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Porsche Taycan to Overboost to 700 HP

The Porsche Taycan, which is due to be officially revealed next week, got some track time with a reporter from Autocar.  The Taycan will be Porsche's offering to compete with the Tesla Model S, and like the Model S will come in a variety of flavors.  No matter which Taycan chosen, it will come with a 90 kWh battery pack capable of recharging up to 60 miles of range in just 4 minutes and free high speed charging for the first 3 years. 
On the faster of the Taycan flavors, there will be an overboost option that will hold for two and a half seconds that boost the horsepower to "well over" 700 hp and over 750 lb-ft of torque. That power will rocket the Taycan from 0-62 mph somewhere under 3 seconds. 
For those who miss the sounds of a car, the Taycan will offer something new.  It will electronically enhance the sound of the electric motors' whine and pump it into the cabin. 
Base price for the Taycan will be around the $75,000 mark, but expect the model with the overboost to be substantially more. 

  • ...coming from two electric motors...

Drew Dowdell

NHTSA Testing Mirrorless Cars

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has begun testing vehicles that have cameras in place of real mirrors.  The request to test such devices goes back to March of 2014 when the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers along with Tesla filed a petition with the NHTSA to get approval to install based rear or side vision cameras and screens  in their vehicles.  Daimler filed a similar petition in 2015 for their heavy duty trucks. Japan and Europe have already approved the technology. 
The first car with cameras replacing the side mirrors was the Lexus ES sold in Japan, followed by the Audi e-tron in Europe back in December.  Both vehicles are sold in the U.S. with standard mirrors instead of the cameras.  Honda's coming Honda e will have the technology standard when it goes on sale in Europe later this year.
Mirrorless systems are an area where the legislation has not yet caught up with the technology according to Mark Dahncke of Audi.

  • ...New tech to replace old tech...

Drew Dowdell

Toyota and Suzuki Form A New Alliance

Toyota and Suzuki have announce plans to formalize a technology alliance.  Suzuki will purchase approximately $454 million of Toyota stock while Toyota will acquire approximately $908 million in Suzuki shares for a 4.94 percent stake in the company. 
The two companies will share technology and platforms.  Toyota will provide technology for electrification while Suzuki will provide platforms for small vehicles.   Both companies will collaborate in the area of autonomous driving technology.
The two companies already have an agreement where Toyota will provide Suzuki badged variants of the RAV-4 and Corolla Estate for the European market, while a Suzuki model will be built at Toyota's Derbyshire plant in the UK. Toyota will get Suzuki's new compact vehicle engines for the Euro market, while both will co-develop hybrid vehicles for the Indian market. 
From the sounds of it, none of the technology swap will be seen here in the U.S., but it does make us wonder about the small car agreement that Toyota has with Mazda to build the Toyota Yaris.

  • ...A stock swap leading to tech swap...

Drew Dowdell

Polestar Opens The Factory Doors

Polestar has opened their factory in Chengdu, China to begin production of the Polestar 1.  The factory was designed to achieve a Gold status LEED certification.
The Polestar 1 is a luxury hybrid coupe that boasts over 600 horsepower and 1,000 nm (738 lb-ft) of torque and an electric only range of 93 miles. It is a limited production run of 500 vehicles per year and most of the early allocations are sold out. 
One other announcement came with the factory press release.  Polestar has filed for and received their World Manufacturing Identifier, basically their character in the VIN that identifies them.  This means that Polestar manufactured vehicles will not have a Volvo VIN but a Polestar VIN instead.  Polestar will still apply their performance technology know-how to higher performance Volvos. 

  • ...and gains something that sets is apart from Volvo...

Drew Dowdell

Land Rover Defender Leaks Out

The Land Rover Defender leaked out via an Instagram post from the set of a 007 movie, spotted without camouflage and clearly back from some mudding around. The Defender was supposed to debut at the Frankfurt International Auto Show next month. 
The previous Defender stopped production in 2016 after a 67 year run.  Emissions and safety regulations eventually forced it out of the markets.  The new Defender retains a boxy shape, but is now much more modern in appearence. The headlights have a hooded look in place of the previously circular units. 
The Defender will initially be offered in a five passenger configuration, but eventually will also get a shorter length model to compete more directly with the Jeep Wrangler.  Those wanting a larger version will be happy too as an 8-passenger version is also planned.  Power will come from a range of turbo 4-cylinders, turbo 6-cylinder, a plug-in hybrid, and even a 6-cylinder diesel.  One thing the Defender will not have is are solid axles, moving instead to a fully independent suspension. 
The Defender will likely end up in the US market as a 2021 model sometime in late 2020. 

  • ...Being used on a movie set...

Drew Dowdell

Chevy Increases Bolt Range

Chevrolet has announced that for 2020, the Chevrolet Bolt will have a longer range between charges. The new maximum range on a full charge is now 259, a 21 mile increase over previous year cars. 
Chevy achieved this by making a small change in the battery cell chemistry. This allowed the team to increase range without changing the structure of the battery pack. The change increases the battery pack's capacity from 60 kWh to 66 kWh.  The drivetrain itself has not changed and remains a 200 horsepower / 266 lb-ft unit. 
Chevy is also offering two additional colors for 2020, Cayenne Orange Metallic (additional cost option) and Oasis Blue.
 

  • ...Up 21 miles over previous years....

Drew Dowdell

Electrify American and EVgo Agree To Interoperability

Electrify America is working hard to build up the largest network of electric chargers in the US.  They have already partnered with Chargepoint, so that if you have an account with one company, you can use your account at either company's charging stations without additional fees.   Now the network has gotten even larger as an interoperability agreement has been reached with EVgo, one of the largest charging networks out there.  So now, if you have an Electrify America account, you can charge your EV with at least three different providers on a single account with no additional fees. 
Electrify America is the company that was formed from Volkwagen's dieselgate scandal and is hard at work deploying EV charging stations around the US, including 350-kW stations for fast charging. They are also working towards "plug and charge" capability which would allow the car to be charged without the need for a card at all. 
The current Electrify America map before adding EVgo or ChargePoint:
Related:
Porsche Offering Three Years Free Charging with Taycan

  • ...two of the largest EV charging networks join forces...

Drew Dowdell

Hyundai "45" Concept Teased for Frankfurt

Hyundai teased an image of its『45』Concept today ahead of the Frankfort International Motor Show. The car will be a fully electric vehicle and will be a symbolic milestone for Hyundai's future EV design.
The concept looks back to the brand's first model in the 1970s for inspiration and is visibly angular. The new design language is an evolution of Hyundai's "Sensuous Sportiness" design.  ‘Sensuous’ stands for enhanced emotional values that customers can experience through design, and ‘Sportiness’ is determined to implement those values through innovative mobility solutions.
The 『45』Concept will be unveiled on September 10th. 

  • ...A concept that looks to the past for the future...

Drew Dowdell

Audi RS 6 Avant Heading to the US

After 25 years on the market in other countries as Forbidden Fruit, the Audi RS 6 Avant will finally be coming to the U.S.  The RS 6 Avant comes with a 4.0 liter twin-turbo V8 that gets from naught to 62.1 mph in 3.6 seconds.  On the track, the wicked wagon is capable of a top speed of 155 mph. European specifications for the engine are 591 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque, however U.S. specs will be released closer to launch.  Putting that power to all four wheels is an eight-speed Tiptronic. The Quattro system actively splits torque between each of the rear wheels with the ability to send nearly all torque to one wheel. 
The RS comes with an adaptive air suspension with controlled damping that can be set to comfort or performance.  An optional suspension is offered, driver adjustable Dynamic Ride Control that helps with improved cornering and handling. Drivers can select from six drive modes, including RS1 and RS2 which are customizable. 
The exterior of the RS is specific to the car. The body of the car is about 1.6 inches wider than none RS Avants with flared wheel arches. 
The RS 6 Avant will arrive in dealerships in 2020. 
 

  • ...When you need to get groceries fast...

Drew Dowdell

GMC Canyon AT4 Coming for 2020

There's not much to show of it, but GMC announce that the GMC Canyon AT4 would be coming in early 2020 at an event in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.  The AT4 package is a ruggedized look that falls between the SLT and Denali in GMC's lineup. Right now, AT4 is only available on the GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra HD, and the 2020 GMC Acadia.  On the Acadia, the AT4 package is simply an appearance package. On the Sierra, it actually adds a 2-inch lift kit in and red recovery hooks.
GMC has promised that every vehicle in the lineup will get an AT4 package (though we doubt that is true for the Savana), leaving the Terrain, Canyon, and Yukon as the holdouts.  
The AT4 package on the Canyon is interesting because GMC already offers the All-Terrain package which adds an off-road suspension, transfer case shield, hill descent control, and all-terrain tires among the visual updates. For 2020, the All-Terrain package will be dropped and replaced with AT4.  The Chevy Colorado offers an off-road version in the ZR2 trim, but there is no equivalent for the GMC.  It could be that GMC is planning the AT4 to be more than the current All-Terrain, but not quite to the level of a ZR2.

  • ...Replaces the All-Terrain...

Drew Dowdell

Mercedes Unveils The First All-Electric Luxury Van

Following the Concept EQV at the Geneva Auto Show back in March, Mercedes-Benz has pulled the wraps off the production version ahead of the Frankfurt Auto Show coming up in September. 
The Mercedes says that the EQV will have a range of about 250 miles and rapid charging from 10 percent to 80 percent of the 100 kWh battery in less than one hour. Interior space is not compromised as the battery is stored under the floor of the vehicle.  Drivers can control the recuperation levels with paddles behind the steering wheel, with the strongest setting being akin to braking allowing single pedal operation. The drive unit is a 204 horsepower / 267 lb-ft of torque motor that drives the front wheels. Top speed is said to be 99 mph. 
Passengers can expect a lounge like interior with EQ specific décor and the MBUX infotainment system. Two wheelbases will be available. 
Sales in the US are an unknown at this time, but with the threat of tariffs looming, we highly doubt it. The only EV that Daimler offered in the US is the Smart Fourtwo, but that model and brand will be departing the US for China after 2019.  
 

  • ...Range, 250 miles....

Drew Dowdell

Pair of EVs Spells Death For Continental

Ford is preparing to launch a pair of mid-size crossover electric vehicles according to sources. One Ford and one Lincoln are code named CDX746 and CDX747 are similar in size to the Ford Edge and Lincoln Nautilus and both will be 2023 models.  The vehicles were originally destined for Ford's plant in Cuautitlan, Mexico but have been moved to Flatrock Assembly in Michigan just south of Detroit.   Flatrock Assembly is where the Ford Mustang and Lincoln Continental are currently built. 
These two EVs are slated for about 65,000 units annually and because of the move to Flatrock, essentially spell the end for the slow selling Lincoln Continental.... at least in the US.  It is possible that Lincoln could continue building the Continental in China and import it to the U.S., however tariff concerns which killed the Ford Focus Active from being imported from China could also filter over onto the Continental.

  • ...Continental moves over for two EVs in Flatrock...

Drew Dowdell

Polestar Launching In US In Fall

The Polestar brand, a sub-brand of Volvo, is launching in the U.S. this fall.  The first vehicle, the Polestar 1 is a 600 horsepower plug-in hybrid coupe, and if you have not already signed up for one, you are too late, the US allotment is already sold. 
The bigger player for Polestar is the Polestar 2 (pictured above), a 5 door fastback electric vehicle with 408 horsepower and 275 mile range. The Polestar 2 is based on Volvo's CMA platform that is used under the the Volvo XC40 crossover. It will be built in China at the beginning of 2020 and arriving in dealerships in Q2. Polestar 2 is the vehicle expected to define the brand going forward.
Later, for 2022, the Polestar 3 will arrive using the next generation of the SPA platform that is used under all Volvo's except the XC40. It will be a crossover coupe, but no word yet on the choice of power. 
Polestar hopes to be selling more than 100,000 units a year globally in 5 to 7 years. 

  • ...First of three vehicles...

Drew Dowdell

Audi Offering Seven Day Rental with New Purchases

Most Luxury dealerships offer a loaner car when a customer brings their vehicle in for service.  But Audi is offering something different for new owners of 2019 or newer Audi vehicles. 
Audi owns the rental car company Silvercar, a firm that exclusively offers silver Audis as their rental fleet. The new program called "Always Audi" allows purchasers of a new Audi seven days rental at no additional cost.   Customers can choose from the Audi A4, A5 Cabriolet, Q5, or Q7 from one of their 20 locations around the US.  All Audis at Silvercar come with GPS, Wifi, and SiriusXM at no additional cost. 
Of course, there are a few catches.  The rental days must be used within the first 3 years of ownership, and drivers are still responsible for fuel, airport fees, taxes, tolls, optional insurance, and other options. 
Now Audi owners can take "their" Audi along on vacation with them.

  • ...Why vacation without "your" Audi?....

Drew Dowdell

Infiniti Teases New Crossover Coupe

Infiniti today released a teaser image of an upcoming crossover coupe due to be shown at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance this year.  The QX55 will slot between the QX50 and QX60 in the lineup but will borrow heavily from the QX50 platform.  Not much is known about the crossover except that it will likely be a front-wheel drive based vehicle and feature Infiniti's new 2.0 liter variable compression engine. 
Infiniti says the QX55 will be in dealerships in Summer of 2020.

  • ...To be called the QX55

Drew Dowdell

Ram 1500 EcoDiesel Pricing Announced

Ram has announced the pricing on the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel. The lowest priced model will be a Quad Cab 2wd Tradesman model, starting at $38,585 including destination charges.  The EcoDiesel is a $4,995 option, making it about $3,000 more expensive than a V8 Hemi-eTorque. 
The EcoDiesel takes the crown as the half-ton diesel with the highest amount of torque, 480 lb-ft at 1,600 rpm, and highest towing capacity in the class at 12,560 lbs. Horsepower is rated at 260 at 3,600 rpm, an 8 percent increase over the previous version. Fuel economy ratings will be announced closer to release in Q4 this year.
The new EcoDiesel will be available in all trims and configurations including the Ram Classic and the Ram Rebel. 
Here is how the Ram EcoDiesel stacks up to the completion from GM and Ford. 
RAM - 260 horsepower / 480 lb-ft at 1,600 rpm
GM - 277 horsepower / 460 lb-ft at 1,500 rpm
Ford - 250 horsepower / 440 lb-ft at 1,750 rpm

Related:
GM Delays Diesel Launch; Expands 6.2 V8 Availability
GM Inline-6 Diesel Rated
Ford Releases Details on 2018 F-150 Diesel
Ram Press Release on Page 2


 
Pricing Announced for New 2020 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel
 
2020 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel pricing starts at $36,890, plus $1,695 destination New Ram 1500 EcoDiesel produces the highest half-ton diesel torque at 480 lb.-ft. and highest half-ton diesel towing capacity at 12,560 pounds Ram 1500 Rebel now available with EcoDiesel option for the first time Ram focused on establishing powertrain technology leadership in the truck segment Class-exclusive air suspension enhances fuel economy, improves ride control, off-road capability, ease of entry and exit, cargo-loading effort and features automatic load leveling August 16, 2019 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - Ram Truck today announced pricing for the 2020 Ram 1500 powered by the new 3.0-liter V-6 EcoDiesel engine with a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) starting at $­­­­­­36,890 for the Tradesman Quad Cab 2WD, plus $1,695 destination.
 
