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Toyota, Lexus, and BMW lead the way as the top three most reliable brands in Consumer Reports’ (CR) annual vehicle reliability rankings. Others that earned a place among the top five most reliable include Mazda, which came in fourth, followed by Honda, which placed fifth.

Among the top five brands, Lexus stands out because all of its models have above- average or better reliability scores this year, with its GX SUV leading the way. Also noteworthy, every Toyota model but two has above- or well-above-average reliability. For example, the brand boasts the Toyota Corolla Cross, which is among the most reliable models in the survey.

CR’s reliability score is calculated on a 100-point scale, with the average rating falling between 41 and 60 points. To determine the score, CR gathered data direct from its members on over 300,000 vehicles, from the 2000 to 2022 model years, as well as a few early introduced 2023 model years. The data addresses 17 trouble areas including engine, transmission, in-car electronics, and more.

The overall findings favor foreign brands. For example, seven of the 10 most reliable brands are from Asian automakers, who boast an average reliability score of 59. European automakers are in second place with a reliability score of 51, while domestic brands trail both with an average score of 40.

The cars category — comprised of sedans, hatchbacks, and coupes—is one of the most reliable vehicle categories in the survey with an average predicted reliability score of 58. They’re followed by SUVs at 51, then minivans at 44. Pickups are the least reliable category, with an average score of 39. 

However, domestic automakers don’t quite adhere to this trend, with their SUVs and pickups proving more reliable than their cars, scoring 45 and 41, respectively. In contrast, domestic cars average a slightly lower score of 38. 

Some top-ranking domestic brand vehicles include the Buick Encore GX, Chevrolet Trailblazer and Blazer, Ford Edge, Maverick, and Maverick Hybrid, and the Lincoln Corsair and Nautilus.

Finally, there are some interesting findings within electrified models this year. Overall by category, hybrid cars and plug-ins ranked as most reliable, with an average predicted reliability of 78. Hybrid SUVs and plug-ins came in as the third most reliable category with a score of 65.

Conversely, full-sized pickup trucks earned the least reliable category, with an average score of 30. The second least reliable category is electric vehicles (cars and SUVs) with an average predicted reliability of 36.

Genesis completed its X concept trilogy with the introduction of the X Convertible concept Tuesday in L.A., taking advantage of the gorgeous Southern California weather to show off the droptop version of the grand tourer we saw in 2021 and the “Speedium” shooting brake that was teased earlier this year. What better venue for the introduction of a futuristic convertible concept than Los Angeles? Even better, Genesis took to the open air to introduce its new drop-top, eschewing the stuffy show floor in favor of a beautiful beachside sunset.

“Genesis started life by producing sedans mainly targeting business users. While creating a new, differentiated design DNA, we gradually increased the emotional appeal by applying this DNA to the SUV typology. Now, electric powertrains have given us the perfect scenario in which to enjoy nature, and propelled the brand to create vehicles with even greater emotional resonance,” said brand Chief Creative Officer Luc Donckerwolke.

All of elements that made the X Speedium Coupe so captivating are repeated here — with the bonus drama of a missing roof, of course. In fact, with the top down, the X Convertible might even be more of a looker than the hardtop. The coupe’s wrap-around interior treatment carries over too. Though it loses a bit of its intimacy with the open-top treatment, it still looks pretty darned inviting. There’s even a steering wheel. How about that?

As for whether Genesis will build any of these concepts, well, that remains to be seen. The company has yet to give us an idea of what might power these low-slung styling exercises, but the smart money is on a battery-electric powertrain lifted from the corporate portfolio which, as of 2023, will include the 576 horsepower Kia EV6 GT. We’re certain it would be quick and likely worth the wait, but will it be worth the weight? The all-electric performance car space remains pretty small for a reason. We’d love to see that change. 

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SAO PAULO — Kevin Magnussen shocked Formula One in Brazilian Grand Prix qualifying by earning pole position for the sprint race at Interlagos on Friday.

It was the first pole after 142 races for the Danish driver, who celebrated by making faces at the cameras before the third qualifying session was over. Then he jumped on his car and punched the air in the drizzle. He gave his Haas team boss Guenther Steiner an emotional hug.

“The team put me out on track exactly at the right moment,” an exultant Magnussen said.

Asked whether he expected to earn pole, he replied: “Not even close. It is incredible.”

Magnussen started in F1 in 2014 and returned to the series this year after a one-year absence as the replacement for Russian driver Nikita Mazepin.

On team radio, Magnussen was even more excited: “I never felt like this in my life,” he said. Minutes before, when he was told he was in first position, he replied: “You’re kidding.”

