Auto Industry News: Hot Hatches, Retro Dodges, Eco-Friendly Tires & California Charging Backlash

Speed and performance fans had good reason to celebrate last week. Honda revealed its most powerful vehicle yet for the U.S. market – the 2023 Civic Type R – while Toyota was hot on its hatch with a GR-tuned Corolla. Over at Dodge, the brand added two more tribute models to its “Last Call” lineup, leaning heavy on nostalgia for the Dodge Dart Swinger of the late ‘60s and early ‘70s.

California made headlines for urging its EV-owning residents to reduce their charging amid the recent heatwave. Because the request came so shortly after the state renewed its pledge to ban the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035, there were more than a few facepalms in response. Bridgestone, however, scored some points for environmentalism. The tire manufacturer is investing BIG in guayule, a woody desert shrub that can serve as a domestic source of natural rubber.

All that and more strange and interesting happenings in this week’s Auto Industry News.

Sizzlin’ Hot Hatches

Stereotypes can be hard to beat, and the hot hatch segment’s is particularly sticky. Images of rowdy Subies bobbing and weaving through traffic live in our minds right next to the fight-or-flight response that activates every time a gunfire exhaust pops off unexpectedly.

But the truth is, these vehicles have matured – and by (some) extension, so have their drivers. New models still prioritize cheap, fast fun but they do so with decidedly more sophisticated features and styling. Meet two new debuts that prove growing up doesn’t have to mean getting old.

Honda Civic Type R

Honda took the wraps off its next-gen Civic Type R in late July, but waited until last week to reveal official details. For fans of the high-performance hatchback, their patience was rewarded. The automaker proudly says this is the most powerful model in Type R’s 30-year history, and the most powerful Honda production vehicle to ever hit the U.S. market.

Starting outside, the new Type R dials back some of the excessive add-ons of the previous generation. The more conservative design, combined with a longer, lower, and wider body, makes for a much sleeker final result. This is a put-together hatchback, with a 401k and no crazy ex-girlfriend baggage.

That sophistication carries over inside, where performance-focused details and features prioritize the monitoring and honing of spirited driving – rather than just enabling a go-fast attitude.

Speaking of going fast… under the new vented aluminum hood lies the same turbocharged 2.0-liter I4 engine from last generation, but Honda ups the horsepower, torque and response.

Thanks to a redesigned turbocharger, increased air intake flow rate, and a new more efficient exhaust system that features a straight through design and an active exhaust valve, the new Civic Type-R now produces 315 hp and 310 lb.-ft. of torque – improvements of 9 hp and 15 lb.-ft. The extended wheelbase and significantly more rigid body structure improve stability and make for a smoother ride.

Available with only a six-speed manual, the Type-R further caters to its intended audience of performance enthusiasts. Honda says the transmission has been improved with a lighter flywheel and revised rev-match system, and the stiffer shift lever and optimized shift gate pattern ensure “hyper-precise” gearchanges.

The 2023 Honda Civic Type-R goes on sale this fall, with pricing expected to start at $40k.

Toyota GR Corolla Puts Fair Price on Performance

It’s a good thing Honda got its hot hatch in fighting form, because Toyota’s GR-tuned Corolla came to play. Bringing a little spice to the line-up, the exclusively manual-transmission all-new model wears its Toyota Gazoo Racing DNA loudly on its aggressively-styled exterior. First announced in March, the new GR Corolla grabbed headlines last week when Toyota announced pricing information – and revealed a gratifyingly fair price tag.

The base Core model will start at $36,995, undercutting fellow AWD competition in the market. A higher-priced Circuit edition is also on the menu. That model starts at $43,995, and offers suspension and handling upgrades, as well as some convenience add-ons. Toyota will also offer a very limited, top-spec Morizo edition. Borrowing Toyota President and CEO Akio Toyoda’s racing nom-de-plume, the special Morizo model starts at $50,995 and prioritizes track performance. It cuts the fat with no rear seat, rear speakers, or rear window wipers.

All three versions feature the same 300-hp turbo-charged 3-cylinder engine paired to a rev-matching six-speed manual, as well as Toyota’s GR-Four all-wheel drive system, which allows drivers to choose various power-distribution modes.

Track-tested and rally-inspired, the GR Corolla stands to make a significant splash on the sport compact scene when it hits dealerships later this year. Circuit and Morizo editions will follow in 2023.

Did you know…?

Toyota is answering Supra fans’ cries for a stick shift, as well. Last week, the automaker announced that the 2023 Toyota GR Supra will be available with a new six-speed manual transmission. It will be a no-cost option on the 3.0 and 3.0 Premium models, and will mate to the 382-hp turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six.

Dodge Adds To ‘Last Call’ Lineup

In the muscle car camp, Dodge’s “Last Call” lineup gained two more additions. The 2023 Dodge Challenger and Charger R/T Scat Pack Swinger models serve up some groovy nostalgia, hearkening back to the Dodge Dart Swinger of the late ‘60s and early ‘70s.

