Auto Industry News: Rebelle Rally Results, Ford Delays, New ‘Vettes, and California Bans

Lots of big news on the vehicle front this week from Detroit. Ford’s ambitious reservation numbers for the F-150 Lightning and Maverick are at odds with its ability to deliver on time. Meanwhile, GM sees some luck getting its trucks back onto dealer lots – and Chevy drops a new ‘Vette in the pipeline. That V-8 growl might not sound as sweet for our California friends, however. The state’s gas engine ban just gained several new restrictions…

But first, let’s head out to the harsh western deserts and take a glimpse at the ladies-only Rebelle Rally that wrapped up earlier this month.

Rebelle Rally Offers Different Kind of Off-Road Competition

In the events world, the sixth annual, eight-day Rebelle Rally wrapped up on Oct. 17 after a punishing competition in the California and Nevada deserts. The ladies-only event covered more than 1,500 miles of terrain and was a test of navigational skills as much as it was a racing competition.

Unlike some modern races, Rebelle Rally doesn’t allow GPS or phones, so participants need to do things the old-fashioned way. Racers use maps, compasses, roadbooks, headings, and more than 150 hidden checkpoints to complete the course. As a result, the competition focuses more on time than speed. Additionally, the vehicles themselves are largely stock since what’s sitting in driveways across the globe is “more capable than people realize,” reads a disclaimer on the Rebelle Rally website.

Teams compete in two vehicle classes: 4×4 and X-cross (Two-Wheel or AWD crossovers and SUVs). An EV designation was added last year when Rivian put its R1T to the test. Joining Rivian this year was the VW ID.4 and two PHEV KIA Sorentos.

Meet the Winners

Results in the 4×4 category spelled great news for Jeep, as the manufacturer enjoyed representation on every single rung of the podium. Additionally, the brand’s new 4xe model proved it can hang with the big dogs, snagging both first and second place – in bone stock form to boot!

• 1st place: Team 4xEventure – Nena Barlow and Teralin Petereit, 2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4xe
• 2nd place: Team Jeep Thrills – Christine Benzie and Emily Benzie, 2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4xe
• 3rd place: Team Dirt Hustle – Laura Wanlass and Maria Guitar, 2021 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon (diesel)

Plug-in hybrid power made an impressive showing in the X-cross class as well, with Kia Sorento PHEVs taking two podium positions.

• 1st place: Team Ford Performance – Melissa Fischer and Cora Jokinen, 2021 Ford Bronco Badlands Edition
• 2nd place: Team Giggle Watts – Verena Mei and Tana White, 2022 Kia Sorento PHEV
• 3rd place: Team Watt Girl Summer – Sabrina Howells and Alyssa Roenigk, 2022 Kia Sorento PHEV

Aside from the main race, the event featured a handful of other competitions, including a Driver Challenge which required racers to drive backwards through an obstacle course while their co-pilot provided instructions. Team #219 Wunder On (Kaitlin Mason and Renée Vento) posted the fastest time in the driver challenge in their Porsche Cayenne. There was also the less-grueling, but highly-competitive Busby Games. Described as a bracket-style, single-elimination competition consisting of bocce ball and corn hole, the Busby Games served up prizes from companies like Yeti and Big Agnes. Kathleen Salvo of Team #122 Prosciutto Babes, and Alicia Trigeiro of Team #117 Rescue Ranger won the Busby Games.

Registration for the 2022 Rebelle Rally is already underway, scheduled for Oct. 6-15, 2022. Registration closes Sept. 10, 2022.

Ford Hits Delivery Snag with F-150

Delivery delays around the auto world aren’t that surprising, especially in the current climate of supply chain fiascos and microchip shortages. Despite challenges, Ford’s touting its mounting reservations for the forthcoming F-150 Lightning and Maverick hybrid. The former hit more than 150,000 reservations earlier this month, mainly from first-time buyers.

Unfortunately, it looks like the automaker may have to find other ways to wow both newcomers and longtime Ford fans. Customers who attached their name to F-150 Lightning are now claiming that the order bank – which was supposed to open this month – has been pushed back to December. That means orders wouldn’t even kick off until 2022, with some estimations saying the delay could dwindle into Spring.

Posted emails show no reason for the delay. Some customers are pointing to the chip shortage, while others (with good reason) attribute the backup to the lengthy debates in D.C. on the infrastructure bill. Part of the bill includes a potential tax credit for EVs. Depending on the final result, it could certainly affect the MSRP of new models hitting the market.

Maverick Joins Delay

Maverick fans received similarly frustrating news recently. Like its big brother, Ford’s new mini truck will see a delay. Shipments are now pushed back to January 2022, with the automaker citing emissions certifications as the reason.

On the bright side, it looks like when the compact hauler does arrive, it will have better-than-expected fuel economy.

