Auto Industry News: V-8 Defender, ROUSH Ranger, Major Merger News, and Myles Kovacs Kicks Off BIG Show

It’s been a weird week for the auto industry, as headlines flash with worrying news of production delays thanks to a global semiconductor shortage. But when you seek a silver lining, one usually appears – and for auto enthusiasts, a few are taking shape. One comes in the form of a 518-hp supercharged V-8 Land Rover Defender, while another looks suspiciously like an off-road performance-enhanced ROUSH Ranger.

Read on for highlights of President Biden’s recent announcement on how the White House plans to assist the auto industry’s current struggles, as well as some mergers and acquisition buzz – hinting at how the industry plans to help itself. But first, we have more good news and it concerns young enthusiast representation in the aftermarket.

Myles Kovacs to Present 2021 BIG Show Keynote Address

Myles Kovacs, 2020 SEMA Person of Year, will be presenting the Keynote Address to open the 2021 Keystone BIG Show in Texas next week. The two-day, in-person gathering may be a trade-only event, but with a leading voice like Kovacs kicking off festivities, enthusiasts have a lot to celebrate.

President and co-founder of DUB Magazine, Kovacs is an industry visionary. Overcoming a childhood of poverty and violence in East L.A., a young Kovacs saw a future in car culture and never looked back. With just $10,000, some practical automotive experience, and a truckload of grit, he built a multi-million-dollar business and iconic lifestyle brand that continues to spawn new market segments twenty years after its founding. More importantly, Kovacs has established himself as an influential voice in the automotive industry – one that has the ear of trend-setting young consumers.

So, if you like your rides exotic, unique, custom, or just plain weird, celebrate that Kovacs has your back. His Keynote Address: “From Street Kid to Success: Navigating the Journey with Myles Kovacs” will inspire event attendees to think differently about the industry, the aftermarket, their businesses and most importantly, their customers.

New Vehicle Buzz

This week was an eventful one for new vehicle releases. Let’s get right into it.

2022 Land Rover Defender Gets Supercharged V-8

Like Superman rising from the dead more powerful than before, Land Rover resurrected its Defender and then some. While the model only launched last year, it receives some exciting new upgrades for 2022 – including a roaring V-8.

The British badge confirmed this week both the Defender 90 and 110 body styles would be getting a V8-powered option, and wow does it look tantalizing for those whose foot is as heavy as their need for premium features. Good for 518 horsepower and 461 pound-feet of torque, Land Rover says the new engine pushes the Defender 90 from 0-60 in just 4.9 seconds and has a limited top speed of 149 mph. (The 110 is slightly slower.)

The existing ZF-sourced eight-speed automatic transmission still manages power, but receives assistance from an upgraded four-wheel-drive system with new electronic rear differential and a specially tuned suspension, including stiffer bushings and larger anti-roll bars. Other improvements include new 22-inch wheels, quad exhaust tips, fresh exterior color options, an Alcantara steering wheel with chrome paddle shifters, and larger 15.0-inch front brake rotors for reliable stopping power.

Inside, the Defender V-8 sports unique black leather seats with suede inserts, specially-badged illuminated door sills, wireless charging, and the option of a larger, curved 11.4-inch touchscreen.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender V-8 is set to arrive this summer starting around $98,550 for the two-door 90 model and $101,750 for the four-door 110 model.

Another British badge, another impressive presentation of power. McLaren revealed its long-awaited, all-new hybrid supercar, the Artura, during a virtual event last week. At the heart of the vehicle’s all-new powertrain is a 671-horsepower turbocharged V-6 paired to a bespoke eight-speed transmission and compact e-motor. Check out the reveal here.

ROUSH Performance Releases 2021 ROUSH Ranger

Looking for something a little more ‘Murican?

For $12,750, ROUSH can turn your new Ford Ranger into a performance off-road masterpiece. Built from a 2021 Ford Ranger 301A or 302A XLT Trim equipped with a 2.3L EcoBoost engine, ROUSH tacks on a new and improved suspension specifically built for better on and off-road performance, a set of custom 18-inch satin black ROUSH wheels wrapped in General Tire 32-inch Grabber A/TX tires, and a performance cat-back exhaust system that delivers an aggressive exhaust tone and features dual ROUSH-etched stainless-steel tips.

Adding form to function, ROUSH Rangers also sport a signature ROUSH grille with dual LED light bars, Magnetic Gray fender flares with integrated accent lighting, and functional fender vent badging. Each model can be had in nine exterior colors, three of which are new for 2021.

Inside, ROUSH kicks up the comfort with premium leather seating bearing quilted stitching and embroidery. ROUSH floor liners by WeatherTech protect your interior from the elements, while a unique gauge cluster provides detailed information about your ride. Additionally, each vehicle has a uniquely serialized interior badge on the dash, a certificate of authenticity, and ROUSH “R” key fobs.

Check out the website for a full list of optional goodies, available to add a personal touch to your ROUSH Ranger.

A clear upgrade from the already rock-solid Ford models, the 2021 ROUSH Ranger proves off-road juggernauts can be comfortable daily drivers too. Whoever said you shouldn’t mess with a good thing has clearly never jumped behind the wheel of a ROUSH modified ride.