Meanwhile, Haas teammate Mick Schumacher, who is still seeking a seat for the next season, finished not surprisingly in 20th and last place.

Steiner said on Thursday he has yet to decide whether Schumacher will race for the team next year, adding he hopes a decision will be made next week. Schumacher has earned only 12 points this season. Magnussen has a paltry 24.

Magnussen was almost five seconds faster than Schumacher. World champion Max Verstappen was second by almost two-tenths of a second. Mercedes’ George Russell was third.

Qualifying was delayed by rain, which helped Magnussen. The last five minutes of the session were severely affected by the wet track.

Haas spoke about Magnussen’s pole position with a touch of disbelief: “What did we just do?” the team posed on Twitter. “That was a Viking performance!”

Friday’s results set the grid for Saturday’s sprint race, which will determine the starting positions for Sunday’s race at Interlagos.

Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, who will start the sprint in fifth position, will have a five-place grid penalty for Sunday’s race. The Spaniard has added a new internal combustion engine for the weekend, a penalty-inducing sixth of the season.

Red Bull’s Sergio Perez, who is still fighting to secure the runner-up position in the drivers’ championship, was first during free practice earlier on Friday. He had a design on his helmet in collaboration with Disney.

“It is for the Black Panther movie, a movie that represents a lot of my country,” the Mexican driver said. “The helmet itself is unique and I really like it.”

Perez will start the sprint, which is expected to go under rain again, in ninth position.

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Some hummingbirds instinctively fly south when the weather turns cold.

This one hitched a car ride instead.

The tiny rufous hummingbird, measuring only eight centimeters long (just over three inches) and weighing four grams, was the subject of an extensive rescue effort last month in the Canadian community of Prince George, about 500 miles north of Vancouver, B.C.

As told by the CBC, the bird first caught the attention of Clive Keen, an expert bird photographer and author of dozens of essays on the subject. It was first spotted by his wife, Susan, in early October. Because the weather was mild that month, the Keens assumed the hummer was holding off on his journey south until the frost set in.

But when Keen saw the hummingbird again in late October, after a snowfall and with temperatures forecast to 5 degrees above zero Fahrenheit, he thought, “Clearly, it wasn’t going to survive if it stayed around. I kept thinking … ‘Surely, you’re going to take the hint and head off south.’ But no, it kept hanging around in my tree.”

After reaching out to the birder community throughout Canada for advice, he elected to entice the animal into a birdcage. After the Keens spent several hours spent watching and waiting, the bird flew into the cage and was trapped.

So, what did the Keens do next? They fired up their car, turned on the heater, loaded up the cage, and Susan Keen headed south. She drove nine hours to Vancouver. Maybe the hummingbird will head south from there on his own, or maybe he’ll hang around. While Prince George is inland and cold, Vancouver enjoys a milder maritime climate, and some hummingbirds overwinter there. She released the little guy in a park.

“What can you do?” she said. “You’ve got this tiny thing.” If left in the cold, she said, “it has no chance at all.”

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Notwithstanding the annoyances of switching between standard time and daylight saving time that affect our sleeping habits — spring ahead, fall back, all that — there are more serious consequences to the semi-annual transition: A new study says the time change contributes to 37,000 vehicle collisions with deer on U.S. roads.

The report, published this week in the journal Current Biology, says that year-round daylight saving time would reduce the time that evening rush-hour traffic occurs in darkness each year, preventing 33 human deaths, 2,000 injuries, and saving about $1.2 billion in repair costs stemming from accidents.

“The numbers are surprisingly large,” reported Laura Prugh, an associate professor of wildlife science at the University of Washington and an author of the study. “It’s just noticeable that a seemingly simple change — not changing the clock back in the fall, not falling back — would lead to such a marked reduction in collisions throughout the country.” 

“If you drive two hours after dark, you’re 14 times more likely to hit a deer than if you drive before dark,” said Calum Cunningham, a postdoctoral researcher at UW and co-author of the study.

Switching to permanent standard time, meanwhile, would cost an additional 66 human lives per year and $2 billion in damage from an additional 74,000 collisions.

To understand the effect of seasonal time changes, researchers gathered wildlife and vehicle collision data from more than 1 million crashes in 23 states to estimate impacts. Deer are most active on both sides of dawn and dusk, and the data showed that drivers are far more likely to hit deer when the evening commute is done in the dark. 

Some 2.1 million deer-vehicle collisions occur in the United States each year, causing more than $10 billion in economic losses — with 59,000 human injuries and 440 deaths.