The EPA-estimated rating of the hybrid pickup is 42-mpg city, with a combined fuel economy rating of 37 mpg. Those numbers, according to Ford, position the Maverick as the most fuel-efficient pickup truck on the market (or at least once it finally hits dealer lots). The 2.5-liter hybrid also boasts a 33-mpg highway rating and an EPA-estimated range of more than 500 miles on a single tank of gas.

Ford said it expects the Maverick to be fully reserved by early next month. Once those reservations are filled, it’ll close spots until reopening next summer. With January 2022 right around the corner, the clock is certainly ticking.

GM Shipping Previously Delayed Trucks

In other shipment news, GM recently announced it was more than halfway through shipping trucks that were initially shelved because of the semiconductor chip shortage.

GM is taking a multipronged approach to get the trucks to buyers. The automaker reportedly bought a set of car haulers to transport the trucks from the factories to distribution centers. In some instances, GM is letting dealers pick up the vehicles themselves from facilities.

Even with shipment and production challenges, GM is touting promising numbers. Late last week (Oct. 27), the automaker said it topped Wall Street’s earnings and revenue estimates for the third quarter and told investors its full-year results would be on the high end of its previous guidance. That includes $26.76 billion vs. the originally estimated $26.51 billion in revenue, and $1.52 per share vs. its original 96 cents per share estimate. GM Financial’s earnings for the first three quarters came in at $3.9 billion. That’s up 132% from last year!

Chevy Unveils 2023 Corvette Z06

EVs might be grabbing a lot of headlines, but Chevrolet intends to keep some love alive for V-8s too. The automaker recently unveiled the 2023 Corvette Z06, which it promises will be the “most legendary” of the Z06 lineup yet.

For starters, the new ‘Vette’s engine sports dual overhead cams instead of pushrods. There are also a set of ports and combustion chambers that Chevy CNC machined for improved airflow, which reportedly adds “race car control” for engine breathing and combustion. Chevy took the track performance one step further and went with a flat-plane crank on this model, featuring lightweight forged titanium connecting rods and low-profile forged pistons for quick RPM changes and faster engine speeds. A beefy 670 horsepower makes the Z06 the most powerful naturally-aspirated V8 in production, according to the automaker. Plus, Chevy said this Corvette hits a redline of 8600 rpm – that’s 2000 rpm higher than the Stingray.

Bolder Styling

As far as exterior touches, Chevy offers eight different wheel configurations, a spoiler that includes installable track wickerbills for greater downforce, and a body that’s 3.6 inches wider than the Stingray for enhanced grip and handling. The car features ground effects for sleek finishing touches, available in visible carbon fiber and Carbon Flash Metallic-painted.

For the interior, Chevy is breaking with modern trends of stoic-and-ergonomic for full-on luxury. Carbon-fiber interior trim, console, instrument, and door panels match with intricate upholstery stitching. The automaker even matched classic style with technology, too, and uses a “head-up” infotainment display. The system projects the screen’s data onto the windshield, so drivers don’t need to look down while driving. (Probably not the safest if you’re staring at Instagram, but certainly easier if you’re trying to navigate city streets in heavy traffic.)

Production for the 2023 Z06 is slotted for summer 2022. If you need your fix now, CNET RoadShow was lucky enough to get a first look at this puppy, complete with some detailed photos and video. If you just want to hear that engine growl without the commentary, the car’s website has a set of sound clips you can play all day long. Maybe keep the headphones on, though…

California Goes to War on Yard Work

It wouldn’t be a full week without some sort of “You gotta be kidding me?!” news, right? It’s no secret that California has one of the most aggressive plans when it comes to emissions reductions. Within the last year, the state pitched a plan for 100% of in-state new passenger car and truck sales to be zero-emission by 2035.  Not a strange goal by global and national standards, but now the Golden State has other designs.

A new law, driven by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), proposes banning small, gas-powered equipment like leaf blowers and generators because their emissions are supposedly worse than driving a car for the same amount of time. According to the board’s findings, running a leaf blower for one hour is equivalent to driving a car for 1,100 miles. There are reportedly three million more small engines in the state than light-duty engines (16.5 million vs. 13.7 million), another factor driving the bill. If it goes through, the bill aims to end sales of those small-engine items by 2024.

Will It Stick?

It’s hard to envision this bill passing without some modifications — and some heavy debate.

Setting aside the already-agitated response from consumers in the comments sections of the articles linked above, it’s tough to say how many small businesses could easily pivot to all-electric equipment. Especially after an extremely challenging 18 months of ups and downs thanks to lockdowns and other COVID-related restrictions in the state. (California had some of the most restrictive rules in the country at the height of the pandemic.)

This isn’t the first time the state’s taken aim at small gas engines, either. In 2017, CARB proposed a rule change to lower emissions from small gas engines by 85% starting in 2020.

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 run-down of some exciting new UTV releases hitting the powersports market in 2022.