The EcoDiesel is a $4,995 option, or $3,000 premium over the 5.7-liter HEMI® V-8 eTorque ($3,300 on Tradesman, Big Horn/Lone Star, Rebel and Laramie base models).
 
“The Ram 1500 EcoDiesel offers the best torque and towing among all half-ton diesel trucks,” said Reid Bigland, Head of Ram Brand. “Now with a 10-year track record, the Ram brand has emerged as a truck powertrain technology leader. Overall, the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel has outstanding pick-up truck capability and is truly in a class of its own.”
 
The 2020 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel is available across all models and configurations, including a first-time offering in the Ram Rebel.
 
The Ram 1500’s all-new 3.0-liter V-6 EcoDiesel leads the half-ton pickup truck segment in torque with 480 lb.-ft. and diesel towing capability of 12,560 pounds.

The 2019 Ram 1500 Classic is also offered with the second-generation 3.0-liter EcoDiesel. Pricing for the Ram 1500 Classic EcoDiesel (Crew Cab 4x2) starts at $39,140, plus destination.
 
Fuel economy ratings will be announced closer to when trucks go on sale early in the fourth quarter of this year.
 
All-new EcoDiesel engine
The third generation of the turbocharged EcoDiesel V-6 delivers increased torque and horsepower, along with superb fuel economy and minimal levels of noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) to meet the needs of Ram 1500 owners.
 
In the 2020 Ram 1500, the 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V-6 is rated at a best-in-class 480 lb.-ft. of torque at 1,600 rpm, a 14 percent increase from the previous-generation EcoDiesel V-6, which peaks 400 rpm earlier. Horsepower increases 8 percent to 260 hp at 3,600 rpm.
 
Several significant changes contribute to the new EcoDiesel’s improved dynamic and fuel economy performance. A new-generation water-cooled turbocharger with variable geometry is more efficient and provides improved response as engine rpms rise and fall Redesigned intake ports to improve engine performance and fuel economy Introduction of a dual, high-pressure and low-pressure exhaust gas recirculation system, a first for a diesel engine in North America. The EcoDiesel’s existing high-pressure EGR, with cooling exhaust gases drawn from the exhaust manifold, is augmented with a low-pressure EGR system that draws exhaust gases after they exit the diesel particulate filter. The addition of cooler, low-pressure exhaust gas makes a significant contribution to improved fuel economy and lower oxides of nitrogen (NOx) The compression ratio is changed to 16.0:1 from 16.5:1, which helps reduce exhaust emissions, particularly NOx Redesigned high-pressure (29,000 psi/2,000 bar) direct-injection fuel injector nozzles Combustion chamber geometry optimized to improve fuel economy Redesigned aluminum-alloy pistons improve fuel economy. The redesigned pistons use thinner piston rings and coating on the side skits to reduce friction The piston pin is offset 0.3 degrees from the centerline to reduce “piston slap” against the cylinder wall, minimizing NVH The lower portion of the two-piece oil sump uses a sandwiched polymer/metal material to reduce NVH The Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system is 50 percent larger and incorporates a new-generation diesel oxidation catalyst with the Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) system to reduce NOx New-generation brake system vacuum pump with low-friction blades contributes to improved fuel economy The upgrades build on the EcoDiesel V-6’s attributes and performance that made it a winner of Wards 10 Best Engines award for three consecutive years.
 
The 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V-6 uses dual overhead camshafts (DOHC) with four valves per cylinder and a 60-degree angle between the cylinder banks. The block is cast with compacted graphite iron, which provides strength to dampen vibrations, but weighs less than grey cast iron. A compacted graphite iron bedplate adds rigidity to the block.
 
The EcoDiesel V-6 uses a forged steel crankshaft and connecting rods for strength and durability. The aluminum alloy pistons are cooled on the underside via oil jets. Heat-treated aluminum cylinder heads use individual bearing caps to reduce friction and minimize NVH. The chain-driven overhead camshafts employ roller-finger followers.
 
The 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V-6 is produced at the FCA Cento facility in Ferrara, Italy.
 
Ram 1500
The 2020 Ram 1500 is the no-compromise benchmark for durability, technology, efficiency and convenience with features never before offered in a pickup. The Ram 1500 features up to 12,750 pounds of towing capability (5.7-liter HEMI V-8) and 2,300 pounds of payload. Ram’s eTorque mild hybrid system delivers improved fuel efficiency in both V-6 (standard) and V-8 configurations. As a segment disrupter, the new Uconnect 4C with a massive 12-inch touchscreen leads the pickup world in technology, featuring split-screen capability, 360-degree camera views and exclusive content from SiriusXM with 360L. Active safety and security systems include adaptive cruise control, Forward Collision Warning, Blind-spot Monitoring and Ready Alert Braking. Class-leading ride and handling is accomplished via a class-exclusive link-coil rear suspension system with optional Active-level four-corner air suspension. The 2020 Ram 1500 also features twice the interior storage capacity versus the competition.
 
Unsurpassed powertrain warranty – five years/100,000 miles
The 2020 Ram 1500 is backed with a five-year /100,000-mile Powertrain Limited Warranty. The powertrain-limited warranty covers the cost of all parts and labor needed to repair a covered powertrain component – engine, transmission and drive system.
 
The standard three-year/36,000-mile Basic Limited Warranty provides bumper-to-bumper coverage for the Ram 1500, from the body to the electrical system.
 
Manufacturing
The 2020 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel is built at the Sterling Heights Assembly Plant (SHAP) in Sterling Heights, Michigan.
 
About Ram Truck Brand
In 2009, the Ram Truck brand launched as a stand-alone division, focused on meeting the demands of truck buyers and delivering benchmark-quality vehicles.
 
That focus leads Ram to design the industry’s most innovative, award-winning trucks, emphasizing durability, strength, technology and efficiency.
 
With a full lineup of trucks, including ProMaster and ProMaster City vans, the Ram brand builds trucks that get the hard work done and families where they need to go. From the no-compromise Ram 1500 that defines the future of pickup trucks with innovative design, the highest quality materials and class-exclusive technology, to the Ram Heavy Duty which combines the ability to out-power, out-tow and out-haul every single competitor with the segment’s most comfortable ride and handling, Ram is committed to product leadership.
 
Ram continues to outperform the competition and sets the benchmarks for: Most powerful: 1,000 lb.-ft of torque with Cummins Turbo Diesel Highest towing capacity: 35,100 lbs. with Ram 3500 Heaviest payloads: 7,680 lbs. with Ram 3500 Most luxurious: Ram Limited with real wood, real leather and 12-inch Uconnect touchscreen Best ride and handling with exclusive link coil rear and auto-level air suspensions Most interior space with Ram Mega Cab Most capable full-size off-road pickup – Ram Power Wagon Most-awarded light-duty truck in America Highest owner loyalty of any half-ton pickup Over the last 30 years, Ram has the highest percentage of pickups still on the road
Giving maximum effort all day, every day with confidence, the Ram Truck lineup steps forward with the full force of modern capability providing confidence-inspiring features and class-exclusive vehicle safety.

  • ...Lowest price diesel half-ton truck....

Drew Dowdell

Volkswagen Still Committed to Diesel

Volkswagen is introducing a new generation of diesel engines with the 2.0 TDI Evo. This new engine is said to greatly undercut the limits of the tough new Euro 6d-Temp emissions standards. Volkwagen posted an interview with Sebastian Willmann, the Head of Diesel Engine Development at Volkswagen. In that interview he says that VW was able to reduce fuel consumption by 0.4 L/100km compared to the previous engine and reduce CO2 emissions by 10g/km.  They did both of these things while also increasing power output. 
He further went on to explain that while there is a stigma surrounding diesel engines because of dieselgate, the diesel is still quite popular for its efficiency, range, and torque. Now, with this new engine, it is also substantially cleaner compared to prior engines.  He says that diesels will remain especially effective for vehicles that require a longer range or extra torque for towing.
These statements are in contrast to the direction that VW as a whole is taking in the segment of electric vehicles.  VW has committed billions of euros to the development of an entire EV range.  The first EV, the ID.3 is expected in Europe in early 2020 with top line models having a range of 342 miles on a charge. Reservations of the Volkswagen ID.3 topped 10,000 in its first 24 hours it was available. 

  • ...Not ready to throw in the oil soaked towel yet...

Drew Dowdell

Volvo Could Go Bigger And Smaller

Volvo is looking to expand, and not just in volume. They are looking to add models to their current crossover lineup at the top and bottom of the range.  
At the bottom could be a new XC20 (If we follow the pattern of XC40 and XC60). This car would compete directly with the Audi Q2 and BMW X1 and would ride on a shortened version of the company's CMA (Compact, Modular Architecture) Platform that underpins the Volvo XC40, Polestar 2, and a few Chinese branded vehicles.  This model is most likely to be the next one introduced to the Volvo lineup. It is possible that this car may be offered as a pure electric vehicle only. 
At the top end could be a new XC100. Built on the next generation of SPA (Scalable Product Architecture) that supports all the rest of Volvo's lineup except the XC40, it could be up to 18 feet long. While the Volvo would feature the standard set of Volvo powertrains, a large Polestar SUV, all electric, could also be built on this platform.
Interestingly, Volvo has also trademarked the XC50 name, meaning it could be thinking of some variation on either the XC40 or XC60.

  • ...Expansion of the SUV range in both directions...

Drew Dowdell

Officially Official: Corvette Starts at $59,995

Chevy released the pricing information on the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray today, keeping its promise of a sub-$60k price.  Pricing rings up at $59,995 including destination charge for the 1LT trim.  The Corvette comes standard with an eight-speed dual clutch transmission and an engine mounted dry sump oil system.
The 2LT  will start at $67,295 and adds things like a full color heads-up display, heated and ventilated seats, heated steering wheel, performance data recorder, navigation,  side blind zone alert, and rear cross traffic alert. 
The 3LT will start at $71,945, and builds on the 2LT with GT2 Seating with Napa and Mulan leather, custom leather-wrapped interior, suede-wrapped upper interior trim, and leather wrapped door panels. 
The price of the Z51 Performance package remains the same at $5,000 and includes performance exhaust, performance suspension, electronic limited-slip differential, front air splitter, rear spoiler, larger brakes with Brembo four-piston calipers, Michelin Pilot Sport 4S summer tires, and an enhanced cooling system. 
Customers can forgo the Z51 package and still get the performance exhaust for $1,195. This will boost the performance of the LT2 engine to 495 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque.  The front suspension lift system is optional on 2LT and 3LT trims for $1,495. 
Customers will be able to personalize their Corvette with 12 different exterior colors, 6 interior color themes, six seat belt colors, two stitching packages, and three seat choices. 
Capable of a top speed of 194 MPH on the track, the Corvette goes into production in Bowling Green, KY later in 2019.

  • ...including destination charge...

Drew Dowdell

Honda Pulling Production Out of Argentina

Honda is continuing its global pull back of production by announcing it will cease automotive manufacturing operations in Argentina next year.  This is after announcing the closure of its Swindon UK plant  and the pull back of production in the U.S., mainly of the Civic and Accord. Honda is in the midst of consolidating production to fewer facilities and using fewer platforms to produce their vehicles. 
Honda said it's plant in Campana, which produces the HR-V will focus solely on manufacturing motorcycles. Honda is in talks with the local union to potentially offer buyouts to those who will be affected by the cessation of automotive production. The total plant population is over 1,000 workers. Honda has been building motorcycles in Argentina since 2006 and automobiles since 2011.
 
 

  • ...Part of a global pull-back...

Drew Dowdell

Forbidden Fruit: Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet

Volkswagen has taken the wraps off the 2020 T-Roc Cabriolet ahead of the Frankfurt International Auto Show in September. Volkswagen says the T-Roc Cabriolet offers just the right combination of SUV flexibility and the open air experience of a convertible. The soft top opens in just 9 seconds, can open or close while the car is in motion up to 18.6 mph (30 km/h), and locks or unlocks electrically. 
On the safety front, the T-Roc Cabrio has roll-over protection. The system can detect a roll-over and the system springs upwards just behind the rear headrests. The windshield frame is also reinforced.
It comes with an optional digital cockpit that has an "Always-On" connectivity to the internet and Volkswagen services.
Two engines are available, a 1.0 three-cylinder engine with 113 horsepower or a 148 horsepower 1.5 liter four-cylinder. A 6-speed manual is standard on both engines while the more powerful engine also has a 7-speed DCT available as an option. 
Launching in Spring of 2020, the T-Roc Cabriolet remains Forbidden Fruit in the U.S. like its hard top brother. Volkswagen calls the vehicle in the pictures a "near-production" concept car, so expect some changes between now and launch. 
 


Related:
Volkswagen: No T-Roc For America, But We're Working On Something

  • ...Now another convertible crossover...

Drew Dowdell

Ford Extends Warranty on DCT transmissions

Ford is acknowledging the trouble prone Ford Powershift transmission and is extending the warranties on them.  The 6-speed transmission is a dual clutch setup meant to increase fuel economy in Ford's smallest cars.  While a solid idea on paper, customers reported a number of problems with them including slippage, hesitations while accelerating, jerkiness through the gears, difficulty downshifting, and premature wear on the clutch packs. 
The extended warranty will cover 2014 - 2016 model year Ford Focus, and 2014 - 2015 model year Ford Fiesta and will increase the warranty coverage of the clutch from five years/60,000 miles to seven years/100,000 miles.  Ford will also reimburse customers in this group who have already paid for clutch repairs out of pockets.  The transmission control module will also be warrantied to 10 years/150,000 miles. 
In addition to that, there is a small group of customers (16%) who need a software update which Ford will provide for free. 
Affected customers will receive a letter from Ford with instructions on how to proceed.

  • ....Certain Focus and Fiesta years covered...

Drew Dowdell

GM, Ford Brace For Economic Downturn; German Economy Shrinks

Ford and GM, the U.S.'s top two auto manufacturers are bracing themselves for the worst.  They have been running economic modeling to determin the steps they would take given a medium or severe recession in the US and across global markets.  General Motors has a stockpile of $18 billion in cash while Ford has $20 billion saved up.
GM is relying on deferring non-essential capital expenditures and a shift in production to lower cost vehicles as part of its plan to save costs in the event of a a strong downturn.  Ford says is is evaluating its future moves. 
Fears of a recession have plagued Wall St. most of 2019 while a trade war with China rages on.  Higher costs of materials due to tariffs is adding to the pain of weak product demand in the U.S., China, and Europe.  In Germany, Europe's biggest economy, growth shrank by 0.1 percent in Q2 2019 as trade conflicts and auto industry troubles weighed heavily on the economy.  Both exports and lagging demand at home have put a strain on German automakers already looking to slash costs. 
Today, a strong signal that a recession is looming appeared as the 10-year treasury yield dropped below the 2-year treasury yield while do Dow Jones Industrial Average sank over 450 points.  
Related:
Honda Slowing Production, Cutting Shifts
Nissan Profit Plunges 99%; 12,500 Job Cuts Eminent
Ford Europe Laying Off Another 12,000
Daimler Books First Quarterly Loss in Ten Years

  • ...Preparing for the worst...

