Auto Industry News: Rebelle Rally Jeeps, Dodge Tribute Models, Ford EV Dealers, and More New SUVs
All across the auto industry last week, it felt like preparations were being made. Jeep announced its plans for the upcoming Rebelle Rally. Ford laid out a blueprint for its dealers who plan to sell EVs. Dodge dropped another “Last Call” tribute model – the final one before SEMA arrives. Even beyond Detroit’s borders, automakers have been busy revealing new vehicles. SUVs remain the flavor of choice, with more than a few sporting innovative hybrid drivetrains for 2023 and beyond. The Engine Block has all the details, plus some interesting news regarding the future of advertising on FM radio.
Jeep Readies for Rebelle Rally
Last week, Jeep proudly announced its plans to return to the Rebelle Rally this year where it will defend its coveted 2021 titles in the Overall, Electrified and Bone Stock classes.
The Rebelle Rally is the longest competitive off-road rally in the U.S., covering more than 1,500 unforgiving miles over eight days in Nevada and California. Prioritizing endurance over speed, the challenge tests competitors’ driving and navigation skills as they seek out hidden checkpoints scattered throughout the desert. Cellphones and GPS are strictly prohibited, leaving pilots and their navigators to rely on maps, compasses, and female intuition.
Oh yea, did we mention its ladies-only?
Three Teams, Three Hybrid Wranglers
Founded in 2015, Rebelle Rally is a women’s only off-road navigation rally built specifically for stock manufacturer vehicles. While many competitors drive their own rides, several others have automaker sponsorship. As a legendary 4×4 brand, Jeep has been involved with the event from the very beginning.
This year, the brand will support three teams: last year’s first-place winners Nena Barlow and Teralin Petereit; Rebelle veterans Mercedes Lilienthal and Emily Winslow; and a Navajo team that includes Jeep employee Kaitlyn Mulkey and returning Rebelle competitor Racquel Black.
Jeep will provide the competitors with brand-new Jeep Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrids to blast through the grueling terrain and heat. “[It’s] the ultimate proving ground for our electrified future,” said Jim Morrison, senior vice president and head of Jeep brand North America.
It’s also a chance for Jeep to defend its 2021 podium sweep. With the off-road 4×4 segment growing hotter every day, we expect the competition to be stiff this year. Ford’s Bronco put up a fight last time and will certainly return with a grudge. Nissan’s Frontier underwent a complete redesign in the interim, as did the Mitsubishi Outlander. And newcomers like the Hyundai Santa Cruz should certainly give people something to talk about.
The 2022 Rebelle Rally begins October 6 in Incline Village, Nevada. It finishes in the famous Imperial Sand Dunes in Southern California on October 15. This year’s turnout is the biggest yet, with 60 teams comprised of 120 Rebelles representing four nations and 24 states.
Dodge Reveals Final “Last Call” Model Before SEMA
Dodge is just about done unveiling its “Last Call” Challenger and Charger tribute models. With the seventh and final reveal planned for this year’s SEMA show, the brand had some pressure to make No. 6 a heavy-hitter. It did not disappoint.
Meet the 2023 Dodge Challenger Black Ghost.
Mysterious, dark and handsome, this special edition is a modern-day take on the HEMI-powered 1970 Dodge Challenger RT SE that haunted metro Detroit’s famed Woodward Avenue in the 1970s.
With black “gator skin” roof vinyl graphics, Challenger script badges and white tail graphics, the new model is a tasteful reproduction of the classic ride. The 2023 Black Ghost gains 10hp over the Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody on which its based, for a total 807 ponies. Only 300 models will be built.
Dodge’s “Last Call” models pay homage to the outgoing ICE Challenger and Charger models, which the automaker plans to discontinue next year. The big news comes as Dodge prepares for its electric future.
