Based on the latest numbers from BMW we can assume that US buyers are smarter than BMW thought. Why? Because in the US the BMW i4 has twice as many pre-orders as the iX. We would suggest that part of the reason why is because the iX is such an ugly tank.
SUVs are more popular, but not in the case of the iX
2022 BMW iX thumbs down | MB
Also, the i4 is appreciably cheaper than the iX. This bucks the trend we’ve seen of SUVs and crossovers selling better than cars. But we still suspect that the ultimate arbiter of why this is happening surrounds how the iX looks.
According to i4Talk, there are almost 2,100 reservations for the i4, with only 952 made for the iX. We are surprised there are as many like that, to be honest. In the western part of the US, the ratio goes up four-to-one in favor of the i4.
The i4 is a repurposed Gran Coupe four-door EV that is aimed at the Tesla Model 3 segment. With a starting price of $55,400, the i4 is hitting the Model 3 price tag. The iX, on the other hand, starts at $83,200. But even at half that price, you’d still be stuck with an ugly SUV if you bought one.
An iX can run over $100,000 with options
The BMW 4 Series | Andreas Gebert/Bloomberg via Getty Images
And the crazy part is that the iX’s sticker can easily surpass the $100,000 lid with all of the options it has available. How gullible must one be to pay that much for such a homely, ugly vehicle? And how proud must BMW be of this dog? Or, is this just a smokescreen to hide their true feelings about the iX?
Whatever the reason, we’re glad that American car buyers can see through the ruse. For decades BMW has produced some really great-looking vehicles. We don’t know what has happened to them but we hope they get their mojo back soon.
https://news.usamotorjobs.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/2022-BMW-iX-thumbs-down-MB-1024x666-1.png6661024Gabrielle DeSantishttps://news.usamotorjobs.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/logo-usa-motor-jobs-white.pngGabrielle DeSantis2021-07-10 05:22:002021-07-10 05:26:16US Buyers Give Thumbs Down to Ugly BMW iX Flagship
Few things are more uncomfortable than a hot car during a heatwave. Leather seats turn sticky and searing, and even cloth can become uncomfortably warm in blazing-hot weather. Cold seats are no picnic either. During any extreme weather, riders may find themselves hoping for heated and cooled seats.
For those fortunate enough to have these features, cold or warm weather isn’t as uncomfortable. But for drivers whose cars don’t have existing cooled and heated seats, there may be a solution.
What are heated, cooled, and ventilated seats?
Adding aftermarket heated and cooled seats can make riding in a car more comfortable | Nicolas Armer/picture alliance via Getty Images
Heated seats have been around for some time. They come pre-installed in many models with either cloth or leather upholstery. Although heated seats aren’t often pre-installed in entry-level vehicles, they are common even in some less expensive packages and trim levels. How do heated seats work? A long strip of metal runs in the seat. This metal is pumped with electricity, which makes it warm up, Bockman’s Autocare explains.
Cooled seats work differently and are fairly new. You’ll find them mostly in top-trim models and luxury cars. There are two types of cooled seats, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. The ventilated kind runs air through a series of chambers inside the seats. That air is pushed upward through little holes in the upholstery, like the perforations common in leather seating. Cooled seats work similarly. The air passes over a cooling element, such as a chilled piece of metal, before blowing through the upholstery’s holes.
Can you install aftermarket heated and cooled seats in your car?
Installing aftermarket cooled and heated seats is possible but not exactly easy. These features can’t be installed in your car’s existing seats. But some companies that revamp cars’ interiors can install new seats with cooling and heating features. For instance, Katzkin sells seats with heating and cooling installed. According to Focus Daily News, aftermarket leather interiors actually cost less than factory-installed interiors of the same quality.
There are other options available for aftermarket interiors that may provide heated and cooled seats. But when it comes to Katzkin, there’s more to it than utility. The company’s aftermarket interiors also allow personalization. They include two-tone options, fancy piping, and even custom embroidery. Though some customers might simply want cooled and heated seats, others may opt to add personal touches. Katzkin does both.
Katzkin offers seats that provide heat only and seats with both heating and cooling elements. The company refers to its seats as “air-conditioned,” meaning these are not ventilated seats. Katzkin calls its system “Degreez” and claims it can be installed in any make or model with an updated interior. The company has technicians across the nation, but they’re not the only game in town.