Drew Dowdell

Acura Unveils Type S Concept

Acura has unveiled their Type S concept ahead of the Monterey Car Week kicking off in two days. This concept strongly previews the upcoming TLX and a Type S performance version. This time, Acura is promising greater acceleration to go with the Type S and not just better braking and handling.
The dash to axle ratio tells us that this concept is still front-wheel drive, as to be expected. But, adding to that better handling is almost certainly a version of Acura's SH-AWD. The short rear deck is there as is with most new sedan designs these days. The check-mark like tail lamps are a departure from the current Acura design theme while the headlight array is consistent with the current TLX. 
While this concept looks pretty close to production, we'll probably see a more production ready version of the TLX in the coming months, perhaps at the LA Auto Show. 





  • … First of two Type S variants coming...

Drew Dowdell

Jeep Releases "Death Wobble" Fix

Some Jeep Wrangler drivers have been experiencing a frightening phenomenon commonly known as the Jeep "Death Wobble".  While the term is dramatic, FCA says they know of no injuries or deaths caused by this experience. After the vehicle hits a bump at highway speed, the steering wheel can vibrate back and forth by up to five degrees. Drivers claim that the only way to correct the wobble is to speed up or slow down.
FCA says that the cause of this is a resonance in the front axle and dampers containing air bubbles.  Cold weather makes the oil in the dampers less viscous and air bubbles won't dissipate quickly enough. Jeep will remedy the issue by installing a new damper free of charge to any customer who wants one, but it is not recalling the vehicle.  All new Wranglers come with the new damper. 
There is currently a class action lawsuit pending that hopes to force FCA to recall the vehicle and calls the addition of a damper a band-aid. 

  • ...Mailings to owners were being sent starting Friday...

Drew Dowdell

Honda Upgrades Odyssey to a 10-speed

The minivan is not quite dead yet and the Honda Odyssey, one of the five remaining minivans still in production, is entering its 25th year on the market. Since its launch in 1995, the Odyssey has sold more than 2.7 million units. Honda is quick to point out that most of these are retail sales and not fleet.  The Odyssey has been the number one retail seller in the segment for 9 years running.
For 2020, all Odysseys will be upgraded to a new 10-speed automatic transmission. This is mated to the existing 280 horsepower 3.5 liter V6 driving the front wheels. 
Also for 2020, Honda is offering a $1500 25th Anniversary package that includes a chrome roof rack, body side moldings, chrome rear bumper protector, extra 25th Anniversary badges, illuminated sill plates, and for an additional $1,300, special 19-inch wheels.
The Honda Odyssey is built in Honda's Lincoln Alabama manufacturing plant alongside the Pilot, Passport, and Ridgeline. 

  • ...Also gets a 25th Anniversary Package...

Drew Dowdell

Mercedes-AMG One Delayed

Mercedes-AMG's ambitious plan to put Formula One technology onto the streets has reportedly hit some major snags and the project is delayed by at least two years.  The biggest issue appears to be the engine.  The rear engined carbon fiber racer is a  1.6 liter gasoline-hybrid with over 1,000 horsepower.  Four electric motors work in tandem, one for the turbocharger, one on the engine connected to the crankshaft, and two which drive the front wheels. This brings a maximum speed of over 350 km/h (217 mph).
Even with all of that hybrid technology, a major stumbling block surrounds how to take an F1 engine and make it meet emissions standards. Several exhaust gas cleaning systems must be added to the car in order to drive it legally. There is also the issue of requiring to warm the entire engine oil circuit before even starting the engine.  Both of these must be solved before the AMG One will be ready for production.
 

  • ...if you ordered, be ready to wait two more years...

Drew Dowdell

Daimler Facing Fines Up to €1 Billion For Diesel Cheating

The German motor vehicle authority (Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt) has determined that Mercedes-Benz has delivered vehicles that used illegal cheat software to achieve lower emissions of NOx and CO2 during controlled conditions and preset speeds.  This allowed the vehicles to meet emissions requirements during testing, but not during real world driving.  The vehicles in question are the C220 CDI and the E220 CDI.
Daimler has been ordered to recall up to 280,000 vehicles and the Stuttgart public prosecutor could slap a fine of up for €5000 per vehicle.  Back in June, the motor authority also ordered the recall of 60,000 GLK diesels.
Daimler also faces the authorities in the US for higher than allowed emissions from their diesel vehicles. 
Daimler has declined to comment while the investigation is ongoing. 

  • ...Software allowed lower NOx and CO2 emissions at pre-set speeds...

Drew Dowdell

Jaguar Land Rover Could Share BMW Platform

Jaguar Land Rover already has an agreement with BMW to use BMW sourced engines in future vehicles, but now a report from Autocar says that the company could use a BMW sourced platform for some future small vehicles as well.  Jaguar wants to increase its "Pace" lineup with an "A-Pace" and "B-Pace", small crossover coupes that would use BMW's front-wheel drive FAAR platform that underpins the X1, X2, and eventually the entire Mini linup. 
Over at Land Rover, there is a possible revival of the Freelander based on the same FAAR platform to fill the entry level spot in the Land Rover showroom. Even the larger Evoque and Discovery Sport could move to FAAR when their current runs are up mid to late next decade. Naturally, as all new platforms are today, they are engineered to accept electrification in the form of electric assist, hybrids, or even pure electric powertrains. 
If all this comes to fruition, vehicles using the FAAR platform could top 1.5 million in global sales annually. 

  • ...Some new cross-channel sharing in the face of Brexit...

Drew Dowdell

First of Many BMW Model Cuts

At the end of July we told you that BMW was planning a slew of model cuts in an effort to save some cash. The first of those cuts has just arrived, for 2020, there will be no 3-Series GT, 6-Series GT, or 6-Series Gran Coupe.  This announcement effectively kills the 6-series lineup entirely which the 8-series has taken over for.  The GT versions of the 3 and 6-Series never caught on and visually looked ungainly. 
That enough would be perfectly good enough reason for canceling the cars, but the real reason has to do with the markets massive shift towards SUVs.  Already the X3 is outselling the entire 3-series lineup on a regular basis, so keeping such a low volume variant around is probably not in the best interest of a company wishing to cut costs.  We'll update you as we find out about more cuts to the BMW line.
 

  • ...the reaper is prowling...

Drew Dowdell

Honda Slowing Production, Cutting Shifts

Honda is cutting back on production at two of its U.S. plants in anticipation of a slide in sales.  The Marysville, Ohio plant and Honda of Indiana are the two plants being affected.  The cuts primarily come to the Accord and Civic built in Marysville. Marysville operates two lines and one shift at Marysville on Line 1 will be suspended temporarily. That line produces the Accord, CR-V, ILX, and TLX, but the cuts there will mostly impact Accord.  Acura production is unchanged at this time.  The CR-V is also produced in Indiana so some production can be shifted from Marysville to there. This news comes after the announcement of the closure of Honda's Swindon UK manufacturing plant which builds the CR-V for Europe and the Honda Civic Hatchback and Civic Type-R for the U.S.
Honda sales are down 0.9% for the year, but the Accord has slipped 5.9% July YTD, and the Civic which is Honda's second most popular model has slipped 2.1% July YTD. CR-V, which is Honda's biggest seller is also down 0.9%, but a light refresh is in the works for the CR-V and should debut soon.
Honda says these adjustments are to help maintain Honda's sales discipline and to flex to the shift in market demand away from sedans. Honda has already announced they are looking to trim fat from their model lineup and have fewer regionally specific models. They will also be reducing the number of variations available to one third of what they are today.  These plans are to be completed by 2025.

  • ...Civic and Accord most effected...

Drew Dowdell

Rumorpile: Will Mini Go All Electric?

It's no secret that Mini's fortunes have not been good lately. In the first half of this year, Mini has only moved 17,583 cars of its five model lineup in the U.S. Parent company BMW needs to do something. Last month, Mini unveiled the all-electric version of the Mini-Cooper with a range between 146 and 167 miles.  Now, a report out from Automobile Magazine says that Mini has canceled the internal combustion engine versions for the entire model range in the next generation of cars. 
Starting in 2023, Mini will use a skateboard style chassis to underpin the entire lineup.  There will be a new downsized mini... a MiniMini, a more compact 3-door version, and a Mini crossover.  All would be front-wheel drive and offer 35-kWh or 50-kWh battery packs.  Part of the development is being done by China's Great Wall Motors. 
The electric Minis will be built in China with no word on other manufacturing locations.  This follows Daimler's strategy on SMART to make it an all EV brand and build it in China for Chinese consumption. 

  • ...could follow the path of SMART, for better or worse...

Drew Dowdell

2020 Buick Encore GX Will Get Two Three-Cylinder Engine Offerings

When the Buick Encore GX debuted in late May 2019, it was originally reported that it would have a Turbo-4 cylinder with more power than the current Buick Encore.  That turned out to be both true and false.  The engine will be more powerful than the current Encore, however it will be in 3 cylinder form rather than 4-cylinder.  GM Authority uncovered the fleet order guides yesterday and published the stats.
The Buick Encore GX will be offered with a 1.2 liter three-cylinder turbo that produces 137 horsepower at 5000 RPM and 166 lb-ft of torque at 2500 RPM. That is 1 less horsepower but 18 lb-ft more torque than the current base 1.4 liter turbo four. The 1.2-liter will only be available in front-wheel drive trims and paired only with a CVT.
The step up engine is a 1.3-liter three-cylinder turbo that produces 155 horsepower at 5600 RPM and 174 lb-ft of torque at 1500 rpm. That compares roughly the same to the offered but not often ordered 1.4-liter direct injected turbo offered in the Encore Sport Touring at 153 horsepower at 5600 rpm and 177 lb-ft at 2000 - 4000 rpm. This engine is offered with a CVT on front-wheel drive models and with a 9-speed automatic on all-wheel drive models. 
The Encore GX is the slightly bigger brother to the Encore, offering five more cubic feet of cargo room.  Built in China, the Encore GX will arrive in dealerships this fall. 

  • ...for an all three-cylinder lineup...

Drew Dowdell

Volkswagen Golf R Dropped for 2020

As we reported in May, Volkswagen is making big cuts to the Golf lineup in the US.  Already announced for end of production in 2019 are the Golf Sportwagen and Golf Alltrack. 
For 2020, the current base Mk7 Golf returns and will be offered in just one trim, called the Value Edition that includes features like Keyless entry, Wifi, heated seats, and 16-Inch alloy wheels while the GTI will come in S and SE trims. Missing from the 2020 lineup is the Golf R.  Volkswagen has confirmed to Motor Authority that the Golf R has reached end of production for the current generation. 
The Mk8 generation will likely see the base Golf removed from the US lineup and the GTI and Golf R will be the only entries.  We'll see the Mk8 generation Golf introduced in the fall of this year for European production in 2020, but the U.S. won't see the new version of the Golf/GTI at dealerships until the 2021 model year. 

  • ...No official word as yet on a potential return...

Drew Dowdell

Lordstown Deal In Jeopardy

Back in early May, we reported that electric truck maker Workhorse was in talks with General Motors to buy the shuttered Lordstown Assembly plant that formerly built the Chevrolet Cruze.  The plan seemed founded more on hopes and dreams rather than actual financial reality.  Workhorse's only model, the W-15 is a truck with an 80 mile range and a built in range extender, has not exactly been climbing the sales charts.   In fact, the company booked only $6,000 in sales in the 2nd quarter of 2019, roughly $70 per day.  Following that report, the company's stock plunged 35%. Deliveries of the truck are currently on hold and will resume in the 4th quarter this year. There is currently a $70 Million backlog of orders to fill.
Hopes of a solution for Lordstown coming from Workhorse are dim, but there is one thing that could save the deal: a $6.3 Billion contract from the US Postal Service to build the next generation of mail trucks, though Tom Colton, a spokesman for Workhorse said that the Lordstown deal isn't contingent on the contract from the USPS. 
Under the proposed Lordstown deal, a new company would be formed called Lordstown Motors Corp. which would license the Workhorse technology to produce vehicles based on the W-15 model.  Workhorse itself would own a minority stake in the company. 
The UAW is still in talks with General Motors to reopen the plant and assign new product to it.

  • ...Workhorse revenue and stock plummet...

Drew Dowdell

Nissan Titan XD Loses Diesel and Single Cab

A little over a week ago we told you that Nissan was going to start cutting parts of its model lineup.  Some of the low hanging fruit for Nissan are the variants of the Nissan Titan. Nissan Titan sales are down 22.6 percent, selling only 18,026 copies in the first half of 2019.
The biggest news is that Nissan will be killing off the Cummins diesel option for the Titan XD. The 5 liter turbocharged  V8 produces 310 horsepower and 555 lb-ft of torque.  For 2020, the Titan XD will be powered solely by the 5.6 liter gasoline V8 unless Nissan has a card up their sleeve to offer something else.
Also going away will be the standard cab variants of the Titan and Titan XD, leaving just the extended cab and crew cab in the lineup.
For 2020, the truck will be receiving a light refresh. The exterior is getting a face lift and the interior is lightly updated plus gaining a new infotainment system with a larger screen. 
We reviewed the 2016 Nissan Titan XD with the Cummins diesel back in May 2016 and came away impressed but confused by its place in the market. Take a read to find out why. 

  • ...early cuts for next year...