Ford Makes Some Bold EV Demands
Across the Motor City, Ford is preparing for its own electric future by encouraging nearly 3,000 franchised dealers to take the plunge and sell EVs. And quite a plunge it is – with dealership upgrades exceeding $1 million in some cases. To the automakers credit, however, it is making the decision optional. Dealers can still sell Ford ICE vehicles, even if they choose not to invest in the EV future.
“We’re betting on the dealers,” said CEO Jim Farley. “But we need to specialize.”
Ford dealers are essentially being encouraged to pick a focus – traditional ICE, future EV, or commercial units.
For EVs, Ford will offer two programs: Model e Certified and Model e Certified Elite. The lower tier requires an investment of $500,000, the majority of which will be spent on fast charging stations. Dealers in this tier will only be allowed to sell up to 25 all-electric vehicles per year. To sell unlimited EVs, dealers will need to be in the Elite tier which carries upfront costs of $900,000 and a total investment of $1.2 million.
Dealers have until Oct. 31 to make a decision, and until year’s end to pony up the investments. Those still on the fence have the option to revisit the decision in 2027.
Dealerships vs Direct Sales
The compromise comes after months of deliberation, as the automaker weighed the viability of its dealer franchise model in a future EV market. Top competitor Tesla, as well as newcomers Rivian and Lucid, all utilize a direct-sales model which allows for greater profits. However, these automakers don’t have an existing dealer network to contend with – or state franchise laws.
Ford’s solution seems elegant in theory, though time will tell how it plays out in practice. The company is setting high standards for its EV dealers, requiring true specialization in the sales and service of such technology – not merely monetary investment. Dealers are expected to have trained EV teams, a reliable EV charging infrastructure with public DC fast chargers, and transparent non-negotiable pricing, among other requirements.
According to Farley, the manufacturer and its dealers must work together to reduce expenses, boost profitability and ensure a stellar customer service experience.
Did you know…?
Your next Amazon package could be delivered by a Rivian electric van. As part of an initial rollout, the custom delivery rides are expected to hit the road in Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas, Kansas City, Nashville, Phoenix, San Diego, Seattle and St. Louis, among other cities. Amazon says it will expand to more than 100 cities by the end of this year, with 100,000 vehicles by 2030.
Debut Dump
The Detroit Auto Show may be over, but automakers are far from finished dropping new models – more specifically, SUVs and crossovers. Here are just a few of the big names that made their debuts last week.
2024 Subaru Crosstrek
With better driving dynamics and slightly more aggressive styling – thanks to plenty of angular black cladding and bow-shaped slim headlights – Subaru’s next-generation Crosstrek will hit Japanese markets first before moseying over to U.S. shores.
2023 BMW Alpina XB7
BMW’s Alpina-developed X7 large crossover is going hybrid for its mid-cycle refresh, and gains some impressive performance bragging rights in the process. The three-row SUV’s new V-8 engine mates to 48-volt mild-hybrid technology, allowing for 630 hp (up 18 hp over the outgoing model), a 0-60 time of 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 180 mph. However, with great power comes great financial expense – and this baby starts at a cool $145,995.
2023 Honda Pilot
Coming back down to Earth, the family-friendly Honda Pilot showed off its new-generation looks in some camouflaged teaser photos last week. Sporting a boxier profile and 4×4-styled grille, the Pilot appears to have added the much-popular R-word to its design vocabulary. Indeed, the new-for-2022 TrailSport variant took center stage in the photos, gently careening down “rugged” mountain roads in the Southwest desert.
2023 Honda CR-V
As the compact SUV market grows more competitive, Honda makes some very calculated improvements to its sixth-gen CR-V. Bigger and bolder, the new CR-V offers more passenger room, a nicer cabin with upgraded tech, and a retuned turbo-four engine. It won’t blow your socks off, but you can certainly bring it home to meet Mom.
2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
The Range Rover’s smaller sibling enters its third generation with a boosted 523-hp V-8 engine and three hybrid options. In addition to improving fuel economy, Land Rover aimed to turn up the dial on luxury. In today’s world, that translates to subdued-but-premium interior appointments inlaid with a dizzying amount of technology. The automaker also dialed up the price. The base model now starts just shy of $85k, up from $70,850 for the 2022 model year.