Check it out! The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Michigan, has created a new, permanent, and uniquely comprehensive exhibition of American auto racing history that will open March 27, 2021. Learn more over at SCCA’s website.

Semiconductor Drama Drags On

As the world grapples with a global semiconductor shortage, auto manufacturers feel the heat. Unfortunately, a swift resolution does not appear to be in the cards.

Urged by lawmakers, President Biden said this week his administration would seek $37 billion in funding via legislation to “supercharge” chip manufacturing in the U.S. He also signed an executive order geared towards solving the global shortage.

An awesome move on paper, we can’t help but feel the burn of bureaucratic lip service here. The executive order effectively launches a 100-day review of semiconductor supply chains. During that time, policy recommendations will be made in an effort to expand domestic production of the small computer chips which now power nearly everything we use.

Unfortunately, this is a bit like saying, “Well, we see this problem, so we’re going to review the problem for months and identify gaps, and then make a plan to plug those gaps, and then make a plan to roll-out the gap-filling plan, and then…”

How exactly this moves the needle on solving the shortage right now remains vague.

That being said, we’re aiming for optimism. The issue certainly has bipartisan appeal – something our country sorely needs at the moment. And, when looking through a long-term lens, this move could greatly help the U.S. establish some independence on the semiconductor front. (Currently, Taiwan – who is under constant threat of invasion by Beijing – holds the firmest grip on the semiconductor business.)

However, we’re not entirely sure where this $37 billion is going to come from in the midst of a pandemic-bruised economy. We’re also eager to see how the current administration will reconcile its aggressive environmental aims with homegrown semiconductor manufacturing. Manufacturing that requires invasive mining of rare earth metals.

Stay tuned, as we expect things to get charged. (Pun unintended.)

More Mergers and Acquisitions

While some sectors of the auto industry are struggling to put together new vehicles in the first place, other parts are out here splashing the cash to acquire competitors, buddy up, and weather the storm together.

Goodyear Acquires Cooper Tire in $2.8 Billion Deal

Two of the biggest remaining American tire companies are joining forces later this year, as Cooper Tire huddles under the Goodyear corporate umbrella to the tune of $2.8 billion dollars.

The century-old Ohio tire manufacturers’ marriage will allow Goodyear to double its presence in China overnight and provide Cooper with 2,500 new retail locations to sell its tires. It will also bring an array of tire brands together under one roof.

“This is an exciting and transformational day for our companies,” said Richard J. Kramer, Goodyear chairman, chief executive officer and president. “The addition of Cooper’s complementary tire product portfolio and highly capable manufacturing assets, coupled with Goodyear’s technology and industry-leading distribution, provides the combined company with opportunities for improved cost efficiency and a broader offering for both companies’ retailer networks. We are confident this combination will enable us to provide enhanced service for our customers and consumers while delivering value for shareholders.”

After closing, the combined company headquarters will be in Akron, Ohio, but Goodyear expects to maintain a presence in Findlay, Ohio.

Another tire titan, Mickey Thompson, has signed on as title sponsor of the NMRA’s newest small-tire drag racing category. As a leader in the DOT/drag radial tire market, the company feels backing a street car class is a natural fit and will get as many enthusiasts on-track as possible. Read more here.

BorgWarner Acquires EV Battery Pack Manufacturer

In another acquisition move, BorgWarner recently bought up German EV battery manufacturer AKASOL. Darmstadt-based AKASOL designs and manufactures customizable battery packs for use in buses, commercial vehicles, rail vehicles, and industrial vehicles, as well as in ships and boats. Its addition to BorgWarner’s growing portfolio – which welcomed Delphi Technologies last year – is a clear signal of the company’s intention to prep for an EV future.

With AKASOL on board, BorgWarner is set to significantly strengthen its commercial vehicle and off-highway battery systems business as it continues to execute its electrification strategy.

Lucid Motors Goes Public in Blank-Check Merger

We saved the most eyebrow-raising industry move for last.

Lucid Motors, an upstart luxury EV manufacturer that’s yet to put a functional vehicle out on the market agreed to a record-breaking reverse-merger deal with a high-profile SPAC named Churchill Capital IV Corp.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the deal would inject $4.4 billion into the Bay Area-based automaker and value Lucid at $24 billion. As news broke, stocks soared, and with different investors buying Lucid at different prices, implied market value has been all over the map, last settling somewhere around $57 billion – more than Ford, Hyundai, Stellantis, Honda, and BMW.

In case that’s not crazy enough, this news comes with Lucid announcing the delay of its debut vehicle, the 2021 Lucid Air. Citing COVID-imposed delays, CEO Peter Rawlinson (an ex-Tesla engineering executive) says the company is “now tracking toward a start of production as early as we can in the second half of 2021.”

Funny how that potentially-share-damaging information came after going public, eh?

To the EV brand’s credit, it is one of the few start-ups to pose a viable threat to Tesla. The company’s innovative tech and sleek vehicle mock-ups are certainly impressive, but whether there’s anything truly lucid about Lucid remains to be seen.

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 Friday for our comprehensive lineup of 21 towing products to pull your rig through 2021.