Land Rover CEO Doesn’t Feel Threatened by Competition Like the Ford Bronco

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Many SUVs that were retired with no hopes of ever returning are making a comeback. The Ford Bronco and the Land Rover Defender 90 are two such SUVs that are getting a second chance at life, and consumers couldn’t be more thrilled. Given that they’re both in the same segment, some may wonder if Land Rover is afraid the Bronco will outshine the Defender 90, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.

Joe Eberhardt isn’t too worried

Competition in the auto world is always fierce, but the SUV segment is really heating up. With the return of so many 4×4 SUVs, it only makes sense to wonder how the CEOs feel about this. In an interview with MotorTrend, Joe Eberhardt, the President and CEO of Land Rover North American, made it clear he’s not that worried.

Eberhardt stated, “Strictly speaking, there is no clearly defined competitive set and audience for the [Land Rover] Defender 90. But the Bronco is having a positive impact on the segment in general. The well-executed Bronco is drawing further attention to the segment, building engagement, and resonating with buyers.”

Given that the Bronco is more often compared to the Wrangler, this makes sense. Some Wrangler drivers even debated on whether they should offer the Jeep wave to Bronco drivers. Even so, more SUVs to go off-roading in is always a good thing, no matter which brand you choose to drive.

The 2021 Land Rover Defender 90 is the best of both worlds

The Land Rover Defender | SAM PANTHAKY/AFP via Getty Images

For many SUV drivers, too often it seems like you have to choose between having a serious off-roader or settling for something you can drive to work every day in. The 2021 Land Rover Defender 90 took this as a challenge and managed to find a happy medium. 

The Land Rover Defender 90 is 17.1 inches shorter than the Land Rover Defender, but this can be a good thing depending on how you look at it. The Defender 90 can tackle some of the tougher trails, but it’s still possible to park it when it comes time to go get groceries. 

With only room enough for five to six passengers, the Land Rover Defender 90 isn’t going to be a great family vehicle. It can definitely operate as that if you don’t have a large family. For someone who is looking to squeeze in a car seat between two older kids, it’s going to be an uncomfortable ride, however.

Tragically, the Land Rover Defender 90 seems to be in short supply. Thanks to the Pandemic, Land Rover is having trouble producing enough Defender 90s, and there are a lot of people eager to buy one who will have to wait. Sadly, it appears the Ford Bronco is in the same predicament.

The 2021 Ford Bronco has left consumers wanting more

The 2021 Ford Bronco had some consumers screaming for more. Literally. Thanks to the pandemic, and a shortage of supplies, the Bronco has failed to deliver on some promises, such as the Sasquatch package, a manual transmission, and the hardtop roof.

Now it looks like the Bronco is being delayed again. Due to the semiconductor chip shortage, Ford is struggling to produce Broncos at a fast enough pace to keep up with consumer demand. For those who have ordered a Bronco, they’ll hopefully be getting it this summer. If you haven’t ordered one, you may be in for a long wait.

Even so, the excitement for the new Bronco continues to grow. Its rich heritage is too strong to ignore, and many former owners can’t wait to get their hands on a new Bronco.

Will this take away from the new Land Rover Defender 90? If Joe Eberhardt’s comments are any indication, Land Rover isn’t worried about that.

RELATED: Will the New Ford Bronco Steal Sales From the G-Wagon?

The post Land Rover CEO Doesn’t Feel Threatened by Competition Like the Ford Bronco appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

/by

Are Mahindra Tractors Made in America?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

John Deere, Kubota, Mahindra, Massey, New Holland and more––there are plenty of tractor brands regularly seen across the United States. But how many of these tractor models are actually manufactured on U.S. soil? Are Mahindra tractors made in America?

The logo of Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd. | Himanshu Bhatt/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Mahindra is the global leader in terms of unit sales, and second in the U.S. according to Farming Base. This brand started in India, where its international headquarters are located. Mahindra is a known maker of high-quality tractors. But is this award-winning tractor brand selling domestically produced machines in the U.S.?  

Where are Mahindra tractor models manufactured? 

a red Mahindra tractor model on display
Mahindra Tractor | Laura McDermott/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Mahindra has a global presence, with assembly and distribution centers in India, China, Australia, and the U.S. For a time, Mahindra manufactured tractor models elsewhere and shipped them into the U.S. However, Mahindra USA has five assembly and distribution centers across America. 

The majority of the components for Mahindra tractors and implements are manufactured overseas. Then, Mahindra ships these components to one of the five U.S. assembly plants. The parts are then put together in order to create the finished product. At this point, the tractor is ready for distribution to one of over 500 American Mahindra dealers across the country. 