Drew Dowdell

Review: 2019 Buick Regal GS

Expectation can be a very dangerous thing. You come into something thinking it will blow your mind and more often than not, it comes up short. That’s how I felt during the first few days into a loan of a 2019 Buick Regal GS. What was being presented didn’t match up with my experience. But over the week I had the vehicle, it began to grow on. That isn’t to say some issues need to be addressed.
At first glance, you might think Buick decided to stick with a sedan shape. But the sloping rear hatch gives away its true identity as a Sportback. This helps give the impression that the Regal is sporty, helped further by short overhangs. By adding small touches such as large front air intakes, GS-specific 19-inch wheels. Brembo front brake calipers finished in Red, and a small lip spoiler, the GS transforms the Regal into looking like a red-blooded sports sedan. 
The interior sadly doesn’t match up with what is being presented on the outside. While there was some effort to make the GS stand out with faux carbon-fiber trim, special sport seats, and GS badging, it doesn’t quite match with what is being presented outside. Not helping are some cheap plastics littered throughout the Regal GS’ interior. If this was a standard Regal, I may have given it a slight pass. But considering this GS carries a price of almost $43k, it becomes a big issue. The interior does redeem it somewhat with a logical and simple layout. No one had any complaints about whether the controls were confusing or hard to reach.
Let’s talk about the front seats, The Regal GS comes fitted with racing-style front seat with aggressive side bolstering and faux holes towards the top where the belts for a harness would go into. This design seems more at home in a hardcore Corvette than a Buick. Before you start thinking that the seat design only allows a small group of people to fit, Buick has fitted adjustable bolstering to allow a wide set of body types to sit comfortably. With this and other power adjustments, I was able to find a position that suited me. Over a long drive, the seats were able to provide the right amount of support and comfort.
The back seats don’t get the same “race car” treatment as the front, but they do offer ample head and legroom for most passengers. Cargo space is quite impressive with 31.5 cubic feet with the seats up and 60.7 when folded. The Kia Stinger I drove back in January pales in comparison with 23.3 and 40.9 cubic feet.
The Regal GS features an eight-inch touchscreen with the new Buick Infotainment 3 system. As I mentioned in my Silverado/Sierra 1500 review, the new system is worlds better than Intellilink. The interface has been cleaned up with simpler graphics and fonts that are much easier to read. Also seeing noticeable improvements is the overall performance. The system is much faster when bringing up different functions or crunching a route on the optional navigation system. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and OnStar 4G LTE round off the system. 
With the effort Buick has put in, you might have the feeling that the Regal GS has something special under the hood. That isn’t the case. Under the hood of the GS is GM’s venerable 3.6L V6 with 310 horsepower and 282 pound-feet. While the V6 packs 40 more horsepower than the 2.0L turbo-four from the last-generation model, it is also down 13 pound-feet. This absence becomes apparent when you decide to sprint away from a stoplight or exiting a corner as you need to work the engine to get that rush of power. A numb throttle response doesn’t help. If you resist from attack mode, the V6 reveals a quiet and refined nature. But again, you will need to work the engine when merging or making a pass.
Before someone shouts “put a turbo on it”, Buick cannot do that as there isn’t enough space in the engine bay due to the design of the platform. We’ve known about this issue since 2016 when Holden was gearing up to launch the Commodore - its version of the OpelVauxhall Insignia.
The nine-speed automatic transmission goes about its business with unobtrusive shifts when going about your daily errands, but offers up snappy shifts when you decide to get aggressive. A glaring omission on this sports sedan is the lack of paddle shifters. 
Fuel economy for the 2019 Regal GS is 19 City/27 Highway/22 Combined. I saw an average of 20 during the week. This can likely to be attributed to the test vehicle having under 1,000 miles on the odometer. 
On paper, the Regal GS’ handling credentials seem top-notch with Continuous Damping Control (CDC) system and a GKN all-wheel drive system featuring a twin-clutch torque-vectoring rear differential. The latter allows a varying amount of power sent to each rear wheel to improve cornering. In the real world, the GS is more Grand Tourer than Gran Sport. While the sedan shows little body roll, its reflexes are slightly muted due to a nearly 3,800 pound curb weight. The steering provides a decent amount of weight when turning, but don’t expect a lot of road feel. What about that AWD system? For the most part, you really won’t notice working unless you decide to push the limits or practice your winter driving skills in a snowy and empty parking lot. 
Thanks to the CDC system, the Regal GS’ ride is surprisingly smooth. With the vehicle in Tour, the suspension glides over bumps and imperfections. The ride begins to get choppy if you One area that I’m glad Buick is still focusing on is noise isolation. Road and wind noise is almost non-existent. 
The 2019 Buick Regal GS is a case of expectations being put too high. Despite what the exterior and sports seats of the interior may hint at, this isn’t a sports sedan like a Kia Stinger GT or something from a German luxury brand. But my feelings began to change when I thought of the GS as being more of a grand tourer. It has the ingredients such as a refined powertrain, a suspension that can be altered to provide either a comfortable or sporty ride; and minimizing the amount of outside noise.
There lies the overall problem with Regal GS as Buick doesn’t quite know what it wants to be. Does it want to be a sport sedan or a luxury sedan with grand tourer tendencies? This confusion will likely cause many people to look at something else which is a big shame.
How I Would Configure a 2019 Buick Regal GS.
My particular configuration would be similar to the vehicle tested here with the Driver Confidence Package #2, Sights and Sounds, and Appearance packages. The only change would be adding the White Frost Tricoat color, which adds an additional $1,095 to the price. All together, it comes out to $44,210.
Alternatives to the 2019 Buick Regal GS:
Kia Stinger: The big elephant in the room when talking about the Regal GS. For a similar amount of cash, you can step into the base GT model with its 365 horsepower twin-turbo V6 and rear-wheel drive setup (AWD adds $2,200). I came away very impressed with the styling, performance on tap from the V6, and handling prowess. Downsides include the interior design being a bit too minimalist and the ride being a bit rough. Volkswagen Arteon: The other dark horse to the Regal GS. There is no doubt that the Arteon is quite handsome with flowing lines and sleek fastback shape. Having sat in one at the Detroit Auto Show earlier this year, I found it to be very roomy and upscale in terms of the interior materials. I hope to get some time behind the wheel in the near future to see how it measures up in handling. Disclaimer: Buick Provided the Regal GS, Insurance, and One Tank of Gas
Year: 2019
Make: Buick
Model: Regal
Trim: GS
Engine: 3.6L V6
Driveline: Nine-Speed Automatic, All-Wheel Drive
Horsepower @ RPM: 310 @ 6,800 
Torque @ RPM: 282 @ 5,200
Fuel Economy: City/Highway/Combined - 19/27/22
Curb Weight: 3,796 lbs
Location of Manufacture: Rüsselsheim Germany
Base Price: $39,070
As Tested Price: $43,115 (Includes $925.00 Destination Charge)
Options:
Driver Confidence Package #2: $1,690.00
Sights and Sounds Package: $945.00
Appearance Package: $485.00

  • ...Identity Crisis in Car Form...

William Maley

Protean 360+ brings in the age of mobility pods to the dense city and beyond.

Protean Electric is proud to introduce their latest innovation to the auto world, the Protean 360+. A super-efficient, fully integrated in-wheel motor that brings 922lb-ft of torque or 1250Nm with 107hp or 80kW of power per wheel. This give the mobility solution a total of 428 hp or 320 kW of power with 3,688 lb-ft or 5,000 Nm of torque to move the auto.
Urban mobility has never had a better option for ultimate maneuverability with the Protean 360+ delivering the following:
Limitless 360-degree steering provides exceptional vehicle maneuverability. Pneumatic ride-height control enables 'kneeling' for stepless curb-to-vehicle access. Patent-pending quad-pivot lower wishbone design allows ultra-compact suspension setup. Fully integrated in-wheel motor delivers power with maximum efficiency. Module enables front, rear and side access into vehicles. Single module design is common across all four corners of the vehicle. Transport-as-a-service urban mobility is gaining momentum and with it a new class of urban transport auto's is possible with the Protean 360+ solution.

P_English_MASTER-_compressed.mp4

  • …An advanced new powertrain for urban transport...

G. David Felt

Free Supercharging is Back For Model S and X Buyers

After seeing its sales slide during the first quarter of this year, Tesla needed to come up with an incentive to help boost sales of the sagging Model-X and Model-S.   In that effort, Tesla is returning the offer of free SuperCharging on all Model-S and Model-X sold.  The plan was last offered in 2018 and then ended after Elon Musk called the plan unsustainable. 
Telsa has been making changes to their lineup and pricing almost monthly since the beginning of 2019, so this could be a short term offer or it could stick around longer. Tesla buyers who already purchased their car are out of luck though, the offer only extends to new purchases. 

  • ...no telling how long the incentive may last...

Drew Dowdell

Ram 1500 Classic to Live On

The Ram Classic could live on indefinitely as long as it make business sense says FCA CEO Michael Manley.  At an investors meeting, Manley suggested that it might even get an update. Ram recently introduced a new Warlock package on the 1500 Classic, indicating their willingness to invest in the aging platform.
Ram currently doesn't have a mid-size offering in its stable, and without one on the horizon, the Ram 1500 Classic fills the niche of a lower priced truck.  The base Tradesman model rings up at $29,340 and can be configured all the way up to a Big Horn with a 5.7 liter Hemi V8 at $46,240. That contrasts with the new Ram 1500 which starts at $35,135.
One thing keeping the Classic around has done is allowed the RAM to creep ahead of the Chevrolet Silverado in the truck sales race, moving to the number two spot in market share for this class of truck. 
 

  • ...fills in for a midsize...

Drew Dowdell

2020 Nissan Versa Pricing Released

The Nissan Versa once held the dubious title of being the cheapest new car you could buy.  Now, with the all new 2020 Nissan Versa, Nissan hopes to bring the sub-compact a little bit more premium and with that the Versa goes up in price.   Now coming only in a sedan (The Kicks has replaced the Versa Note), the Versa wears one of the more stylish exteriors for the sub-compact class. The engine is a next generation 1.6 liter 4-cylinder, with an increase in horsepower to 122.  Fuel economy is rated at 32 city / 40 highway / 35 combined. 
Those of you who prefer to row your own gears instead of letting Nissan's CVT do it are limited to buying the base model Versa S, starting at $14,730. Above that, all models come with the CVT.
Model/Engine/Transmission
 
Versa S 1.6 5MT
$14,730 USD
Versa S 1.6 Xtronic
$16,400 USD
Versa SV 1.6 Xtronic
$17,640 USD
Versa SR 1.6 Xtronic
$18,240 USD
 
Destination and Handling $895.
These prices are roughly a $2,000 increase over the current car. But you do get a lot more for your money.   Nissan Safety Shield 360 is standard on the SV and SR. Available equipment includes heated front seats, 60/40-split fold-down rear seat, and Automatic Climate Control, bigger wheels, and intelligent cruise control. 
The 2020 Nissan Versa is available at dealerships soon. 
 

  • ...No longer the cheapest you can buy...

Drew Dowdell

Acura Bringing Back Type-S With New Concept

Acura will be debuting a Type-S concept at Monterey Car Week, one of the top gatherings for automotive enthusiasts.  The concept previews the return of the Type-S in the Acura lineup.
Type S has been the top of the performance line for Acura. The prior Type-S cars were the 2001 - 2003 3.2CL Type S, 2002 - 2003  3.2TL Type S, 2002 - 2006 RSX Type-S, 2007 - 2008 TL Type-S.  Type-S will join Acura's A-Spec trim in the lineup. 
 

  • ...Previews Type-S variants across the line...

Drew Dowdell

July Sales Figures

Quarterly:
Ford Motor Company - Not Reported
General Motors Co. - Not Reported
Tesla - Not Reported
FCA US LLC - Not Reported
Monthly:
Audi of America -  Up 0.8% for the month, Down 5% for the year
BMW of North America -  Down 1.7% for the month, Down 1.2% for the year
Genesis Motor America - Not Reported
Honda Motor Co. -  Up 1.9% for the month, Down 0.9% for the year
Hyundai Motor America -  Up 12.13% for the month, Up 3.10% for the year
Infiniti USA - Down 11.2% for the month, Down 12.5% for the year
Jaguar Land Rover North America - Up 5% for the month, Up 5% for the year
Kia Motors America - Up 0.6% for the month, Up 3.3% for the year
Mazda North American Operations - Down 3.5%  for the month, Down 13.9% for the year
Mercedes-Benz USA - 19.5% for the month, Down 4.0% for the year
Mitsubishi Motors North America -  Down 13.4% for the month, Up 3.2% for the year
Nissan Group - Down 9.1% for the month, Down 8.3% for the year
Porsche Cars North America Inc. -  Up 23.3% for the month, Up 5.3% for the year
Subaru of America, Inc. - Up 7.9% for the month, Up 5.6% for the year
Toyota Motor North America - Up 0.2% for the month, Down 2.6% for the year
Volkswagen of America -  Up 2.2% for the month, Up 6.1% for the year
Volvo Cars of North America, LLC - Up 2.0% for the month, Up 4.7% for the year

Brands (Quarterly):
Alfa Romeo - Not Reported
Buick -  Not Reported
Cadillac -  Not Reported
Chevrolet - Not Reported
Chrysler - Not Reported
Dodge - Not Reported
Ford - Not Reported
Fiat - Not Reported
GMC - Not Reported
Jeep - Not Reported
Lincoln - Not Reported
Ram Trucks - Not Reported
Tesla - Not Reported

Brands (Monthly):
Acura - Down 3.7% - 12,759 MTD / 86,526 YTD
Audi - Down 0.3% - 19,409 MTD / 101,440 YTD
BMW - Up 4.7% - 24,842 MTD / 199,865 YTD
Genesis - Not reported
Honda - Up 2.5% - 128,537 MTD / 831,765 YTD
Hyundai - Up 12.3% - 57,340 MTD / 390,668 YTD
Infiniti - Down 11.2% - 8,660 MTD / 71,718 YTD
Jaguar - Up 7% - 2,020 MTD
Kia - Up 0.6% - 53,405 MTD / 358,249 YTD
Land Rover -  Up 4% - 6,456 MTD
Lexus - Down 1.5% - 25,025 MTD  / 160,760 YTD
Mazda - Down 3.5% - 23,292 MTD / 161,847 YTD
Mercedes-Benz - Up 22.9% - 24,612 MTD / 172,008 YTD
Mercedes-Benz Vans - Down 1.5% 2,878 MTD / 18,903 YTD
MINI - Down 34.2% - 2,827 MTD / 20,410 YTD
Mitsubishi - Down 13.4% - 8,613 MTD / 79,710 YTD
Nissan - Down 8.9% - 90,220 MTD / 744,198 YTD
Porsche - Up 23.3% - 4,956 MTD / 35,213 YTD
Smart - Down 45.6% - 56 MTD / 552 YTD
Subaru - Up 7.9% - 64,106 MTD / 403,631 YTD
Toyota - Up 0.4% - 184,179 MTD / 1,200,552 YTD
Volkswagen - Up 2.2% - 31,188 MTD / 215,796 YTD
Volvo - Up 2.0% - 8,795 MTD / 58,915 YTD

  • ...Who got jolly green and who got coal for Christmas in July?...

Drew Dowdell

Porsche Taycan Pre-Orders Top 30,000

It hasn't even been officially unveiled yet, but the Porsche Taycan has already secured more than 30,000 pre-orders, 10,000 more than the initial estimates. Porsche initially set production at 20,000 per year but later raised it to 40,000 per year. The extra €2,500 deposits support this raise in production.  Porsche has been recruiting for 1,500 new positions to support the manufacturing process.  If Porsche does sell 40,000 Taycans in the first year, it will eclipse Porsche's famous 911 in sales.
The Taycan is Porsche's EV rival to the Tesla Model S. Porsche is installing fast chargers at all of its dealerships in the U.S. and Europe that can add 62 miles of range in just 4 minutes. The Taycan's total range is around 310 miles.  In addition, the first 3 years of charging will be free at Electrify America charging stations.
The Taycan's starting price is expected to be arount $90,000. 
 

