Auto Industry News: Sirius Hackers, Sporty Integras, Electric RAMs, & Top Collector Cars

Lots happening on the techie side of the industry last week. Researchers revealed how an authentication loophole with Sirius XM radio almost opened thousands of vehicles to hackers, raising fresh concerns over data privacy. Meanwhile, Apple is delaying its self-driving car program yet again, RAM will debut an electric truck at CES, and a Dutch startup is developing a sun-charged EV.

On the ICE side of the biz, Acura is set to drop its sporty Integra Type-S model this coming summer – complete with a six-speed manual as standard equipment. Other new vehicles were spotted testing last week too, including the new Toyota Grand Highlander, refreshed Lincoln Aviator, and an electric hot hatch from Fisker.

But first… Hagerty released its annual Bull Market List. The collector car roundup represents which vehicles the company believes are most likely to appreciate in value (or, at the very least, not depreciate). So, if buying a collector car is a longtime dream of yours, but rising inflation has you leery about making such a big investment, this is a list you want to check out.

Hagerty Bull Market List

Generally speaking, the collector car hobby is one rooted more in passion than pragmatism. One buys a classic ride because they love something about the vehicle, like its history, style or performance capabilities. It’s less likely someone throws down tens of thousands of hard-earned dollars on an older model in the hopes of making some money on it down the line.

However, budgets do determine purchases – even passion-driven ones. And there’s no reason you can’t invest in a fun car that will also hold its value in the coming years.

That’s the rough-idea reasoning behind Hagerty’s Bull Market List. Launched in 2017, the annual roundup of collector cars has a pretty impressive track record of predicting vehicles that not only stay hot but also appreciate over time.

The list takes into consideration a variety of data – from maritime shipping numbers to public auction sales to requested insurance quotes. It also leans on enthusiast-driven industry knowledge, and looks at shifting demographics, market buying power and good ol’ supply and demand.

Check out Hagerty’s list below, and let us know what you think in the comments.

Top 10 Collector Cars (And One Motorcycle)

• 1985–93 Saab 900 Turbo
• 1991–98 Suzuki Cappuccino
• 1968–70 AMC AMX
• 2004–10 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren
• 1984–88 Toyota Pickup 4×4 SR5
• 2001–10 Lamborghini Murciélago
• 2003–08 Nissan 350Z
• 1936–47 Harley-Davidson Knucklehead
• 1992–06 AM General Hummer H1
• 2001–04 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
• 2008–15 Audi R8

Sirius XM Loophole Reveals Serious Data Concern

In late November, security researchers explained via Twitter how they discovered – and help close – a pretty large authentication loophole in Sirius XM’s telematics infrastructure. Basically, under certain circumstances, the communication ‘pipeline’ between Sirius and a vehicle could be hijacked. This coding flaw would have allowed ill-intending hackers to not only access personal driver data but also remotely control certain car functions.

Thankfully, cybercriminals would not have been able to take over any driving controls. One of the researchers did note, however, that a car could have been remotely started in someone’s garage.

The researchers, who discovered the issue in a 2022 Hyundai Sonata, quickly realized the same bug applied to other vehicle models by Honda, Nissan and Toyota. They notified Hyundai and Sirius, and the issue was resolved within 24 hours.

“At no point was any subscriber or other data compromised nor was any unauthorized account modified using this method,” the Sirius XM tech team assured Gizmodo when reached for comment.

The ‘happy’ ending here is reassuring, but serves as a useful reminder to be cautious about where and with whom data is shared. (And maybe to eye up one of those analog collector cars Hagerty mentions above…)

In Other Tech News

• Apple is scaling back its self-driving car project and delaying the debut until 2026. Initially, the company had ambitious plans of launching a fully autonomous vehicle with no steering wheel or pedals by 2025. Realizing this dream wasn’t feasible with current technology, Apple is now scaling back its design to include manual controls and only support full self-driving capabilities on highways. Rumors say the vehicle is on track for a 2026 debut, and will start at under $100,000.

• Dutch startup Lightyear begins production of the world’s first solar car. According to the automaker, sun-derived power will add as much as 70 km (43 miles) of driving range each day to the special ride, which uses curved solar panels across the hood and roof to capture sunlight and generate electric power. In fact, the Lightyear 0 allegedly drives for up to two months without charging in Amsterdam during the summer! In sunny Portugal, that timeline bumps up to seven months. Extra-long range comes with an extra-high price tag, though: €250,000 ($259,000).

• RAM teases the Revolution electric truck ahead of its CES debut. Set to compete in a rapidly growing market of EV pickups, the RAM Revolution represents a big step for a brand steeped in ICE power. The design is still hush-hush, but RAM recently teased a little more of the truck’s fascia and revealed a few details including a sleek aerodynamic shape and modern cameras instead of door mirrors. The RAM Revolution will debut in January 2023 at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

Acura Raises Performance Bar With Sporty Type-S

Like a lot of things from the 1990s, the Acura Integra is officially back. Reintroduced to the North American market last year, the revived model earned praise for its premium styling and fun-to-drive personality. However, it still left many enthusiasts feeling a bit underwhelmed.

Well, apparently, Acura took notes. And this time, they’re determined to deliver an Integra worthy of its iconic nameplate.

The high-performance Integra Type-S variant is set to join the lineup this summer as a 2024 model. With better handling, mo’ powah, and a standard six-speed manual transmission, it offers a nice upgrade to existing options. And since the model comes wrapped in a bit more sophisticated-looking package, it also offers a nice alternative to those sport compact fans who find its cheaper sibling, the Honda Civic Type R, to be a little too young and rowdy.

While the aggressive styling is less overt than the Type R (no giant wings here), the new Integra Type-S will still share many features with the Honda hatchback. According to Acura, this includes the turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four engine that makes more than 300 hp. It also borrows the same six-speed manual transmission with limited-slip differential, and front-wheel-drive layout.

Time will tell how it fares with enthusiasts, but initial reports from journalists are looking positive.

Other New Rides In The Works

• The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander shows off its ‘grand’ new size in recent spy photos. Set to debut at the Chicago Auto Show in February, the new Highlander is stretching the definition of a midsize SUV – literally. Big and boxy, it sports a pretty noticeable rear overhang to make room for a comfortable third row.

• Also seen testing last week, the 2024 Lincoln Aviator wears refreshed styling. The three-row midsize luxury SUV is due for an update along with its platform mate the Ford Explorer. Spy photos don’t show much, but under the heavy camouflaging seems to be a larger, vertical grille and likely new headlamps.

• On the EV side, an electric hot hatch from Fisker was seen testing on LA public roads last week. Called “Pear,” which is apparently a dry acronym for Personal Electric Automotive Revolution and not a quirky call-back to delicious fruit, the little electric city car should arrive in 2024 with a driving range of around 250 miles per charge and a price tag under $30k.

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 check back Wednesday for a primer on tonneau cover security. Then, on Friday, we explore what it means to overland on a budget.