No matter what style SUV or truck you drive, discover a look too tough to tame by bolting on a pair of N-FAB ROAN Running Boards. Part conventional running board, part armored side step, all heavy-duty style and functionality.
New Vehicle Prices Jump… Again
Despite rising inventory levels, consumers continue to suffer sticker shock on new vehicles. August numbers are in and, according to Kelley Blue Book, buyers paid an average $48,301 for a new ride. The new record tops July by 0.5% ($222), but blows last August out of the water with an increase of 10.8% or $4,712.
The automakers currently showing the most price strength in the market are Hyundai, Land Rover, Honda and Kia. These brands saw transactions ranging 5-9% over sticker price last month. By comparison, Ram, Volvo, Lincoln, Buick, and the smaller Italian brands Alfa Romeo and Fiat showed the least price strength with sales 1% or more below MSRP.
In Case You Missed It…
In its war against inflation, the Federal Reserve ordered another interest rate hike last week – and signaled that more are coming. The 0.75-percentage-point increase caused some of the most valuable U.S. stocks to tumble, including Apple, Amazon, Meta and Tesla.
Radio Zonecasting Raises Concerns
The sweet simplicity of FM radio is about to get complicated.
The FCC is currently seeking comment on a rule change that would allow FM radio broadcasters to use specialized booster technology called ZoneCasting to “geo-target” specific audiences. These broadcasts would contain different programming than what airs on the main signal, with the idea being that the content could be tailored to the listeners in that zone.
Localized traffic and weather reports sound nice, but more than 50% of radio listening happens in the car – usually while traveling. So… what happens when you pass between zones?
According to the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB): a seriously poor listening experience.
Essentially, the radio would switch back-and-forth between the two signals, causing audio to play intermittently from both. GeoBroadcast Solutions (GBS), the developer behind ZoneCasting, considers the disruption minimal, but NAB argues this could confuse listeners and cause them to change channels, turn off the radio, or switch to an app-based alternative like Spotify or Stitcher.
Money-Motivated
Arguments of radio quality aside, it’s worth noting that the real motivator behind this technology comes down to advertising dollars. Niche marketing is highly profitable, and its hyper-focused strategies pose an issue for a broad-range medium like radio.
GBS aims to change that.
It believes ZoneCasting will not only grow broadcaster revenues, but also help them better compete with online message distribution. Supporters point out the technology’s potential to amplify multicultural broadcaster voices as well, and direct them toward the most receptive audience.
NAB disagrees – strongly.
And, as the trade association which represents and lobbies for broadcasters (and their potential to make money), that’s pretty telling.
One major concern regards timing. While GBS is only asking the feds to allow five minutes of targeted content per hour, it’s safe to assume that request would grow over time. NAB, along with the National Alliance of State Broadcasters Associations, argues that ZoneCasting would interrupt National Emergency Alert System messages as listeners navigate signal disruptions.
Additionally, they feel ZoneCasting’s effect on the radio advertising business model could be devastating. Local ad markets would be further divided, NAB says, driving up ad rates and hurting revenues – not to mention small local stations who wouldn’t stand a chance against national stations with big budgets and a keen interest in targeting zones outside their traditional coverage area.
Lastly, there are concerns regarding free speech. Any technology that has the power to silence one message in favor of another will raise eyebrows. In the current climate of book bans and Big Tech censorship, it’s raising alarms.
What do you think? Let us know in the comments, and be sure to share your thoughts on ZoneCasting with the FCC. They can be uploaded on the agency’s website.
The Engine Block is your one-stop source for any and all auto industry news. Keep an eye on our weekly round-up of enthusiast coverage, product reviews, vehicle spotlights, auto show/expo features, and more. Be sure to tune in Wednesday for a one-on-one with Valvoline, and come back Friday for Competition Corner. We have all the must-see October events for you!
