Navigation in Cars Is Dead With the Integration of Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Apple CarPlay is all the rage these days, but is in-car navigation absolute because of it? Between Bluetooth and Google Maps integration, it seems that cars no longer need built-in navigation systems. If you are looking at a new car, is Apply CarPlay a critical feature to seek out?

What is Apple CarPlay and how does it work?

Navigation in Cars Is Dead With the Integration of Apple CarPlay | Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images

Apple CarPlay is Apple’s solution to everything automotive. With Apple CarPlay, drivers can use the car to get directions, make calls, send messages, and listen to music. It is essentially Bluetooth technology but better.

Apple CarPlay uses Apple Maps to give you direct and up-to-the-minute directions. This integrates traffic and closed road situations drivers might run into. It can also offer points of interest nearby, such as restaurants, hotels, and gas stations.

In 2021, Apple CarPlay can even lock and unlock your car. You can share your key with other people to get in the car and restrict the vehicle to specific profiles. The car key feature works even after your iPhone dies.

Why does CarPlay make navigation obsolete?

Anyone who has had navigation in a vehicle knows the answer to this question. In-car navigation requires tedious updates if it receives any updates at all. If there is construction or a closed road, navigation most likely won’t have that updated information. New roads are often missing, and traffic isn’t automatically updated.

According to Edmunds, back in 2018, there were both pros and cons to factory-installed navigation systems. When purchasing a vehicle with navigation, it was a clean and integrated look that appealed to buyers. It worked seamlessly (most of the time) with the car and reduced the need for using a cell phone.

These systems were usually GPS-based, which offered better connectivity than a cell phone. Still valid for those who might travel to places with limited cellular service. The bumper-to-bumper warranty would also cover this system.

When automakers did not fully integrate navigation systems, these were often subject to burglaries. This is not the case any longer. The system might have temporarily boosted resale value, but this decreases after a few years.

The case for new technology

Some more cons offered by Edmunds include the price of a navigation system. This can be all over the place, depending on the brand. Sometimes navigation is stand-alone and can be under $1,000. Other times, buyers are roped into a high-end package costing between $3,000 and $5,000.

Updating the systems can be a headache. Most of the time, buyers need to purchase a memory card or update that can cost a few hundred dollars. The final and most annoying con for navigation systems is the safety settings. Of course, these are in place for a reason. But frequently, you cannot edit or input something while the car is in the drive. Even stopped in a parking spot or driveway.

Plus, with Apple CarPlay, you can start to navigate and see potential issues before you even leave the house. This can ensure drivers leave on time or avoid specific routes that might take too long otherwise. Apple CarPlay solves many of the issues standard in-car navigation had. So will it make in-car navigation obsolete? It looks like it already has.

RELATED: You Can Buy a Used Tesla Model 3 With 15k Miles for the Same Price as a 2021 Model 3

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Officially Confirmed: Kia Soul EV Is Not Coming to the U.S.

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The Kia Soul is a small compact crossover with plenty of soul, and some fans have been excited about buying the latest EV version of the Soul. However, unfortunately for those fans, the Soul EV is officially dead in the U.S., and it won’t be available at a dealership near you. Here’s a look at why that happened and what Kia fans can do instead.

A look at the second generation of the Kia Soul EV

The 2019 Kia Soul EV | Kia America

Obviously, since the Soul EV is the electric version of the Soul, Kia has made a habit of updating the two cars simultaneously. For example, the first generation of the Soul EV came about just after the second generation of the Soul. This first generation of the Soul EV was sold in a few states in the U.S., but it didn’t garner much sales or attention.

The regular Soul was redesigned in 2019, and the Soul EV was also redesigned in 2020. The second generation of the Soul EV was significantly better than the first, and in fact, it actually won a few awards. One of the main reasons the second generation was so great was because of what it offered. Its 64 kWh battery pack provided it with about 243 miles of range, and that’s more range than many of its competitors.

As far as price goes, the 2020 Soul EV would cost around the same price as the first generation. The 2020 Soul EV’s roughly $40,000 price tag would’ve made it an option for many families. If Kia didn’t cancel the Soul EV for America, Kia fans in the U.S. would’ve been able to get the perks of the Soul, but with the bonus features of an EV.

Why the Kia Soul EV was canceled for America

As Autoblog wrote, at first, Kia delayed sending the second generation of the Soul EV to the U.S. due to supply issues. 2020 wasn’t a great year for many people, and in Kia’s case, there were not enough batteries to go around. As such, Kia had to pick and choose, and they ultimately chose to delay the Soul EV until 2021.