The price for installing aftermarket seating depends upon several factors, including location and the car’s make, model, and year. There’s also the design to consider. Installing aftermarket heated and/or cooled seats means getting a new interior, and some design prices run higher than others. Because of those factors, nailing down an average price can be difficult. But quotes are free and easy to request on the Katzkin website.
However, if you want heated or cooled seats without modifying your car’s interior, special seat covers can also do the trick. These covers range from about $50 to $100 and can be found on Amazon, Sharper Image, and other online retailers.
https://news.usamotorjobs.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/cooled-seats-1024x682-1.jpg6821024Gabrielle DeSantishttps://news.usamotorjobs.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/logo-usa-motor-jobs-white.pngGabrielle DeSantis2021-07-10 05:11:002021-07-10 05:26:17Can You Add Aftermarket Heated and Cooled Seats to Your Car?
Even with the booming custom camper market, this vintage Land Rover Defender camper is a stand-out machine. The highest peaks nor the Lowest valleys of the internet will reveal a cooler, more unquestionably unique vintage Land Rover conversion camper than Jannis Josten’s BMW-powered ambulance.
Custom Land Rover Camper | Ellie Vans/ Jannis Josten
This vintage Land Rover Defender camper is a force to reckon with
The folks at Expedition Portal have nothing but high praise for this insane Landy build and its builder. Unlike most overland or camper builds, Josten’s vintage Land Rover Defender isn’t a towering monster with a list of customization as long as a CVS receipt. In fact, from the outside, you might miss the fact that it’s been heavily gone through and is now sporting a German heart.
Josten is a German engineer who used to work for Ford. After nine years working for Ford, he finally asked himself, “Is this it, my life?” The result of this quarter-life crisis questioning was quitting his job and pursuing a life of adventure and risk – with what might be the coolest vintage Land Rover Defender camper ever made.
At the age of six, Josten became enamored with overlanding while watching the Camel Trophy races with his grandad. At 21, he got his first Land Rover and eventually began building it to be a Dakar-style overland racer. He eventually put a BMW motor in it, planting that seed.
What went into this Land Rover camper build?
Custom Land Rover Camper | Ellie Vans/ Jannis Josten
This beauty of a brown Land Rover Defender ambulance was built using multiple vehicles, including the chassis from a 1987 Land Rover 110 military version, 1997 Defender solid axles, disc brakes, coil springs, and a 1969 Land Rover Series II aluminum ambulance body. The engine is a 3.0-liter BMW M57 turbo-common-rail-diesel 6-cylinder aluminum block with a BMW RWD 5-speed manual transmission, the latter of which needed heavy modifications to work.
Josten mentions in his interview with Expedition Portal that once he quit his gig at Ford, he was working 12 hours a day for six months before he shipped it to South America for testing. Notably, the Defender camper wasn’t even done when he shipped it.
When asked why he didn’t wait and finish at home, he said, “Honestly, it was madness. That said, I don’t think any overland vehicle can be properly tested in Europe alone. You need the intense heat, gravel roads, washboard, and potholes you find in places like South America.”
He went on to say that “Nonetheless, I had over 150 breakdowns; it drove me absolutely crazy. I had many tools and spare parts, soldering electrics, fixing things constantly. The big lesson is keeping the vehicle as stock as possible because the manufacturer tests the stock setup thoroughly to ensure everything works well.”
The best campers are the simplest campers
Interior of custom Land Rover Camper | Ellie Vans/ Jannis Josten
Simple, lightweight, and functional. These are the core components of any good overlander camper. For as long as he worked on the mechanical aspects of his camper, he only spent two weeks building the cabin. The goal was to keep everything as simple and effective as possible.
According to Expedition Portal, the basic layout of this vintage Land Rover Defender camper consists of a slide-out bed (fixed on the left as a single, but extends to make a double), wooden closets and countertop, Mobicool MCF40 compressor fridge, 40-liter wheel arch water tank, and MaxFan vent. Internal electrics consist of two 100Ah AGM batteries and a 160-watt solar panel, which also powers external auxiliary LED lighting for campouts. There’s an outside shower and an amazing 270-degree Alu-Cab awning.