The updated “Scat Pack” club members feature a retro exterior and color palette, with throwback “Gold School” graphics and interior wood-grained accents. Only 1,000 of each will be produced, both in Widebody models.

Dodge’s “Last Call” lineup consists of seven tribute models meant to honor the passing of the internal-combustion Challenger and Charger models which the automaker plans to discontinue in 2023. Six of the vehicles all carry some connection to a Dodge muscle car of yore, and will debut through Sept. 21, 2022. The seventh and final 2023 Dodge model – the very last of its kind – will be revealed at the 2022 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, scheduled for Nov. 1-4, 2022. The Challenger and Charger R/T Scat Pack Swinger models mark the third and fourth additions, and follow the Challenger Shakedown and Charger Super Bee models revealed earlier this month.

California Urges EV Owners To Reduce Charging on Strained Grid

As heatwaves and a massive wildfire swept through Southern California last week, the state’s grid operator urged residents to voluntarily reduce their electricity usage to prevent rolling blackouts. This included limiting when and for how long EV-owners plugged in their vehicles to charge.

Since the news came on one of the year’s busiest travel weekends and merely a week after state legislators doubled down on their commitment to ban the sale of gas-powered vehicles, responses were … agitated to say the least.

Twitter, unsurprisingly, had a field day with the news.

With midterm elections around the corner, the information served as political cannon fodder for those highly critical of Green New Deal initiatives in general and California government in particular.

Finger-pointing aside, the rickety condition of the state’s power grid does beg some important questions. Namely, if California cannot sustain current electricity demands, how will it ever cope with the added stress of millions of new EVs?

It won’t, say detractors of the state’s climate policies. California’s own Air Resources Board estimates the grid may need to carry 80% more power by 2045 in order to keep up with legislation-driven demand. The increase of solar and wind farms helps, as does the production of large-scale batteries, but it may not be enough to off-set the gas-burning plants being taken offline.

Environmentalists disagree, describing these mismatches in power supply and demand as necessary growing pains. Many climate advocates tweeted their support of the calls to limit usage and praised Californians for working together to drop power consumption and prevent any major blackouts. Others argued that the uptick in EVs will be good for the grid, since the big onboard batteries can supply power in times of need.

Washington and Massachusetts governors, at least, seem to agree. Both states have “trigger laws” that require the ban of gas-car sales if California does.

In other EV News…

Buick is offering buyouts to its U.S. dealers who do not want to invest in EVs. The brand, which plans to have an all-electric lineup by 2030, said it understands not every dealership may want to make the shift – or pony up the money necessary for it to happen. (Store upgrades could cost as much as $200,000-$300,000.) Parent company GM offered a similar deal to U.S. Cadillac dealers, of which several hundred accepted. Buick has 1,963 franchised dealerships, but only 13 are standalone stores.

One Step Closer to Eco-Friendly Tires

While the debate between ICE and EV wages on, parts suppliers seek ways to reduce their own carbon footprints. As it happens, one of the most important vehicle components poses some serious environmental challenges. (And no, it’s not semiconductors.)

“Natural rubber, one of the primary materials in tires, is produced from the latex of para rubber trees, and currently about 90% of its plantations are concentrated in Southeast Asia,” explains Bridgestone.

In addition to contributing to rapid deforestation, having so much rubber harvested in one location makes the entire supply wildly susceptible to root rot and other diseases. That’s why manufacturers like Bridgestone are actively exploring alternative sources of natural rubber – particularly ones that can be grown here in the U.S.

The most recent alternative to show real promise is guayule.

This woody shrub is heat-resistant and thrives in desert conditions, meaning it requires significantly less water to grow. Better yet, it’s a perennial crop in the American southwest.

Bridgestone has invested more than $100 million in the commercialization of guayule, and recently announced its plans to add another $42 million to those efforts.

It’s true that the automotive industry has made incredible strides in developing high-performing and long-lasting synthetic rubber tires. However, this production requires the use of petroleum-derived products. In addition to being non-renewable, these materials depend on a volatile fossil fuel industry. Additionally, while today’s tire production is majority synthetic rubber, about 40% still relies on natural rubber.

“We’re extremely bullish on the potential for guayule as a domestic source of strategically critical materials, such as rubber, hypoallergenic latex, building material adhesives and renewable fuel, just to name a few,” said Nizar Trigui, Chief Technology Officer and Group President, Solutions Businesses, Bridgestone Americas, Inc.

“With guayule, we can reduce the environmental impacts that come with overseas sourcing while also realizing a more sustainable agricultural system for parts of this country that are facing persistent and worsening climate conditions, so it’s really something with many benefits for our environment and our economy.”

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 some helpful driving tips to build towing confidence. On Friday, we tackle light bars – what should you know before purchasing?