That delay, however, soon became a total cancellation of the Soul EV, at least for America. According to Autoblog, it’ll still be available in other markets, but Kia decided to stop making any Soul EV models for the American market. The main reason why the Soul EV was discontinued for the U.S. was simple, and it’s actually related to why the second generation was delayed in the first place.

Kia thought that the Niro EV model was better, and as such, gave the Niro EV priority for batteries. With the Soul EV dead in the states, the Niro EV has no competition within the Kia brand, and the company can focus on competing with other automakers instead.

What Kia fans can do instead

Obviously, one of the main reasons people wanted the Soul EV was because it was a Soul but electrified. As such, some of those customers will be satisfied by just driving around in a regular Soul. After all, the Soul is still a pretty great car, though obviously, it may not be as good for the environment as the Soul EV would’ve been.

However, if an EV is a must, then Kia’s made that decision for you. The Soul EV died in the U.S. so Kia could focus on the Niro EV. Like many Kia models, the Niro EV has received a lot of praise, so it’s a worthy choice no matter what.

RELATED: The 2021 Kia Niro EV Is Giving You More at No Added Cost

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Group B: The Most Dangerous Period of Rally Car History

by Gabrielle DeSantis

It lasted just four years and was arguably the most dangerous period in motorsport history. Some of the most spectacular rally cars ever built came from Group B, which is claimed to be the golden era of rallycross. The limits of what automakers could do were few and far between, allowing for more exotic racers to take the stage. But group B is a double-edged sword: an exciting but devastating era that ended in tragedy.

Audi Quattro Group B Rally Car | Bryn Colton/Getty Images

What is Group B?

After the AWD Audi Quattro revolutionized the sport, the entire classification system needed a rethink. Group B is one such classification, others included Group N, A, and C. Groups N and A required manufacturers to build 5,000 units, had strict regulations on the minimum dimensions of the car, and required each one to have at least 4 seats. They were larger, and their power was limited.

Group B, on the other hand, only required manufacturers to make 200 units, and the cars only needed two seats. It was an effort by the FIA to push purpose-built cars onto the dirt. They weren’t supposed to be family haulers of any sort, they were simply made for speed. And the rally cars that came from this set of rules were absolute monsters.

The most famous cars of Group B

Peugeot 205 T16 Group B Rally Car
Peugeot 205 T16 Group B Rally Car | LUC NOVOVITCH/AFP via Getty Images

Many automakers stepped up to the plate, creating wild racing machines, but a few are more famous than others. The Ford RS200 might be the most common answer to which car was the most recognizable. Though its odd design and innocent face were deceiving, this little car could rocket down the dirt thanks to its 500 horsepower engine. Though of the rally cars put on the dirt, the RS200 often broke down.

The Peugeot 205 T16, on the other hand, was the most victorious. It went on to win more stages than any other car, thanks to the turbocharged 1.7L engine that made around 350 horsepower. A lower figure, but it was more than balanced out by weight, which ended up being under a ton (1,960 lbs).

But the most infamous Group B car ever made had to have been the Lancia Delta S4. After struggling to compete with their rear-wheel-drive 037, the all-wheel-drive S4 took center stage. The car made 550 horsepower from its 1.8L turbocharged and supercharged engine, accelerating from 0-60 on the dirt in 2.7 seconds. A spectacular feat of limitless engineering, but there’s a reason the Delta S4, despite not being the most victorious, is the most significant.

What killed Group B?

Lancia Delta S4 Group B Rally Car
Lancia Delta S4 Group B Rally Car | National Motor Museum/Heritage Images/Getty Images

It’s 1986, and the cars are all prepped to take on Italy’s Rally of 10,000 Corners. Henri Toivonen and co-driver Sergio Cresto were two others ready to tackle the challenge in their Delta S4. But on one of the turns, the car lifted off the ground, tumbled down the mountain, and burst into flames. Both Henri and Sergio were killed, and Top Gear calls it the corner that killed Group B.

Other accidents before then certainly played a part in Group B’s demise. One incident included a Ford RS200 crashing headlong into the crowd, injuring 30, and killing three. But the Delta S4 wreck was the nail in the coffin. Within hours of the accident, the FIA announced that Group B wouldn’t continue into 1987, putting the series to rest.

Some die-hard enthusiasts wish the classification would come back, allowing for more vicious machines than the rally cars of today. But many agree that it’s best to leave Group B alone, and acknowledge that it was both an innovative period of history, and a tragic one.

