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L.A. Show Favorites and driving a custom Land Rover Defender | Autoblog Podcast #757

In this episode of the Autoblog Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Greg Migliore is joined by News Editor Joel Stocksdale. We recap the Los Angeles Auto Show and discuss what it was like and what our favorite reveals were. We also discuss a few of the cars we've been driving including a restomod Land Rover Defender from Osprey Custom Cars and our long-term Kia EV6 GT-Line. Plus, we discuss the GMT400 Chevy and GMC trucks starting to rise in value. Send us your questions for the Mailbag and Spend My Money at: Podcast@Autoblog.com. Autoblog Podcast #757 Get The Podcast Apple Podcasts – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes Spotify – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast on Spotify RSS – Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator MP3 – Download the MP3 directly Rundown 2022 L.A. Auto Show Editors' Picks Cars we're driving Osprey Custom Cars Land Rover Defender 2022 Kia EV6 GT-Line GMT400 GM Trucks Feedback Email – Podcast@Autoblog.com Review the show on Apple Podcasts Autoblog is now live on your smart speakers and voice assistants with the audio Autoblog Daily Digest. Say “Hey Google, play the news from Autoblog” or "Alexa, open Autoblog" to get your favorite car website in audio form every day. A narrator will take you through the biggest stories or break down one of our comprehensive test drives. Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Hyundai Motor shares slide following U.S. probe of airbag failures

SEOUL — Shares in Hyundai Motor tumbled on Monday on a U.S. probe into why airbags failed to deploy in some of its Sonata sedans, with investors fretting about potential recall costs for the once popular cars. The probe, which follows crashes that reportedly killed four people and left six injured, will review the 2011 Sonata sedan as well as the 2012-2013 Forte made by affiliate Kia Motors, encompassing some 425,000 vehicles. It marks the second investigation by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration into the South Korean duo in less than one year, exacerbating headaches for Hyundai which reported in January its worst annual earnings in seven years. Hyundai has issued a recall for more than 150,000 U.S. Sonatas after incidents of non-deployment were linked to electrical overstress in the airbag control unit, but said it did not have a final fix. "What I am concerned about is that the recall will be expanded to other markets," said Ko Tae-bong, an analyst at Hi Investment & Securities. The Sonata and Forte sedans were responsible for driving sales for Hyundai and Kia in key markets in recent years, although they are no longer as popular as they once were. Ko estimated the U.S. recall could cost as much as $575 million if airbags were replaced in 425,000 vehicles under review and the automakers were found responsible for the problem. Hyundai Motor shares tumbled 4.8 percent while Kia Motors lost 3.7 percent. Parts supplier Hyundai Mobis fell 5.4 percent while the broader market was down 0.7 percent. Hyundai declined to comment on whether the recall would be expanded. Kia said it has not confirmed problems with the airbags but added it would "act promptly to conduct a safety recall, if it determines that a recall would be appropriate." The automakers told the South Korean regulator that the Sonata and Forte models sold in the domestic market were not affected, an official at South Korea's transport ministry told Reuters. The U.S. regulator said the airbag control units were built by ZF Friedrichshafen-TRW, a German auto supplier that acquired TRW Automotive in 2015, adding that it would determine if any other manufacturers used similar airbag control units and if they posed a safety risk. The NHTSA also said that electrical overstress appeared to be the root cause in the 2016 recall by Fiat Chrysler America of 1.4 million U.S. vehicles for airbag non-deployments in significant frontal crashes.

Kia reveals images of updated ’Mohave the Master’ SUV

Kia on Wednesday released the first images of a heavily refreshed full-size SUV, calling it the “Mohave the Master.” ItÂ’s heavily based on the Mohave Masterpiece Concept that Kia rolled out at the Seoul Motor Show in March, and reports suggest the company plans to launch the SUV in Korea in September. The Mohave is the overseas brethren of the short-lived Borrego, a body-on-frame, offroad-capable SUV that was sold in the U.S. and pulled after two model years and negligible sales. As was the case in March, thereÂ’s no information about the new vehicle beyond photos, leaving us to speculate. But the Master carries on most of the Masterpiece ConceptÂ’s styling, if somewhat toned down, with its boxy design, raised profile and upright body. The Master features the same matching head- and taillight design as the concept, plus the illuminated Mohave nameplate on the tailgate. The stacked LED headlights and fog lamps also carry over from the concept, although much of the chrome trim appears to have been cut from production plans. Also similar: ThereÂ’s no Kia badge anywhere to be seen, which is interesting. Skid plates at front and rear, along with the 4WD logo on the tailgate, add to the suggestions that this SUV is capable of being taken offroad. Kia eventually replaced the Borrego in the U.S. with the Sorento family hauler, but it lived on in Korea and other markets. The Borrego had the misfortune of being released in 2008 as a gas-guzzling ‘ute with the Great Recession raging and gas prices hovering around $4 per gallon, pushing consumers toward smaller, more fuel-efficient options. It also won no plaudits for its looks. Our 2009 review noted, “The new Borrego breaks no new ground in terms of styling” and added that, given the unforeseen spike in gas prices at that time and its effect on SUV sales, “Kia will likely be happy if it can just eke out enough sales to break even on the project.” The new Mohave is undoubtedly more handsome and sculpted than the bland Borrego, looking like a beefier, more imposing version of the Telluride. Rumors have swirled that the Mohave will eventually return to the U.S. If that's true, weÂ’ll have to wait to see whether itÂ’s with this version or a future update.