  • ...Already 10,000 more than the initial planned figure...

Drew Dowdell

BMW Planning Model Lineup Cuts

Cutting models from lineups seems to be the order of the day lately.  Automakers like Nissan, General Motors, and Mercedes Benz, are in the process of hatcheting the heck out their lineups. Now comes the news from BMW.
BMW has been struggling to make money on vehicles less than €40,000, due to fears of another global recession, a marked slowdown in the automotive sector, and Trump inspired trade wars, BMW is looking to cull options and models from their lineup.  Gone will be many convertible variants, including the next Z4, the 2-series, 8-series (coupe and convertible). Also pushing up the daisies will be the 7-series standard wheelbase (Not offered in the US), the 1-series 3-door, the 2-series Gran Tourer, and 3-series GT.  Even the BMW X2 could get the scythe.  On the electric front, the i3 and i8 will be phased out due to their use of expensive carbon fiber, in place they will get much more conventional EV replacements, including a fully electric X3. 
As far as Mini goes, Mini's future development is being handled by Great Wall Motors for the Mini three-door and 5-door. The Countryman is based on the X1. Mini's future is shaky as the brand continues to fail to bring up its sales numbers. It also has a great number of variants for a small brand, so expect to see some of those reduced. 
It seems no brand is safe from the global automotive pull back. 

  • ...struggling to make money on cars under €40,000...

Drew Dowdell

New Black Edition Trim Tops the Honda Pilot Line

For 2019, the most well equipped Honda Pilot you could buy was the Elite trim. That level of Pilot brought on extra trimmings like panoramic roof, standard All-Wheel drive with variable torque management, heated and ventilated front seats, heated steering wheel, heated 2nd row, and other trappings.  For 2020, Honda is building on that trim and elevating it higher with the Black Edition. Based on the Elite trim, the Black Edition comes exclusively in Crystal Black Pearl Paint, black painted 20-inch alloy wheels, and blackout treatments that remove the exterior chrome trim. Inside, there is a red accent to the perforated front and second row seating surfaces along with red accent stitching. 
The Black Edition trim starts at $49,620, a $1500 increase over an equivalent Elite trim.  After a destination charge of $1,095, you'll be paying over $50k for a Pilot. That's pricey, but a Chevrolet Traverse High Country will run you $54k and a Ford Explorer Platinum will easily touch $60k. The most direct price competitors would be the new Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade, which come in a couple thousand less than the Honda Pilot Black Edition. 
In addition to the new trim, the price of the Pilot goes up by $100 for front-wheel drive trims and $200 for all-wheel drive trims.  The 2020 Pilot begins arriving in dealerships today.

  • ...More Elite than Elite...

Drew Dowdell

Nissan Readies the Guillotine for its Model Lineup

There's one disadvantage to being partially owned by the French, they know how to cut things off when they need to. We reported last week that due to lagging sales and plunging profits, Nissan was readying to layoff 12,500 employees globally, or 9% of their global workforce. It seems that other cuts are on the way as well, though we may not see as much of it here in the U.S.
Along with the 9% cut in jobs will be around 10% of its global lineup as well.  First to go will be the low-end models in developing markets like India. Their overseas brand Datsun could see the bulk of the cuts, but the US will lose models as well. Expect coupes and hatchbacks to be the first to go, the Versa hatchback for example will not be returning for 2020, replaced by the more crossover-like Kicks. Which coupe might die? The Nissan 370Z, the Nissan GT-R, and the Infiniti Q60 are prime targets.  Deliveries of the Infiniti Q60 are down 48.8% as of June. In Sedan-Land, the Maxima fell 30% and the Altima, which is all-new, is down 12.1%. 
But it isn't just cars that could get kicked to the curb.  The Nissan Titan sales are down 22.6%, selling a mere 18,026 copies in the first half of this year. This trails even the slow selling Toyota Tundra by some 36,000 units. The Murano is down 33% year to date. 
So if you're wondering which models may have their head in the Guillotine, take a look at our Sales Figure Ticker for Nissan for June and put a big red question mark on them. 

  • ...It's not just employees that will be leaving Nissan...

Drew Dowdell

Corvette C8 Almost Sold Out Already

When the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette debuted a week and a half ago, there was some speculation that buyers might not go for it because of its mid-engine design or its outworldly styling.  Well the nay-sayers might just have to start cooking up their crow.   According to Michael Simcoe, GM's Design Chief,  the orders have nearly hit the first year of production numbers.  "It's nearly sold out. It's so close that it's bound to be sold out soon." Simcoe said.
Now the caveat is that Simcoe has not revealed what the planned production numbers will be, so we have no idea if it will sell at a higher or lower rate than the C7 Corvette. 
The 2020 Corvette Stingray comes with a mid-mounted LT2 V8 making an SAE certified 495 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque when equipped with an optional exhaust.  In Z51 form, the car can hit 60 mph in less than 3 seconds. Pricing will start under $60,000.

  • ...better get your deposit in soon...

Drew Dowdell

Chevy Malibu to die after 2024

The Chevrolet Malibu will follow the likes to the Ford Fusion and Chrysler 200 by following them into that great nameplate junkyard in the sky after 2024 according to a report by Automotive News.  There is a possibility of an electric successor to the Malibu, but nothing is certain at this point.  An electric replacement would fit with GM's timeline to build 20 new EVs by 2023.   Before the ax falls in 2024, the Malibu could get one last face lift for the 2022 model year to help it through the final stages before retirement.  The Malibu is built in the Fairfax KS plant where the Cadillac XT4 is built.

This follows on reports that the Chevrolet Camaro will also die in 2023.  Other cars that are up for the chopping block are the Sonic after 2020 and the Spark after 2021.  The Bolt and Equinox will get a freshening next year.  With the Impala, Cruze, and Volt already dead, these changes will leave the Chevy brand without any sedans after 2024. With the Buick Regal also possibly canceled once the contract with PSA runs out, it may be that the only sedans available from General Motors will be from Cadillac. 

  • ...Malibu follows the Fusion and 200 into that great junkyard in the sky....

Drew Dowdell

Kia Builds One-Off Stinger GT420 Track Car

The first Kia Stinger in the UK, a homologation test car, was saved from the crusher.  As a pre-production car, it couldn't be sold to the public.  As it sat in Kia's headquarters showroom, the Product and Press relations team were scheming up ways to keep the HiChroma Red GT S.  After all, during its testing, it has racked up 10,000 miles, an unusually high amount for a test mule. 
Instead of being sent to the crusher, Kia brought in an engineering team from Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Centre in Rüsselsheim, Germany. The team upgraded the Twin Turbo V6 from 365 hp to 422 hp and peak torque from 376 lb-ft to 413 lb-ft.  They replaced the exhaust with a lightweight Milltek Sport exhaust with cats removed. An upgraded transmission cooler was added. and the transmission was recalibrated for quicker shifting in Sport and Sport+ mode. The team then "Added lightness" to the car by removal of all unneeded weight. Interior trim, airbags, engine cover, rear bumper beam were all removed. The rear windows were glued in place and lightweight door cards added.  After the needed safety equipment and underbody stiffening were installed, the net weight reduction came to about 331 lbs off the stock car. 
Once the mechanical modifications were complete, the  team added a Stillen front splitter and a rear spoiler, and a body wrap that advertises the racing specs and the GT420 name. 
There are no plans to build such a car from Kia, but it is an interesting study of what can be done with a car that is otherwise headed to the crusher. 
 

  • ...Saved from the crusher to ride again...

Drew Dowdell

Fisker Teasing Us with Electric SUV Concept

We first saw a rendering of the forthcoming Fisker SUV back in March of this year.  Now Fisker is releasing some photos of the concept and a few more details. The front end of the Fisker SUV looks mildly like a Land Rover if you stare at the headlights long enough.  Along the side are retracting door handles and an interesting D-Pillar turn-signal repeater.  Fisker has previously shown the SUV with a solar roof to help with charging. 
Fisker says the SUV will start under $40,000 and have a range over 300 miles per charge.  They are also claiming that the vehicle will be the most sustainable vehicle available with many of the parts being made from recycled materials.   For now, the look of the interior is a secret until its official unveiling later this year.  Fisker hopes to have the SUV on the road in 2021. 
 


  • ...Promises to be priced under $40k...

Drew Dowdell

2020 Cadillac XT5 Gets a Revamp

Cadillac's XT5 is getting a refresh for 2020 that brings it into alignment with the looks of the rest of the brand like the recently introduced CT4 and CT5.
The base trim for XT5 is the Luxury model. From there, Cadillac uses a "Y" strategy and splits the upper trims into Sport and Premium Luxury. Either can also be equipped with a Platinum package for the best technology and interior available in XT5.  Premium Luxury puts an emphasis on brighter trims while the Sport takes a darker, more aggressive stance. 
Luxury and Premium Luxury are tuned more towards the soft side while Sport models get a more performance tuned chassis and quicker steering control. The Sport model gets a standard dual-clutch AWD system, Active Yaw control, and Continuous Damping Control adaptive suspension.  LED headlamps with IntelliBeam are now standard on all models. 
Inside, the XT5 gets the latest version of Cadillac CUE (which they are no longer calling CUE), with more connectivity and personalization. This can be controlled either by touch or by a rotary controller in the center console.  Drivers can easily pair their phone using NFC technology.  Two new high-def instrument cluster options are now available. 
Under the hood, a new base engine takes up residence.  The 2.0T with 237 hp and 259 lb-ft of torque that are in the XT4 and CT4 is now mated to a nine-speed automatic. The 3.6L V6 with 310 horsepower is still available, now also upgraded to the 9-speed auto.  Both engines have active fuel management and automatic start/stop to boost efficiency. 
XT5s with the 2.0T will have a new electronic braking control system that replaces the conventional vacuum assisted power brakes.  A compact electric motor replaces the traditional vacuum booster to reduce parasitic engine drag. 
The 2020 Cadillac XT5 will arrive later this summer.
 

  • ....Brought into alignment with the rest of the brand's looks...

Drew Dowdell

Nissan Profit Plunges 99%; 12,500 Job Cuts Eminent

Yesterday we reported that Nissan may be cutting up to 10,000 jobs.... we were short by about 2,500. Nissan Motor Company's CEO Hiroto Saikawa said "The results were really more negative than we expected" in a financial briefing at Nissan Headquarters.  Operating profit was nearly wiped out, falling to just $14.8 million in the first fiscal quarter ending June 30th.  Operating margin shrank from 4.0 percent last year to barely 0.1 percent this year.  Global retail volume fell 6.0% to 1.23 million vehicles.
On the back of these poor results. Nissan has annouced job cuts of up to 12,500 worldwide as part of a plan to revive the company.  Of that, 6,400 job cuts are already underway with 1,420 jobs lost in the U.S.  An additional 6,100 job cuts are planned over the next 4 years. Most of the job cuts will be at plants that are working below capacity. 
In the U.S., Nissan is trying to move away from fleet sales and focus on increasing retail sales, with the goal of boosting retail sales by 100,000 units. 

  • ...Profit margin shriveled to 0.1 percent...

Drew Dowdell

Ford's Q2 Net Income Fell 86 Percent on One Time Charges

Ford's second quarter 2019 income fell 86 percent to just $148 million.  The result is largely due to one-time charges related to its restructuring of operations globally.  Excluding the one-time items, Ford's income before interest and taxes fell just 2% to $1.65 billion.  Global revenue was flat year over year at $38.9 billion.
The charges are primary caused by plant closures in Europe and South America. Ford has said it would cut 12,000 jobs in Europe by the end of 2020.  Ford's sales in the US have fallen 7 percent, including a large decline in Ford Explorer sales as the company moves the nameplate to a new rear wheel drive platform. Ford CEO Jim Hackett said that the changover was a "bigger endeavor" than overhauling the F-150 to an aluminum body. 

  • ...restructuring costs a pretty penny...

Drew Dowdell

Chevrolet Silverado Diesel Gets 33mpg Highway

Once the diesel rolls out for the 2020 Silverado, it will take the title of most fuel efficient full-size truck on the market with an EPA rating of 23 City / 33 Highway / 27 Combined.  The 3.0 liter inline six-cylinder diesel generates 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque.  The diesel is mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission and also features a start stop system.  In the Silverado, the price of the diesel engine is the same as upgrading to the 6.2 liter gasoline V8. It adds, $2,495 to the price of an LTZ or High Country model, or $3,890 to the cost of an LT or RST. Naturally, the engine will be available in the GMC Sierra as well. For those counting, this means the Sierra diesel is more efficient than the 4-cylinder diesel in the Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon. It is also a less costly upgrade than on the two smaller trucks, there costing $5,745 on an LT
GM is likely to hold the MPG title for a while as Ford's F-150 diesel was just released for 2019 and is rated for 22 City / 30 Highway / 25 Combined.  Ram hasn't sold their 3.0 V6 Ecodiesel since 2017, but it was rated at 20 City / 27 highway / 23 combined. 
Honda does not field a full size truck. Nissan does, but does not offer a diesel in their standard duty models. Toyota does not offer a diesel at all, though it is rumored that the next Tundra will be coming with a twin-turbo V6 hybrid. 
The Silverado Diesel arrives in dealerships this fall. 

  • ...Besting EPA results from Ford and Ram...

Drew Dowdell

Rumorpile: Is Nissan Preparing to Announce Huge Job Cuts?

Rumor has it that that Nissan is about to report that its first-quarter profit fell by nearly 90%. Nissan has yet to recover from the financial scandal caused by Carlos Ghosn.  Additionally, years of chasing volume over profits in the U.S. has damaged the brand, requiring heavy discount and cheap financing to move metal. Investors are also worried that the alliance with Renault is breaking down.  Friction with France's Renault over the failed merger with Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles has brought tensions between the two companies to an all-time high.
Reports are that due to the falling profits, Nissan will be cutting up to 10,000 jobs, primarily in Asia and South America.  In doing so, Nissan would join the ranks of Mercedes-Benz, Ford, Honda, and others with global layoffs in the five digit range. Nissan/Infiniti sales in the US are down 8.9 percent year to date as of June. 

  • ...as profits plummet, job huge job cuts could be coming...

Drew Dowdell

Daimler Books First Quarterly Loss in Ten Years

Daimler AG says it has lost €1.2 billion ($1.3 Billion) in quarter two 2019.  This is the company's first quarterly loss since 2009.  Daimler says the primary causes for the loss are airbag recalls and lawsuits and investigations regarding its diesel engines.
U.S. and European regulators have gone after diesel engine emissions after Volkswagen AG was caught in 2015 with cheat software in their engine control computers. The fallout has caused Daimler and other manufacturers to recall those vehicles and update the engine control software. 
Daimler has previously announced cost cutting efforts, including laying off up to 10,000 employees globally.  Further cost cutting efforts are pending, however, Daimler declined to comment on such measures until an investor presentation in November.  The company did say that it would be reviewing its product portfolio and cutting where needed.  Models that have already seen cuts are the Mercedes-Benx X-Class truck and the Mercedes Benz SLC.