RELATED: It’s Not WRC, but the ARA Keeps Rallying Alive in the US

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Not so Grand: Jeep Grand Wagoneer Boasts Shockingly Bad Fuel Economy Ratings

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Jeep has a new, bigger, and more luxurious SUV on the way with the Jeep Grand Wagoneer. Along with a high purchase price, this vehicle will also cost owners more at the pump. New numbers released by the EPA show that the 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer boasts shockingly bad fuel economy ratings. Here’s a look at how it measures up.

The return of the Jeep Grand Wagoneer

The Jeep Grand Wagoneer SUV | FCA US LLC.

The Jeep Grand Wagoneer name returns for the 2022 model year, this time as a luxury, three-row SUV. It had previously been available between 1963 and 1991. There will also be a “cheaper and less luxurious Wagoneer,” says Car and Driver. The full-size, luxury Grand Wagoneer, along with the Wagoneer, will be handled as a sub-brand and not display the Jeep logo.

Poor fuel economy ratings

One concern with this new Grand Wagoneer is its poor fuel economy. The EPA has rated the 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer with four-wheel drive for 13 mpg in the city, 18 mpg on the highway, and 15 mpg combined. It’s a hair better with rear-wheel drive, which is rated for 13 mpg in the city, 19 mpg on the highway, and 15 mpg combined, according to Motor1.

The Jeep Grand Wagoneer doesn’t compare well with some of its competitors. For example, it is less fuel-efficient than other large luxury SUVs, like the Cadillac Escalade and the Lincoln Navigator. The four-wheel-drive Escalade is rated for 13 mpg in the city, 19 mpg on the highway, and 16 mpg combined and has a standard 6.2-liter V8 engine. With rear-wheel drive, the Escalade is rated for 15 mpg in the city, 20 mpg on the highway, and 17 mpg overall. Meanwhile, the four-wheel-drive Navigator is rated for 16 mpg in the city, 20 mpg on the highway,17 mpg combined, and has a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine. With rear-wheel drive, the Navigator is rated for 16 mpg in the city, 22 mpg on the highway, and 18 mpg overall.

Car and Driver also points out that other luxury SUVs do even better. The BMW X7 and Mercedes-Benz GLS-class are rated for 21 mpg combined by the EPA and have turbocharged V6 engines.

As Autoblog points out, the 2022 Grand Wagoneer has the same fuel economy as the Chevy Tahoe from 20 years ago and worse fuel economy than the 2002 Ford Expedition (although the Grand Wagoneer has a lot more horsepower). Today’s Tahoe and Expedition also have improved fuel economy ratings. The 2021 Tahoe is rated for 18 combined mpg and has a 355-hp 5.3-liter V8 engine, while the Expedition is rated for 19 combined mpg and has a 375-hp turbocharged V6.

The fuel economy differences sound small but translate into bigger cost differences. The annual fuel costs are estimated to be $2,450 for the Expedition, $2,600 for the Tahoe, $2,750 for the Navigator, $3,350 for the Escalade, and $3,800 for the Grand Wagoneer.

The poor fuel economy of the Grand Wagoneer is due to its large 6.4-liter V8 engine, which comes standard with four-wheel drive and an automatic transmission. The engine produces up to 471 hp and 455 lb-ft of torque. In addition, the Grand Wagoneer has a heavy curb weight. The Wagoneer model will have a smaller engine and is expected to be more fuel-efficient. It has a 5.7-liter V8 with eTorque, a motor, and generator mild hybrid system. A hybrid model of the Grand Wagoneer will also be available in the future.

What is good about the 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer?

While the 2022 Grand Wagoneer doesn’t offer good fuel economy, it does have plenty of luxury features. It has seating for seven, and the seats are upholstered in Palermo leather. It also has quad-zone climate control, night vision, seven entertainment screens, and a high-end McIntosh audio system. While 19 speakers will be standard, a system with 23 speakers is optional.

The Grand Wagoneer also has 20-inch or 22-inch aluminum wheels and an independent front and rear suspension. It likely isn’t the Jeep for off-roading, although it has 10.1 inches of ground clearance.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer will be available for sale during the summer of 2021, with a starting price of $88,995. With optional add-ons and packages, that price can rise to $111,930. Between the high prices and the larger, powerful engine, buyers of the Grand Wagoneer shouldn’t be expecting an affordable and fuel-efficient vehicle. However, buyers looking for something more efficient will agree with Autoblog’s assessment that the Grand Wagoneer is an “opulent dinosaur.”

RELATED: Why Doesn’t the 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer Have a Jeep Badge?

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