Overlanding campers don’t have to fancy
This camper isn’t the lux monster trucks that have become popular with makers like EarthRoamer and others like them. This land Rover camper is a masterclass in simplicity and groovy style. From top to bottom, this overland camper means business, and the builder has the stories to prove it.
https://news.usamotorjobs.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/vintae-Land-Rover-Defender-Camper-1024x768-1.jpeg7681024Gabrielle DeSantishttps://news.usamotorjobs.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/logo-usa-motor-jobs-white.pngGabrielle DeSantis2021-07-10 04:00:002021-07-10 04:27:56This Vintage Land Rover Defender Ambulance Is Not Your Average Camper
If you’re looking for a fuel-efficient gas-powered vehicle, compact and subcompact cars are the way to go. With a smaller body, modest engine, and less weight, these vehicles need less gas to get the job done. Buyers looking for a fuel-efficient subcompact car should consider the 2021 Hyundai Accent. It might not be the most exciting to drive, but it saves money with its great gas mileage.
The 2021 Hyundai Accent’s efficient powertrain
2021 Hyundai Accent | Hyundai Motor America
The 2021 Hyundai Accent is available with either a continuously variable transmission or a six-speed manual transmission. The manual is standard on the base trim, and the CVT is standard on the other two trims and available on the base one.
The Accent also packs a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that pairs with either transmission. The engine produces 120 hp and 113 lb-ft of torque. MotorTrend found the automatic a bit “lethargic,” so it’s not as exciting to drive as some competitors. Though the Accent sacrifices power, that helps make it a fuel-saving (and money-saving) car.
Exactly how great is the 2021 Hyundai Accent’s gas mileage?
The EPA defines combined fuel economy as “a weighted average of city and highway mpg values that is calculated by weighting the city value by 55 percent and the highway value by 45 percent.” The 2021 Hyundai Accent, with its continuously variable transmission, is rated for 36 mpg overall. It gets 33 mpg in the city and 41 mpg on the highway.
These ratings place the 2021 Accent among the most fuel-efficient small cars of 2021, MotorTrend reports. The fuel efficiency with the manual transmission isn’t quite as good as with the CVT. With the manual, the Accent gets 29 mpg in the city, 39 mpg on the highway, and 33 mpg combined.
More about this 2021 subcompact car
The current generation of the Hyundai Accent has been around since 2017. MotorTrend proclaims it “one of the better subcompacts you can buy.” It has a good-looking exterior and a spacious cabin. The interior design isn’t that interesting, though.
In addition, the trunk offers almost 14 cubic feet of space — less than some competitors. Also, the Accent isn’t currently available as a hatchback, which many other subcompact cars offer, U.S. News points out. Typically, hatchbacks offer more cargo room than sedans.
The Accent has a basic but easy-to-use infotainment system, U.S. News says. It comes standard with a 5.0-inch touchscreen, Siri Eyes Free, Bluetooth, a USB port, and a four-speaker audio system. A 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration is available. Also optional are a six-speaker sound system, two extra USB ports, satellite radio, and the Hyundai Blue Link telematics system, U.S. News reports. The 2021 Accent comes with a rearview camera, but forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking are optional advanced safety features.
The Accent offers good value with plenty of features for the price. The base SE trim starts at $15,395, and adding the CVT costs an extra $1,100.
The SEL trim starts at $17,750. This model comes with the CVT and provides the larger touchscreen, additional tech features (except Hyundai Blue Link), and a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel.
The Limited trim starts at $19,500. It provides Hyundai Blue Link, an app that offers functions such as remote start. It also adds the aforementioned advanced safety features. Plus, it boasts heated front seats, automatic climate control, and a hands-free trunk lid.
Overall, the 2021 Hyundai Accent saves money with its lower purchase price and keeps saving with its great fuel efficiency. It might not have much engine power, but it earned a spot on MotorTrend’s list “Small Cars With the Best Gas Mileage in 2021.”
https://news.usamotorjobs.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/2021-Hyundai-Accent-1024x681-1.jpg6811024Gabrielle DeSantishttps://news.usamotorjobs.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/logo-usa-motor-jobs-white.pngGabrielle DeSantis2021-07-10 03:34:002021-07-10 03:57:16The 2021 Hyundai Accent Has 1 Positive Thing Going for It
