes it an off-road beast. The Land Cruiser can also handle driving down highways and city streets, although there’s no denying where it really belongs. However, this isn’t always a good thing.

Land Cruisers may be used by terrorists

In a strange twist, it appears that the Toyota Land Rover is being used by terrorists thanks to its superior off-road capability. Toyota’s reputation for reliability and durability is also another reason why the Land Cruiser is valuable. Because of this, Fox News is reporting that Toyota is becoming stricter as to where Toyotas can be sold and where they can’t.

For instance, Toyota requires buyers in Japan not to export their vehicles. The Japanese automaker takes this so seriously that it requires owners to sign a pledge. In fact, Toyota dealers have also been warned not to export vehicles.

It’s unclear how effective this pledge will be, as once someone sells their Land Cruiser, they no longer have a say in where it goes. Despite this, the fact that Toyota is taking a stand is admirable, and this will doubtless keep at least some Land Cruisers out of hot zones.

The end of the Land Cruiser is here

It appears that there may be another reason why the Land Cruiser won’t be entering any hot zones. Car and Driver reports that Toyota has decided to discontinue the Land Cruiser after the 2021 model year in the U.S. With this restriction in manufacturing, there will be fewer Land Cruisers, which may increase the value enough that owners may not be willing to part with it as readily. In fact, it’s already accomplished that in the U.S.

According to Car and Driver, “Back in December 2020, Toyota told Americans that the 2021 model year would mark the end of the Land Cruiser’s venerable 60-year run in the U.S. And to that news, more U.S.-buyers snatched up the Land Cruiser in January of 2021 than in any other month for the last 10 years. The second-highest sales month? December of 2020.” To break it down further, there was a 221% increase from January 2020 compared to January 2021. In January 2020, 215 Land Cruisers were sold. In January 2021, 689 Land Cruisers were sold.

A local dealer spoke to Car and Driver and thinks that this rapid increase in sales will be enough to tempt Toyota to reintroduce the Land Cruiser to U.S. markets. It won’t happen in 2022, of course, but the dealer thinks it will happen eventually. 

The bad news is that the V-8 engine currently available may not be an option in the future, should the Land Cruiser actually come back. The good news is that it may get a hybrid engine or EV option, which is definitely a good thing.

RELATED: Which Reliable Toyota SUV Is Better Off-Road, the 4Runner or Land Cruiser?

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Bugatti Bolide Hypercar Entering Production

by Gabrielle DeSantis

When the Bugatti Bolide was revealed in fall 2020, they stressed that the car was merely an “experiment.” Bugatti built only one working model. Yet, less than a year later, Bugatti has officially announced that the Bolide is officially going to enter production.

Considering the widespread media coverage and viral videos of the Bolide starting up, it is no surprise that Bugatti is responding to the hype and capitalizing on their experiment. We should note that despite entering production, Bugatti has not stated if the Bolide will be a street-legal road-going race car.

Why is the Bugatti Bolide going into production?

Bugatti Bolide | Bugatti

“The Bolide generated a great deal of enthusiasm and intrigue last year. Following its presentation, a significant number of enthusiasts and collectors asked us to develop the experimental Bolide as a production vehicle. I was absolutely amazed by the reactions and feedback from customers from all over the world,” explains Stephan Winkelmann, President of Bugatti. 

In other words, their very exclusive and very wealthy clientele sent the message to Bugatti that if they build it, they will pay for it. As the saying goes, “money talks.” It seems that Bugatti listened. We can hardly blame them. The French branded automaker stands to make a small fortune off a car initially meant to be a one-and-done experimental build.

Will the Bolide production car be different from the original?

Bugatti Bolide race car shown in a yellow and black color scheme.
Bugatti Bolide racecar | Bugatti

Considering that the original concept car revealed last year was a fully functional vehicle, it is hard to imagine that Bugatti would make any drastic changes to the Bolide for its production run. One thing that is certain to remain the same is the engine.

The purpose of the Bugatti Bolide experiment was all about taking the existing Bugatti W16 engine used in its other recent models like the Chiron and designing around it with no limitations. In the case of the Bolide, the W16 engine is tuned to produce 1,580 horsepower on regular gasoline and 1,825 horsepower on 110 octane race fuel. 

The chassis and aerodynamic package look to be identical to the original model. Bugatti has stated that they are working with the FIA to make sure the production version of the Bolide meets their safety standards. 

“We are proud to have succeeded in keeping the production vehicle so close to its technical demonstrator both visually and technically while also enhancing the design, quality, and vehicle safety,” explains Bugatti CEO Stephan Winkelmann.

How much will the Bugatti Bolide cost?

Three Bolide hypercars in blue (left), white (center), and red (right).
Three Bugatti Bolide cars | Bugatti

As one would expect, the Bolide will be extremely limited and extremely expensive. Bugatti has stated that only 40 examples of the Bolide will be produced over a span of three years. That production number is for the global market.

Only 40 people on Earth will get to own the lightest production car that Bugatti has ever produced. Those people will certainly be paying handsomely for the privilege. Each Bugatti Bolide will have a price of four million euros which is equivalent to 4.7 million dollars. By the time you read this, there is an excellent chance that all 40 cars will be sold out. Though, if we’re lucky, we may just come across one at the next “cars and coffee” meet.

RELATED: The Bugatti Badge Is Way More Special Than You Think

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