  • ...cites diesel-gate and airbag recalls as primary cause...

Drew Dowdell

Chrysler Voyager To Replace Dodge Grand Caravan

The Dodge Caravan is one of the vehicles that helped saved Chrysler Corporation in the 1980s. Introduced in November 1983, the Caravan, along with the Plymouth Voyager, was based on the K-Car platform championed by Lee Iaccoca.  Chrysler recently re-introduced the Voyager under the Chrysler brand as the low cost entry into the minivan market. The Voyager is a low cost version of the Chrysler Pacifica Minivan that was introduced in 2016.  Dodge continued production of the Grand Caravan as the low-cost model while the Pacifica aims for higher end customers.
The Voyager, starting at $26,958, will come in three trims, L, LX, and LXi, the last one reserved for fleet buyers. Chrysler has previously taken this two-prong approach of Voyager being the value option and Town & Country being the premium offering during the 2001 - 2007 time frame. Voyager production begins in August 2019 at Chrysler's Windsor Ontario plant and will run alongside the Grand Caravan for now.
If you're looking for a Grand Caravan, you have some time left.  The Grand Caravan is scheduled to go out of production in May 2020. 

  • ...End of the line for the famous Grand Caravan...

Drew Dowdell

Lawsuit Accuses Ford of Spiking Fuel Economy Ratings

In a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Ford is accused of falsifying fuel economy numbers in the Ford F-150 and Ford Ranger. The suit is seeking class-action status and aims to collect $1.2 Billion in damages.  The law firm, Hagens Berman, says that consumers are spending up to $2,000 more in fuel over the lifetime of the truck due to misleading EPA numbers.
Back in February of this year, Ford launched an investigation into its own EPA emissions and fuel economy certification process after an anonymous tip line at Ford received concerns that there were issues with the test. The concern surrounds Road Load, a vehicle-specific resistance level used in dynamometer testing. Too much or too little resistance will alter the results of the emissions and fuel economy. Road load is determined through engineering estimates that are then validated on the track.
Ford already hired an outside firm to investigate their testing, with the Ranger the first to go through re-testing.   The suit alleges that the F-150, by far Ford's best selling vehicle, is also subject to the same issue as the Ranger.
Ford is declining to comment on the lawsuit at this time. 

  • ...seeking $1.2 billion in damages...

Drew Dowdell

Nissan ProPilot 2.0 Rolling Out in Japan, US Has To Wait

Nissan is releasing the next version of ProPilot in Japan in the fall of 2019 on the new Nissan Skyline (Infiniti G50 to us Yanks), but here in the U.S., we'll need to wait a bit longer while the system undergoes further testing and mapping of the US highway system.
ProPilot 2.0 makes a big jump in autonomous driving capability, the biggest of which is true hands-off highway driving. The system can switch lanes and pass cars, but those moves require a hands on approach from the driver. ProPilot 2.0 also takes orders from the Navigation system, while using seven cameras, five radar sensors, and 12 sonar sensors to pilot the car.  The system will only work on highways where the roads have been mapped in 3D High-Definition.  Japan's more compact nature means that most of the roads there have already been scanned.  The US, with its wide open space will take longer to map. 
Currently ProPilot Assist (1.0) is offered only on the Leaf, Rogue, Rogue Sport, and Altima. In the US, 60 percent of Leaf buyers and 40 percent of Rogue buyers opt for the 1.0 version of the system.   Eventually Nissan wants to expand ProPilot to 20 models. 

  • ...awaiting more testing in the US...

Drew Dowdell

Ford Tows Off Tesla

Elon Musk has been pretty vocal about the coming Tesla Pickup, making claims that it will be better than an F-150 and be able to tow 300,000 lbs.  So far, however, Tesla's pickup truck is vaporware that can't even be seen yet.
Ford meanwhile, has been working hard on an EV version of their F-150, and unlike the Tesla truck, it can be seen.  Rather than talk smack, Ford made its actions louder than words.  They linked up 10 double-decker rail cars filled with 42 2019 F-150s weighing in at more than one million pounds, that's more than 1000 ft of train and trucks,  and then tied that to the back of the F-150 EV prototype.  And the all electric F-150 did the pull twice. Naturally, there is a disclaimer at the bottom saying that the truck is towing way more than any production truck's capacity.  But if you're ever wondering if the "Built Ford Tough" slogan is true, here's your video proof of it.
Ford Plans on introducing seven electric vehicles by 2022, including an all-new EV "performance utility" with styling inspired by the Mustang for 2020 with a rumored 370 mile range.  Ford has also invested $500 million into startup truck and SUV maker Rivian to gain access to Rivian's skateboard platform. 

  • ...F-150 EV Prototype tows more than 1 million pounds...

Drew Dowdell

XNRGI is turning 250 mile battery packs into 700 miles, HOW?

The more people say we cannot do something or everything is already good enough why change, society goes through a major revolutionary change. This has never been more true than in the 21st century with those that say why change when ICE or internal combustion engines are perfect do we need to change to a different power train design?
The PNW or Pacific Northwest has been a source of disruptive technology for the last 40 years. From Microsoft, Google, Apple to Intel corporation we have seen technology change the way we live. Tesla came on the scene July 1st, 2003 and has been a major disruptor to the auto industry. In mid 2018 Tesla confirmed that they had sustained battery production of 20 GWh, more than any other auto company in the world. They also stated that by 2019 with their partner Panasonic they would be at 35 GWh of battery production. Since then Tesla has announced that by the end of 2021, they will be at 105 GWh of battery cell production with a 150 GWh of total battery pack output.
By now, one would be asking why am I reading about Tesla when I want to know about a 700 mile battery pack? In a word, REVOLUTION using an old technique with a new application. It should come as no surprise that this startup based in Portland Oregon is founded by a well educated PhD team of former Intel, Microsoft, NVIDIA, Citibank and investment capital companies. With PhD in chemical engineering to marketing and finance, this company has been quietly perfecting their battery technology based on using an old tech product that even Intel has moved away from. The 12 inch Silicon Wafer Stack, yes the same thing that was used in 486 / Pentium computers is a perfect medium for energy storage without all the current drawbacks of the current Battery design.

Existing EV battery technology has had the following concerns of overheating, catching fire, degrading through repeated charge/discharge cycles and a major issue is the "dendrite" buildup, which looks like stalactites on the battery cells and leads to failed cells and shorter battery life as to why current EV's only have a 10yr battery life.
Instead of a two-dimensional surface as is found in today's existing EV battery tech, XNRGI's battery tech is able to take advantage of the three-dimensional surface area of the silicon wafer.

Per XNRGI, each silicon disc can have up to 160 million microscopic pores. These wafers are then coated with a non-conductive surface on one side and a conductive metal  on the other side to carry the electrical current. The big benefit of what XNRGI is capitalizing on is that the wafer tech, coatings are all taken from existing tech used in the chip industry per President and CEO Dr. Chris D'Couto. To quote Dr. D'Couto, "Each of these little holes is effectively a very tiny battery," allowing a 70 times increase in total surface area for holding power compared to today's existing batteries which equals about a 10 times energy density in comparison to existing lithium-ion battery anodes. The bigger benefit of this battery design is that each pore is separated from its neighbors, eliminating internal short-circuits which results in resisting degradation over time and use. To quote Dr. D'Couto, "When any of those individually fail, the failure doesn't propagate. This architecture makes battery's completely safe by preventing thermal runaway and explosions." In layman's terms this removes the Airplanes refusal to have Lithium Ion batteries in the freight hold of a plane due to potential thermal runaway explosions. End result is that XNRGI Powerchip battery are a safer denser solution for today's demanding electrical designs.


Another key benefit to the XNRGI battery design is life, current auto industry designs from Tesla, GM and Nissan is a 10 year battery life before degradation sets in. This is where the rub is in that some owners of these companies auto's have seen degradation set in, in only 5 years. Existing battery life is affected by not only the "dendrite" issue that can pierce the physical separator between the anode and cathode shorting out the battery on top of the other issues of build up much like plaque on teeth that happens with today's batteries. XNRGI uses a non-conductive coating on the silicon wafer that resists the dendrite formation and plaque build up. This ends up meaning that XNRGI batteries are able to offer three to five times the service life compared to today's existing Lithium-ion battery. This means a 30 to 50 year battery pack.

Safety and density have been addressed by the XNRGI battery design which brings up a final question by many, what about recharge times? XNRGI Powerchip battery is able to discharge and recharge faster than conventional Lithium-ion cells due to its increased surface area. Quoting Dr. D'Couto, the Powerchip battery is able to achieve from empty 80% recharge in only 15 min. This benefit then means we have two options of how to apply this technology. One you can build smaller batteries that reduce weight making everything from small electronics to EVs lighter and more efficient or you can build for range by increasing the density with keeping the existing weight. Think of a pair of ear pods that will last weeks on a single charge or a cell phone that will last 6 to 7 days of heavy use rather than 1 to 2 days or an EV that currently goes 250 miles on the existing battery pack is replaced with an identical sized XNRGI battery pack and you now have 700 miles of range.

Dr. D'Couto states they are working with multiple companies from around the world for including their solid state battery design into various products that will show up in 2020 such as motorbikes, scooters, drones, robots, cell phones and more. XNRGI expects their batteries to show up in EV's that are released in 2022 and 2023 from the auto industry which is due to their extensive testing. Toshiba was one of the first companies to come up with a solid state battery that will be coming out next year in Nissan and Mitsubishi EV products. XNRGI having signed or working on licensing agreements with various companies expects to see their batteries out in products around under limited volume in 2022 with high volume production in 2023 to 2024.
XNRGI has put together this video of their company.
 

  • ...XNRGI to develop the first-ever porous silicon chip based Lithium Metal rechargeable battery technology...

G. David Felt

Lincoln Aviator Adaptive Suspension Can Read the Road Ahead

The new Lincoln Aviator will be introducing an Adaptive Suspension with Road Preview that uses the forward camera to sense potholes in the road and adjusts the suspension to minimize the impact felt in the cabin.   The system uses 12 sensors to monitor vehicle conditions like vehicle motion, body movement, steering input, acceleration, and braking. The sensors read at 500 times per second and can make adjustments 100 times per second, this totals out to 23,000 inputs per second of data. The system can operate each wheel independently. Lincoln developed the entire system in-house.
Additionally, in a nod to the air sprung Lincolns of the past, there will be an available Air Glide Suspension which replaces the coil springs with guided air springs, enabling the Aviator to ride at several ride heights.  Over 70 mph, the Aviator lowers to Aero height for the best in efficiency and performance.  
The Lincoln Aviator arrives in dealerships summer of 2019.
 

  • ...smooths out potholes before you hit them...

Drew Dowdell

Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Revealed with Solar Roof

Hyundai has released released details of the 2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid.  While visually it remains close to the non-hybrid version, it does get a different grille, rear spoilers, and special alloy wheels to fine tune aerodynamics. 
Hyundai has two technologies debuting on the 2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid.  First is a solar roof system that recharges the battery to increase travel distance and unnecessary battery discharge. When the system gets an average of 6 hours a day of charging, it is expect to increase travel distance by about 800 miles annually. 
The second is a new 6-speed hybrid automatic transmission with Active Control Shift (ACS). The transmission is monitored by the hybrid control unit 500 times per second and uses the hybrid motor to precisely adjust the transmission rotational speed to allow for faster shift times and better fuel efficiency.  This technology also increases durability of the transmission by reducing friction during shifting. 
The engine of Sonata Hybrid is a 2.0 liter 4-cylinder producing 152 horsepower, the electric motor max power output is 38 horsepower, for a total system power output of 195 horsepower. 
The 2020 Hyundai Sonata goes on sale late summer 2019, no word on when the hybrid will be available. 
 
Related:
 

  • ...Helped by the sun...

     

Drew Dowdell

2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Reveal

The time has come for the Corvette to mid-engine architecture. 
Powering the Corvette is a 6.2 liter V8 LT2 making and SAE certified 495 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque when equipped with an optional exhaust system. In Z51 form, the car is expected to hit 60 mph in less than 3 seconds. The base output of the engine has not been revealed yet. The LT2 engine is based on the LT1 with a new aluminum block. This new engine features a dry-sump oiling system and three scavenger pumps to fight oil starvation in high-G maneuvers on a track. 
People looking for three pedals will be disappointed to find that no manual transmission will be offered.  Instead an 8-speed dual clutch automatic will take over shifting duties and likely execute them faster than any human could. The DCT is setup with a low first gear for quick take off and tall seventh and eighth for fuel economy. The gears in between are close ratio to keep the engine strongly in the power band.
Those who want a removable roof will be happy to find that option still there and can be stored in the rear compartment. There will be 3 interior seat options, six interior colors, six seat-belt colors, and two optional stitching packages.
The suspension is a double-wishbone design with oil over dampers, while the Z51 package gets magnetic ride control. A front lift system can lift the nose and use GPS to mark the location where you lifted the nose for future use. An electric brake system is more precise and is tunable by the driver. All Stingrays get an electronic limited-slip differential. 
The front trunk and rear trunk combined can handle 12.6 cubic feet of cargo space. The structure of the Stingray built from high-pressure diecast aluminum and has a carbon fiber rear bumper. 
Pricing will start at less than $60,000. 
 
 

  • …the long wait for the mid-engine Corvette is over...

Drew Dowdell

Lotus to go All Electric with New Supercar

Lotus, aiming to rejoin the ranks of the supercars again is introducing a new limited production halo vehicle.  The Evija will be a fully electric hypercar costing $2.11 million each with only 130 copies made.
The car is said to be capable of 1,973 horsepower from four electric motors and have a range of up to 250 miles.  Electric vehicles aren't known for being lightweight with their heavy battery packs, so Lotus is offsetting the 70 kWh battery's weight with a fully carbon fiber monoque chassis.  Lotus is confident that the car will reach the 3,704 lb. target weight. 
The 0-62mph time is said to be less than three seconds with a top speed of more than 200 mph. The car can run at full power for 7 minutes on a track before the battery derates the power output.  With 350 kw chargers the Evija can be recharged from 0 to 100 percent in 18 minutes, however the battery is compatible with future 800 kw charger as they become available. 
The design of the Evija is meant to evoke a LeMans racer, and it includes two venturi tunnels to reduce air pressure and reduce drag. The rear of the tunnels are fitted with a ring of red ribbon LEDs to look like the afterburners of a jet. The interior is quite minimalist with a rectangular steering wheel and a single pod of honeycomb shaped buttons up the center stack. It lacks the traditional center screen and instead uses the driver information screen for all feedback.
Chinese auto manufacturer Geely bought Lotus in 2017 and the Evija is the first model launched since the purchase.  Lotus plans to build more models suited for the Chinese market, including an SUV. 
 