This is a highly common practice among other tractor brands as well, including both John Deere and Kubota. In fact, it’s common in the automotive world as well. Many foregin carmakers ship parts fabricated elsewhere to assembly plants in the U.S. for the final phase of building before distribution. 

In all reality, the line is blurred in terms of whether Mahindra technically makes tractors in America. That said, such is true for a large number of products that are assembled on U.S. soil out of parts shipped from other places like China or Europe. 

Where are the U.S. tractor assembly plants? 

A farmer uses a Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. tractor to fill an area at the edge of his corn field
A farmer uses a Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. tractor | Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Mahindra tractors are made in five different U.S. assembly plants. One is located in Houston, Texas. This is also where the Mahindra USA headquarters is located. There are also assembly plants in Chattanooga, Tennessee and Marysville, California.

More recently, the brand built two more Mahindra plants in the U.S. In 2012, the fourth assembly and distribution center went up in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. Then, in 2014, Mahindra USA opened its newest U.S. assembly plant in Lyons, Kansas. 

 What products does Mahindra make? 

Mahindra USA offers a variety of products to the U.S. market. Primarily dealing with tractors and farm equipment, the brand makes a range of sizes and capability. The lineup includes subcompact, compact, compact utility, and utility tractor models. 

Mahindra produces a good tractor, particularly known for a high power output with significantly lower fuel consumption than other top brands like John Deere. In addition, Mahindra broke into the UTV market in 2015. Then, in 2019 Mahindra Agriculture North America celebrated 25 years in North America. 

Mahindra tractor models made in America

While at one point, it was difficult to get parts and service for Mahindra tractors, this is no longer the case. The brand has five assembly plants and over 500 dealers across the U.S.

Mahindra USA is one of the leading tractor manufacturers in the USA. The parts, like many other manufacturers out there, are made in various places in the world. But Mahindra makes thousands of tractors each year right here on U.S. soil in Texas, California, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, and Kansas.

RELATED: The 3 Cheapest New Diesel Pickup Trucks You Can Buy Today

The post Are Mahindra Tractors Made in America? appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

/by

‘Handsome’ 2022 Kia Carnival Is the Darling of the Grocery Store Parking Lot

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Since there’s a large variety of people at the grocery store, it’s a good spot to find out what people really think about something. The 2022 Kia Carnival fared well in this test recently. The new Kia Carnival replaces the Kia Sedona. With large wheels and SUV style, it’s a new direction for the Kia minivan. We take a look at the handsome style that makes the Carnival such a darling.

What the 2022 Kia Carnival looks like

The 2022 Kia Carnival | Zhe Ji/Getty Images

MotorTrend’s tester took the 2022 Kia Carnival to a grocery store, where it attracted a lot of notice in the parking lot. MotorTrend reported that “we can confirm the Carnival is cart-stoppingly handsome; on our weekly grocery shopping trip, a young man in charge of collecting the shopping carts and a customer driving away both stopped their respective four-wheelers to ask, ‘Wow, what is that? Who makes it?'”

The handsome styling that turns heads

Kia might call the 2022 Kia Carnival an MPV (multi-purpose vehicle), but most people will recognize it as a minivan. It has front-wheel drive and two sliding doors plus seating for up to seven people. All-wheel drive is not available.

The Carnival’s sophisticated exterior style includes both the new Kia logo and L-shaped metal work around two sides of the third-row windows. The hexagonal pattern in the metal along with its finishes gives the feature some pizazz without being distracting, says MotorTrend.

A related hexagonal pattern appears on the metal ledge that accents the dashboard inside the Carnival. MotorTrend finds this trim to be both visually appealing and practical as well since it’s a cool spot to rest your hand while using the buttons or controls.

The 2022 Kia Carnival features excellent tech as well. Turning on the turn signal causes a view of the rear blind spots to temporarily appear in the digital gauge cluster. The Carnival offers Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also has its own UVO infotainment system with its own features, including a selection of nature sounds. The systems are accessed through the Carnival’s 8-inch touchscreen. The Carnival offers up to nine USB ports to meet the needs of the entire family, says Car and Driver. Top trims also come with a rear-seat entertainment system.

The SX Prestige trim has available second-row seats that fully recline and have a footrest, all controlled with a button. These seats also feature leather trim along with heating and ventilation, says Kia. The second-row seats are also removable, and the third-row seats can be stored in the floor. On some trims, the middle seat in the second row slides forward to allow third-row entry, or it folds down, becoming a table.

Is the 2022 Kia Carnival a good minivan?