Washington is one of 19 states where the legislatures have approved permanent daylight saving time, but they require congressional action to put it into effect. In March, the Senate weighed in, unanimously voting in favor of the Sunshine Protection Act, which would make daylight saving time permanent year-round for all states but Hawaii and most of Arizona. Those two states would continue to observe year-round standard time. But the bill has stalled in the House.

Until the House acts, we’re stuck with the current system — so take note that clocks nationwide will “fall back” by one hour at 2 a.m. this coming Sunday morning, Nov. 6.

Lucid Motors is finally ready with branded accessories. The California EV maker tapped the same members who designed the Air to work up the first four aftermarket options, maintaining a coherent aesthetic with the six-figure electric sedan. Probably the most welcome item for owners will the Connected Home Charging Station costing $1,200. The small, sleek, Wi-Fi-enabled black box maxes out Level 2 AC charging capability, supporting the 19.2-kW charging the Air is capable of and injecting 80 miles of range into the battery pack every hour. It is also bi-directional, able to return juice to a home energy storage system through the “lightweight” 24-foot cable. The station doubles the charging power of the mobile charging cable all Air trims come with, which tops out at 9.6-kW and is good for 40 miles of range for every hour plugged in.

It’s not inexpensive, but this is priced like a luxury item for a luxury vehicle, and it’s still less than Ford’s Charge Station Pro that runs $1,310 retail. Tesla’s reworked its charging options lately, putting out a third-gen Wall Connector for $400. That one is compatible with almost all EVs, but it tops out at 11.5 kW, down from the second-gen charger’s 19.2-kW capability.

The rest of the accessories suit the “active lifestyle” folks carmakers constantly pitch as the ideal demographic. The $500 black aluminum Crossbars hook cleanly into slots on the roof. They can support 165 pounds, are said to have “minimal impact on aerodynamics,” and work with a number of standard Yakima mounts to hold outdoorsy gear. The Cargo Capsule was made to sit on these bars, adding 11.47 cubic feet of storage space to the Air’s already voluminous 32.5 feet of interior load room with the second row seats up. It’s a shame what the wind and elements will do to the Capsule, though; the gloss and matte black finish on the ABS shell is real purdy. The case can be opened from either side of the vehicle, and is fitted with interior lighting to allay rummaging in the dark. We’re still not sure why the Capsule costs $2,000, but we’d like to find out.

Finally, a $250 set of all-weather mats will help keep the Earth outside the car instead of becoming part of the Air’s carpeting. Heavy duty, non-slip, waterproof, with raised edges to prevent spillage of grime, they’re shaded to match the Air’s interior options in hues of Ceramic, Graphite, Saddle, and Black.   

Frankly, the last three bits of gear sound like preparation for the Lucid Gravity SUV supposedly coming next year, although press pics for the Gravity featured a slimmer rooftop box than the Air unit. 

The accessories can be ordered now at Lucid’s store, deliveries slated to begin before the end of the year. The home charging station is the only constrained item, selling in limited quantities until 2023. 

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Volkswagen said it was going to offer a GTI 40th Anniversary Edition model when it revealed what was new for the 2023 model year, and now we finally get to see it.

This special model marks 40 years of the GTI in the U.S. (not the world), and it’s an exclusive model for our market. The package is sure to appeal to enthusiasts who want all the performance options in an intriguing visual package. It starts with the basic S trim, but adds the DCC adaptive dampers, speed-sensitive steering, unique 19-inch wheels and summer performance tires usually reserved for the top-of-the-line Autobahn trim. It also starts at $34,150 for the manual, which is thousands cheaper than the $40,000+ Autobahn trim. If all you want is performance and appearance, this Anniversary Edition model looks like a sweet deal.

The appearance package put together by VW is a neat one. Two exclusive paint colors are available, including Tornado Red (pictured) and Urano Grey. Also optional (but not exclusive to the model) are Opal White Pearl and Pomelo Yellow Metallic. All the Anniversary Edition models will have black roofs with black mirror caps. Decals on the door sills feature a honeycomb design and “40” to note it as the Anniversary Edition. Those 19-inch wheels we mentioned earlier are the same as you’ll see on the European-spec GTIs, and they also feature a red pinstripe accent around the outer rim.

On the inside, you’ll get a “40” clasp at the bottom center of the steering wheel. Plaid seats come standard, and if you get the manual, you’ll get a golf-ball inspired shift knob instead of the new square knob on the regular GTIs. The DSG-equipped models — priced at $35,950 — have the same shifter that looks like a beard trimmer.

Volkswagen says it plans to sell approximately 1,500 units of the 40th Anniversary Edition car. It will go on sale at some point mid-model year. 

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