 




 

  • ...with four electric motors, the car is capable of 1,973 horsepower...

Drew Dowdell

Rumorpile: Ford Plans On A New Lifted Wagon to Replace Three European Models

Ford is planning a dramatic change to their European lineup. Autocar reported yesterday that the automaker will be replacing the Mondeo (Fusion to us), Galaxy, and S-Max with a new "single crossover-style estate model" - think Subaru Outback.
Not many details are known about this new model. It is expected to use Ford's C2 platform which underpins the new Fiesta and Focus. A range of gas and diesel engines will be available, along with 48V mild-hybrid system. The new wagon is expected to arrive in early 2021 in Europe. Autocar notes that this model is expected to be sold in other markets such as North America.
While this model is quite different from three it will replace (a midsize sedan/hatchback/wagon and two vans), it is expected to outsell all of them. Last year, Ford only moved 50,000 Mondeos, 24,000 S-Maxs, and 12,000 Galaxy. Numbers according to Autocar that are too small to make any profit.
As for the U.S., the reason is likely due to Ford to possibly keep sedan buyers in the showroom. Last July, we reported that Ford was considering doing an "Outback competitor" with the Fusion name. 
Source: Autocar

  • ..Is expected to be sold in the U.S. and other markets..

William Maley

Subaru Announces Legacy and Outback Pricing

Subaru has announced pricing for the 2020 Subaru Legacy and 2020 Subaru Outback. Both get modest price increases, but also increases in base equipment.  The Legacy starting price is $200 more than last year at $24,995, and the Outback is $300 more at $26,645. 
Some of the biggest equipment upgrades is that Subaru's Eyesight now features Advanced Adaptive Cruise Control with Lane Centering, a heads up monitoring system, LED headlights for low and high beam, and high beam assist. 
Both cars are built on Subaru's new global platform that offers increased safety, and reductions in noise, vibration, and harshness. The base engine is a revised 2.5 liter boxer-four that produces 182 hp and 176 lb-ft of torque. An upgraded 2.4T boxer engine is standard in Limited XT models and produces 260 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 277 lb-ft of torque at 2,000 rpm.  Both engines come with start-stop to improve fuel efficiency.  
Fuel economy figures are as follows:
Legacy 2.5 - 35 MPG highway
Legacy XT - 32 MPG highway
Outback 2.5 - 33 MPG highway
Outback XT - 30 MPG highway
The only transmission available is Subaru's Lineartronic CVT that now has an 8-speed manual shift mode via paddles on the steering wheel. 
Six different trims are available on the Legacy and seven different trims available on the Outback. Inside, the infotainment system features dual 7.0 inch touch screens.  The upper screen controls the audio with Apple Car Play and Android Auto, while the lower screen controls climate control, controls for Eyesight, and other vehicle systems. 
Both the Legacy and Outback are built in Lafayette, IN, and will go on sale this fall.
 
 

  • ...Modest price increase, more standard equipment...

Drew Dowdell

Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen and Golf AllTrack To End Production

The march towards majority SUVs continues on and the two newest casualties are the Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen and the Golf Alltrack. As we predicted a month ago, Volkswagen will end production of the two vehicles in the 2019 model year, though in the case of the Alltrack, production will be extended to December. 
Volkswagen says that with 50 percent of their sales being SUVs, consumer tastes have shifted strongly to SUVs, and VW is responding by releasing three new SUVs over the next 2 years.  First up, will be a 5-seater Atlas Cross Sport being unveiled later this year, then the ID.CROZZ electric SUV early next year, and a just announced SUV to slot below the Tiguan is planned for 2021.  While Volkswagen says their new ID EV platform can be used for bodystyles of the past, apparently the station wagon is not one planned. 
 

  • ...get your longroof VW while you can...

Drew Dowdell

Mercedes X-Class to be Xed Out

The Best or Nothing.... Or A Nissan.  Almost exactly two years ago we showed you pictures and a report of the forthcoming Mercedes-Benz X-Class. Now unnamed sources have told Germany's Automobilwoche (Automobile Week) that Mercedes' recent profit warning and a board review of the portfolio have caused the company to put the X-Class on the chopping block.
The X-Class is based in the Nissan Navara with some upgrades to the suspension and a Mercedes-esque interior.  Much of the interior bits are straight from the Mercedes parts bin. The X-Class starts at about $41,000 in base trim and goes up to about $66,000 in top trim, quite a lot of coin for a small pickup.
Pricing wasn't the only factor limiting sales.  The X-Class was never offered in the biggest truck market, the U.S., instead it was only sold in Europe, Australia, and South Africa.  In those three markets, the company moved only 16,700 units last year.  The X-Class is built at Nissan's plant in Barcelona, Spain where the Nissan Navara and Renault Alaskan are built.
Mercedes backed out of plans to build the X-Class for South American markets in Argentina back in February, perhaps signaling then the truck's fate.  Further, Daimler may end their partnership with Nissan - Renault as part of a cost saving measure. This would largely be achieved by ending shared projects like the X-Class and the Smart For Two which shares platforms with the Renault Twingo.  The Infiniti QX30 which shares with the Mercedes-Benz GLA has already been canceled. 
Daimler is trying to save $6.75 billion by 2021 with another $2.25 billion from the Daimler trucks division. In doing so, 10,000 jobs could be cut.

  • ...well that didn't last long...

Drew Dowdell

2020 Lincoln Navigator Gets Tech and Style Updates

Lincoln is giving the Navigator a few styling updates along with some new tech for the 2020 model year.  For those who dislike huge amounts of chrome, the Navigator will now be offered in a Monochromatic package available on the Reserve series. The Monochromatic package will be available in three colors, Pristine White, Ceramic Pearl, and Infinite Black and reflect the minimalist trend in interior décor. 
On the technology side of things, Lincoln's Phone As A Key technology becomes standard.  This technology will first arrive on the Lincoln Aviator this summer. Using the Lincoln Way app, the technology allows drivers to lock/unlock the doors, open the liftgate, start and drive their cars all without the use of a standard keyfob.  Power runningboards are now standard, as are heated and ventilated front seats and a wireless charging pad for certain mobile phones.
The largest tech add is Lincoln Co-Pilot360 which includes, auto high-beam headlamps, blind spot detection, lane-keeping system with driver alert, pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking, dynamic brake support, forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, and rear-view camera washer. 
Lincoln says that 66 percent of Navigator buyers are coming from other brands and when customers pick Navigator, they overwhelmingly choose Reserve or Black Label series at a rate of about 90 percent.  The 2020 Navigator will arrive in dealerships in November 2019. 
Lincoln says that their SUV sales are at an 18-year high. 
 

  • ...Now an option for those who dislike chrome...

Drew Dowdell

GM Shelves Diesel Option for Equinox and Terrain

There will be one less engine option for the Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain come the 2020 model year. The Car Connection first reported the news on the Equinox yesterday morning, while Autoblog followed with the Terrain news later in the day. Both stories reported the same reason for cancellation, they didn't sell.
"We did discontinue the diesel engine option in the 2020 Chevrolet Equinox due to low demand," said Chevrolet spokesman Kevin Kelly.
The news doesn't come as a shock to us. Diesel engines have gotten a bad rap since the Volkswagen diesel emission scandal came to light, causing sales to drop. The value argument was also tough for both models. A diesel Equinox started at $30,795. But only for $100 more, you could have gotten into the 2.0L turbo-four that offered better performance. Over at the Terrain, the diesel cost around $2,000 more than the 2.0 turbo-four. Diesel fuel is more expensive than its gas counterpart as well.
That will leave the upcoming Mazda CX-5 Skyactiv-D as the only diesel option in the compact crossover class. But as we have noted previously, the diesel option is quite expensive (begins at $42,045) and fuel economy figures are disappointing (27 City/30 Highway/28 Combined).
Source: The Car Connection, Autoblog

  • ..Slow sales caused the demise of the diesel option..

William Maley

Review: 2019 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500

The news about the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra have been constant barrage about how they aren’t doing so well in the sales charts. In fact, Ram has taken second place in overall truck sales from the Silverado. General Motors is quick to point that Ram has been increasing amount of money on the hoods of the 2019 Ram 1500, along with the last-generation model being sold alongside. But could there be more to this slump? What if the new Silverado and Sierra didn’t move the needle as far as the competition?
The new Silverado and Sierra continue to separate from one another in exterior design. The basic shape may be the same, but it is the details where the two begin to develop their own identities. On the Sierra, it goes for some polarization with its gaping maw of a grille and c-shaped headlights. Chevrolet is a bit more restrained with the Silverado featuring a split bar grille and separate headlight housings. More differences can be seen turning to the side as the Silverado has slightly more pronounced fenders than the Sierra.
Both trucks arrived in their off-road trims: Trail Boss for the Silverado and AT4 for the Sierra. This is denoted by two-inch lift for the suspension, blacked-out trim pieces, and meaty off-road tires featuring some sharp-looking wheels. I tend not to like off-road models as they go overboard with the “LOOK AT ME” bits placed on it, which I get why a number of buyers absolutely love it. But the Trail Boss and AT4 find that nice point where they look the business without being too shouty about it.
GMC is also trying to set itself apart in terms of the tailgate. My Sierra AT4 tester came equipped with the MultiPro tailgate which offers “six functions and positions.” They include, 
Primary Gate (Full Tailgate) Primary Gate Load Stop: Panel that holds longer items in the bed Easy Access: Flip the inner part of the tailgate to allow for better access for items in the bed Step to allow for easy entry and exit from the bed Inner Gate with Load Stop Inner Gate as a work surface You will not find a physical tailgate handle. Instead, there are two buttons that sit between the backup camera. The top button releases the inner gate, while the bottom allows the full tailgate to open. Opening the inner gate wasn’t as smooth as the full tailgate, feeling like it was sticking at points. A lot of this I would attribute to cold temperatures during the week. Despite this issue, having the inner tailgate give way to allow for better access to the bed and a step does give a unique selling point. I do wonder how will this tailgate design hold-up in the long run.
Moving inside, GM is still focusing on functional and practical aspects. This is evident with the large knobs and buttons controlling various functions, and a comprehensive gauge cluster. But this approach does put both trucks behind the pack in terms of interior design and materials when compared against Ford and Ram. I had to do a double-take getting inside the Silverado for the first time as the dashboard really didn’t change that much aside from the colors and slightly altered buttons. This isn’t helped by some of the material choices which look and feel out of place in trucks that carry price tags that are around the $60,000 mark.
But the Silverado and Sierra’s interiors do claw some points back in terms of overall comfort. No one will have any issue trying to find a position that works thanks to a generous amount of power seat adjustments and a steering wheel that finally provides tilt-telescope adjustment. Space in the back of crew cabs is massive with loads of head and legroom.
Both trucks came with an eight-inch screen (lesser trims get by with a seven-inch screen) and new software - Chevrolet Infotainment 3/GMC Infotainment. The interface looks like a simplified version of MyLink/Intellilink with simpler graphics and easier to read fonts. Moving around the system is easy thanks to the simple menu structure and quick responses for any command. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration comes standard. Both trucks were able to find my iPhone 7 Plus and bring up the CarPlay interface within seconds of plugging it in.
There are four different engines on offer, including a new 2.7L turbo-four. There’s also a turbodiesel V6 that will be arriving for the 2020 model year. Both of my test trucks came with the V8s - Silverado packing a 5.3L and the Sierra using the 6.2L.
The 5.3L V8 has not been my engine of choice for the last-generation trucks. Not because of the power on offer, but more of the tuning of the throttle pedal. It made the V8 feel very sluggish and would make the driver push further down on the pedal to get it moving a decent clip. Thankfully, GM has addressed this issue and 5.3 now feel likes it has 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque. You can lightly press on the accelerator and V8 doesn’t feel artificially overwhelmed. A new eight-speed automatic (standard on higher trims) helps keep the engine right in the sweet spot of power and provides smooth shifts.
As for the 6.2L V8, it is a monster. With 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet, it moves the Sierra at a surprising rate. Making a pass or merging on to a freeway is no problem as there is an abundance of power waiting to be unleashed. A new ten-speed automatic (jointly developed with Ford) helps keep the engine right in the spot of power. Unless you need or want all of the power, the 5.3 is the engine I would recommend for either truck.
EPA fuel economy figures for the V8s are 15 City/20 Highway/17 Combined for the 5.3 and 15/19/17 for the 6.2L AT4.  My averages for the week were 16.1 for the 5.3 and 15.2 for the 6.2. 
Ram is still the gold standard when it comes to ride quality due to its rear coil spring setup. But GM isn’t so far behind with its solid rear axle setup. Most bumps and imperfections become mere ripples. Larger potholes didn’t upset either truck, but I would put that towards the off-road suspension. The standard trucks may bounce around. Handling is quite surprising as both trucks feel agile around bends. Noise isolation, for the most part, is excellent, though the knobby tires fitted to the Trail Boss and AT4 do ruin some of the tranquility.
My feelings are mixed on the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500. GM has either fixed or improved various problems that I have talked about in previous reviews. But it feels GM hasn’t done enough to fully set their trucks apart from the competition. I think this line from my journal says it all.
“If General Motors wasn’t touting various aspects of these new trucks such as the aluminum body panels or multi-pro tailgate, I would have thought both models went through a dramatic mid-cycle refresh.”
This could give the full explanation as to why the Silverado and Sierra are currently getting beaten out by Ford and Ram Trucks in the sales chart. Buyers may not see any real changes for both trucks when compared against the competition. GM has been on the offensive, saying to be patient. But that approach may not work and may cause the automaker to draw up some drastic measures.
That’s the thing about the full-size truck market, you need to show up with the best. Anything less and you’re in danger of losing. 
How I would configure a 2019 Chevrolet Silverado or GMC Sierra 1500.
There are two options I would consider with the Silverado. First is the RST. I would order a 4WD crew cab with a short and opt for the 5.3L V8. From there, I would add the Convenience Package with Bucket Seats, Convenience Package II, Safety Package, and Trailering Package. That brings the final price to $52,745 excluding any discounts I could get. Second is the Trail Boss which gets the 5.3L V8 as standard. Options would mirror the RST and bring the final price to $54,285.
If I was to order a Sierra 1500, then I would start with the SLT Crew Cab 4WD with a short bed. This comes with the 5.3L V8 as standard and I would only add two options; Dark Sky Metallic for $495 and the SLT Premium Plus Package for $6,875. This package combines a number of option packages such as the SLT Preferred Package and the two Driver Alert Packages. The final price comes to $60,460 with a $1,000 discount for ordering Premium Plus Package.
Alternatives to the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado or GMC Sierra 1500.
2019 Ram 1500: Ram's redesign on the 1500 has helped make it a real challenger to both Ford and GM. The interior raises the bar of what a truck can be with an impressive design and high-quality material choices. It also boasts an impressive list of safety features such as adaptive cruise control. Ride quality is still class leading. What may put some people off is the styling as it looks a bit plain. 2019 Ford F-150: Bestselling for reason, Ford has constantly improved the F-150 to keep it one step ahead of the competition. It features one of the largest selection of powertrains that help give it some impressive towing numbers. A number of trims also gives buyers different options to build their F-150 the way they want. But Ford trails Ram and GM when it comes ride quality. Disclaimer: General Motors Provided the trucks, Insurance, and One Tank of Gas
(*Author's Note: Unfortunately, I lost the window sticker to the GMC Sierra 1500 I drove. I have built the truck as close as possible to my memory to get an approximation on price. -WM)
Year: 2019
Make: Chevrolet
Model: Silverado 1500
Trim: LT Trail Boss
Engine: 5.3L VVT DI V8 with Dynamic Fuel Management and Stop/Start
Driveline: Eight-Speed Automatic, Four-Wheel Drive
Horsepower @ RPM: 355 @ 5,600
Torque @ RPM: 383 @ 4,100
Fuel Economy: City/Highway/Combined - 15/20/17
Curb Weight: 5,008 lbs
Location of Manufacture: Roanoke, Indiana
Base Price: $48,300
As Tested Price: $55,955 (Includes $1,495 Destination Charge)
Options:
Convenience Package with Bucket Seats - $1,805.00
Convenience Package II - $1,420.00
Off-Road Assist Steps - $895.00
Safety Package I - $890.00
Bed Protection Package - $635.00
Trailer Brake Controller - $275.00
Advanced Trailering Package - $240.00
Year: 2019
Make: GMC
Model: Sierra 1500
Trim: AT4
Engine: 6.2L VVT DI V8 with Dynamic Fuel Management and Stop/Start
Driveline: Ten-Speed Automatic, Four-Wheel Drive
Horsepower @ RPM: 420 @ 5,600 
Torque @ RPM: 460 @ 4,100
Fuel Economy: City/Highway/Combined - 15/19/17
Curb Weight: 5,015 lbs
Location of Manufacture: Roanoke, Indiana
Base Price: $53,200
As Tested Price: $64,955 (Includes $1,595 Destination Charge and $500 discount for the AT4 Premium Package)*
Options:
Off-Road Performance Package - $4,940
AT4 Premium Package - $3,100 with a $500 discount
Technology Package - $1,875
Driver Alert Package II - $745