MotorTrend is quick to point out that the 2022 Kia Carnival provides substance along with its style. The Carnival has more engine power than most minivans, with its 3.5-liter V6 engine that produces 290 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. It is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. A hybrid option is currently not available.

MotorTrend found it accelerates from 0 to 60 MPH in 7.5 seconds and has a 118-foot stopping distance from 60 MPH. For handling, MotorTrend says the Carnival has “solid, if uninspiring, road manners.” While it’s certainly not a sports car, the 2022 Carnival is fine for short or long trips.

The handsome 2022 Kia Carnival looks like it might be the next big thing from Kia. It’s becoming popular enough that MotorTrend is hearing rumors of dealer markups. Look for one that stays near the starting prices for its five trims – between $33,275 and $47,275.

RELATED: Will Kia Regret Naming Its New Minivan the ‘Carnival?’

The post ‘Handsome’ 2022 Kia Carnival Is the Darling of the Grocery Store Parking Lot appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

/by

Volkswagen Golf vs. Mazda MX-5 Miata – It’s Clear Which Is More Popular

by Gabrielle DeSantis

When you think of roadsters, one of the cars that immediately comes to mind for many is the Mazda MX-5 Miata. It’s eye-catching, fast, and surprisingly affordable. But the demand for sporty “hot hatches” is on the rise and is giving the Miata a run for its money. These hatches like the Volkswagen Golf and its performance-oriented GTI model can seat up to five. They have ample cargo space and exciting performance to match that of the Miata. Can the Golf match the Miata in popularity?

The Volkswagen Golf vs. the GTI

The Volkswagen Golf | HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP via Getty Images

The Volkswagen Golf on its own is a great compact car. There’s also a performance-oriented model called the GTI. While it’s a trim level of the Golf, the transformation it brings to the car’s performance is wild. What’s the difference?

The standard Golf only offers one powertrain option which is a 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine that puts out an underwhelming 147 hp. While its performance is more or less average, it does offer pretty good gas mileage. 

The GTI has a standard turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that puts out 228 hp. That’s quite a leap. The best part? The fuel efficiency in this Golf model really doesn’t drop that much. It offers an appealing balance between value and performance.

Outselling the Mazda MX-5 Miata?

Even with the boost in performance the GTI brings to the Volkswagen Golf, you might not think that it could even come close to the Mazda MX-5 Miata’s sales. Think again.

In 2017, VW managed to sell 68,978 units of the Golf while Mazda only managed to sell 11,294 units of the MX-5 Miata, according to data from GoodCarBadCar. The trend continued with the Golf selling over 33,000 more units than the Miata in 2018, over 29,000 more units in 2019, and over 13,000 units in 2020.

So far in 2021, according to GoodCarBadCar, sales for the MX-5 Miata are improving. They are averaging just under 1,100 units sold per month so far this year. By contrast, the Golf is averaging just over 800 units per month. But it remains competitive.

How do the Volkswagen Golf and the Mazda MX-5 Miata match up?

The 2021 Mazda MX-5 Miata may not have the sheer power of some of its peers, but it does have the highest performance score in its class according to U.S. News. Its athletic engine and nimble handling make it fun to drive. Like the GTI, it gets surprisingly good gas mileage for a car in its segment.

The Miata doesn’t have a turbocharged engine under the hood. It still manages to provide plenty of power to propel this lightweight compact car up the highway. Its 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine gets 181 hp and 151 lb-ft of torque. It offers a rear-wheel-drive configuration standard with a six-speed manual transmission. A six-speed automatic is available.

Space is an issue. The cabin doesn’t offer a lot of room and only two people can ride in it. The capacity the trunk offers is among the lowest of any new vehicle on the market. That will be a drawback for many who travel frequently or need room for more passengers.

The 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI also offers an exciting ride with sporty handling and its turbocharged engine. The cabin is roomy with two rows of seating and an upscale vibe. There’s plenty of cargo room too. 

That exciting turbo engine has a standard six-speed manual transmission like the Miata, but there’s also a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic available according to U.S. News. While the manual transmission enhances its athleticism with an easy-to-manage clutch, the automatic transmission offers a smooth ride too.

The 2021 Mazda MX-5 Miata remains a sports car contender. The 2021 Volkswagen GTI is a comparable sports car that offers exciting performance. It also allows you to take more people along for the ride and provides plenty of cargo room too. While one is obviously more popular, both are great options.

RELATED: Buy a 2007 Volkswagen Golf Since No One Complains About It

The post Volkswagen Golf vs. Mazda MX-5 Miata – It’s Clear Which Is More Popular appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

/by