  • ...Trying to figure out why GM's new trucks aren't doing so well in the sales charts...

William Maley

Hyundai Truck "Coming Soon"

Hyundai first showed the Santa Cruz pickup truck concept at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show and has teased the truck to the public in the 4 years since its debut.  Now it seems that the Vice President of Product, Corporate, and Digital Planning is saying the Korean auto maker is expecting to enter the U.S. truck market soon with a model built in North America, and possibly in the U.S.  Hyundai already builds the Santa Fe crossover in Montgomery Alabama. 
The Santa Cruse that was shown at NAIAS was a crossover vehicle similar to the Honda Ridgeline and featured a 2.0-liter turbo diesel engine, a tailgate which could extend out further from the truck, and rear hinged rear doors. Given that Hyundai has already canceled plans for the diesel Santa Fe, don't expect one to make it into the Santa Cruz. 
There is still no timeline for introduction or production of the consumer version, so if you're holding your breath for this truck, you'll have to keep holding a bit longer. 

  • ...keep holding your breath...

Drew Dowdell

Buick Enclave Gets Sport Touring Package And Other Upgrades

Buick is introducing a Sport Touring package for 2020.  The ST is available on the Enclave Essence trim and includes a unique grille with body color surround, 20-inch machined aluminum wheels. The ST remains powered by the same 3.6-liter V6 producing 310 HP and 266 lb-ft of torque, the same unit in all other Enclaves. 
Other features added to the rest of the Enclave lineup include a new next-generation infotainment system with 8-inch diagonal screen. When equipped, the system supports SiriusXM with 360L which combines satellite and streaming to deliver more content. The setup requires a subscription to both SiriusXM All Access and GM Connected Vehicle services (on-board WiFi). 
The rear vision camera has been upgraded to High-Def and a High-Def Surround vision system.  Standard on the Premium and Avenir, the driver and front passenger seat are upgraded with 4-way power lumbar and a massaging seat. 
Three new colors are available: Champagne Gold Metallic, Dark Moon Blue Metallic, and an Avenir only Rich Garnet Metallic.
The 2020 Buick Enclave goes on sale late summer with a starting price of $41,195 including destination charge.

  • ...a bit less chrome, and a bit more tech...

Drew Dowdell

NEVS Starts 9-3EV Production in China

The old SAAB 9-3 has risen from the dead! The platform, now owned by National Electric Vehicles Sweden (NEVS) is being used as the basis for a "new" electric vehicle.  The 9-3EV has gone into production in Tianjin China in a factory that can assemble up to 50,000 units a year. Further manufacturing facilities are being set up in Trollhättan, Sweden and a new facility in Shanghai China.
Back in January, Evergrande Groupe, an investor in Faraday Future, purchased a 51% stake in NEVS for $930 million.  Evergrande is being tight lipped about the cars and no details have yet been released for range, power, battery size, or even On Sale dates.

  • ...rising from the dead...

Drew Dowdell

MINI Brings Out Pure Electric Version

MINI is introducing an all-electric version of the Mini-Cooper SE.  The go-kart like feeling of the MINI is preserved with the battery mounted low in the vehicle floor for a lower center of gravity. Doing so means that there is no reduction in cargo volume. The battery range in the European cycle is approximately 235 KM to 270 KM (146 miles to 167 miles), however official EPA range estimates have not yet been established. 
Power is delivered by a 181 hp / 199 lb-ft of torque electric motor twisting the front wheels and the electric motor is smaller and lighter than the equivalent gasoline engine.  Wheel slip is limited to help the Mini cooper with it unmistakable agility. Zero to 62 mph is 7.3 seconds.  Top speed is limited to 93.2 mph. 
Energy regeneration through braking can be handled in one of two modes.  The Mini can be driven in "one-pedal" mode where there is significant deceleration once the driver lifts off the accelerator pedal. This allows the car to more aggressively regenerate the battery in an urban setting. 
The Electric Mini gets a model specific cockpit with a digital dashboard, providing information such as charge level, driving mode, range, traffic sign detection, and more.  While charging the display with give an estimate of the time charging will be finished. DC fast-charging is available and the MINI can accept 50kw charging to gain 80% range in just 35 minutes.   Heating and cooling is more energy efficient as well, using a new heat-pump system the interior is heated from waste heat from the electric motor and battery and outside air before feeding it into the air conditioning system.  The new heat-pump system uses 75 percent less electricity than a conventional EV heating system. Interior temperature can be controlled before departure via an app on the driver's phone. 
The electric Mini-Cooper goes into production in November.

  • ...plenty of power, but lower range...

Drew Dowdell

Premium Battery Maker AKASOL Chooses Detroit Michigan USA for new Production site.

Premium battery manufacture of Germany, AKASOL has announced that they will open a battery system production plant in Detroit Michigan USA. This dedicated operations in North America will ensure that AKASOL's customers comply with the Buy America Act Regulations and is in response to demand for their high energy battery modules from various OEM manufacturer of Trucks, Buses and auto's. This considerable investment will create over 200 jobs within the next 5 years.
State of Michigan awarded AKASOL a Michigan Business Development Program Grant for the construction of the production facility. Barry Matherly, President and CEO of Detroit Regional Partnership added: " The Detroit Region is thrilled to have been selected by AKASOL for its first battery production facility for the commercial vehicle market. The company is a global leader in the design and build of e-mobility solutions and our team is pleased we were able to demonstrate a highly compelling business case around the strengths of the region."
AKASOL's new Michigan production facility will have similar capacity to the company's current plant in Langen, Germany. Production is due to begin in 2020, with a focus on the 2nd generation AKASystem OEM PRC battery system. By early 2021, AKASOL expects production to increase to 400 MWh in a three-shift operation. These high performance lithium-ion battery systems will be developed, tested and produced locally here in Detroit Michigan.
AKASOL's commitment to quality, performance and flexibility is reflected in their European Top Tier customers. Daimler and French railway giant Alstom to name a few.

  • Detroit Michigan has been chosen to ensure that AKASOL's customers comply with Buy America Act regulations, which dictate that they must purchase locally-produced battery systems.

G. David Felt

June 2019 Sales Figure Ticker

Quarterly:
Ford Motor Company - Down 4.1% for the Quarter, Down 2.9% for the year
General Motors Co. - Down 1.5% for the Quarter, Down 4.2% for the year
Tesla - Up 133.6% for the Quarter
FCA has announced that beginning October 2019, they will be reporting sales quarterly
Monthly:
Audi of America -  Down 0.3% for the month, Down 6% for the year
BMW of North America -  Up 3.9% for the month, Down 1.1% for the year
FCA US LLC - Up 2% for the month, Down 2% for the year - Final monthly reporting.
Genesis Motor America - Not Yet Reported
Honda Motor Co. -  Down 7.3% for the month, Down 1.4% for the year
Hyundai Motor America -  Up 1.5% for the month, Up 1.69% for the year
Infiniti USA - Down 8.0% for the month, Down 12.6% for the year
Jaguar Land Rover North America - Not Yet Reported
Kia Motors America - Up 0.4% for the month, Up 3.8% for the year
Mazda North American Operations - Down 15.1.0%  for the month, Down 15.5% for the year
Mercedes-Benz USA - Up 0.5% for the month, Down 7.1% for the year
Mitsubishi Motors North America -  Up 10.5% for the month, Up 5.6% for the year
Nissan Group - Down 14.9% for the month, Down 8.2% for the year
Porsche Cars North America Inc. -  Up 6.4% for the month, Up 2.8% for the year
Subaru of America, Inc. - Up 2.8% for the month, Up 5.2% for the year
Toyota Motor North America - Down 3.5% for the month, Down 3.1% for the year
Volkswagen of America -  Up 10% for the month, Up 6.8% for the year
Volvo Cars of North America, LLC - Up 0.7% for the month, Up 5.2% for the year

Brands (Quarterly):
Buick -  Up 4.7% - 55,373 QTD / 107,240 YTD
Cadillac -  Up 1.3% - 39,739 QYD / 75,734 YTD
Chevrolet - Down 5.3% - 499,847 QTD / 952,248 YTD
GMC - Up 9.8% - 151,700 QTD / 277,277 YTD
Ford - Down 4.0% - 624,396 QTD / 1,189,670 YTD
Lincoln - Down 6.7% - 25,940 QTD / 50,915 YTD
Tesla - Up 133.6% - 95,200 QTD

Brands (Monthly):
Acura - Down 16.4% - 12,148 MTD / 73,767 YTD
Alfa Romeo - Down 29% - 1,595 MTD / 9,037 YTD
Audi - Down 0.3% - 19,409 MTD / 101,440 YTD
BMW - Up 7.5% - 31,627 MTD / 156,440 YTD
Chrysler - Down 4% - 12,941 MTD / 64,422 YTD
Dodge - Down 17% - 38,561 MTD / 228,099 YTD
Fiat - Down 35% - 933 MTD / 5,103 YTD
Genesis - Not reported
Honda - Down 6.3% - 135,901 MTD / 776,995 YTD
Hyundai - Up 1.5% - 64,202 MTD / 333,328 YTD
Infiniti - Down 8.0% - 9,839 MTD / 63,058 YTD
Jaguar -Not Yet Reported
Jeep - Down 12% - 76,826 MTD / 456,281 YTD
Kia - Up 0.4% - 56,801 MTD / 304,844 YTD
Land Rover -  Not Yet Reported
Lexus - Down 3.0% - 23,047 MTD  / 135,735 YTD
Mazda - Down 15.1% - 22,828 MTD / 138,555 YTD
Mercedes-Benz - Flat 0.0% - 26,196 MTD / 147,396 YTD
Mercedes-Benz Vans - Up 7.0% 3,005 MTD / 16,025 YTD
MINI - Down 22% - 3,235 MTD / 17,583 YTD
Mitsubishi - Up 10.5% - 12,317 MTD / 71,097 YTD
Nissan - Down 15.4% - 113,665 MTD / 653,978 YTD
Porsche - Up 6.4% - 5,205 MTD / 30,257 YTD
Ram Trucks - Up 45% - 75,227 MTD / 333,168 YTD
Smart - Down 41.3% - 74 MTD / 496 YTD
Subaru - Up 6.4% - 63,972 MTD / 278,014 YTD
Toyota - Down 3.5% - 179,305 MTD / 1,054,311 YTD
Volkswagen - Up 10% - 31,725 MTD / 184,608 YTD
Volvo - Up 0.7% - 9,934 MTD / 50,120 YTD

  • ...With temperatures rising, who beat the heat?...

Drew Dowdell

EVs Take 48.4% Of All Sales in Norway

Norway, a country that produces a lot of its own oil, has become the leader in electric vehicle sales.   According to a report by Reuters, 48.4% of all new car sales for the first half of 2019 have been electric vehicles.  This is up from just over a quarter of the market in the same period of 2019.  Tesla is the sales leader with a 24.5% share of all vehicles sold during the month of June, most of that being the Model 3. Telsa is not the only benefactor of the sales gain,  Nissan, Hyundai, and BMW all offer fully electric vehicles that have seen growth as well.  Mercedes and Ford, two makers without a full EV offering have seen their sales drop.
 
Norway is seeking to end the sales of diesel and gasoline engines by the middle of the next decade and uses strong taxes on gasoline and diesel vehicles which EVs are exempt from to encourage that switch.  EVs also enjoy a discount on toll roads and auto ferries. 

  • ... Tesla Model 3 is the best selling car in Norway...

Drew Dowdell

More Powerful Cadillac V-Series Get A Name

Cadillac's newest V-series, the CT4-V and CT5-V, disappointed fans when they debuted on May 30th by being substantially less powerful than their predecessors. The CT4-V gets a 2.7-liter turbo four cylinder producing 320 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque, that's a 130 horsepower deficit compared to the ATS-V.   The story for the CT5-V is similar with a 3.0-liter twin-turbo making 355 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque compared to the 640 horsepower of the CTS-V.  GM President Mark Reuss called the previous cars "hammer" and that they intimidated customers. Thus, Cadillac responded by extending the V-series badge down to be more accessible to more customers. 
Cadillac fans wouldn't have it, and Cadillac was quick to respond saying that more powerful versions of the CT4-V and CT5-V would be on the way, even bringing out higher potency test cars for the Detroit Grand Prix. The CT5-V was rumored to be running with the Blackwing V8, and that car getting the 4.2 Twin-Turbo V8 is not a new rumor. 
The controversy comes down to what to call the higher powered models when they do arrive. Some fans felt that the models already shown should be V-Sports and the more powerful versions get the V moniker. However, it seems that Cadillac has settled on Blackwing as the name for the high power versions of their V-series, and that name may not be limited to just models with the Blackwing V8, making Blackwing more of a sub-brand for Cadillac like Denali is for GMC.
What do you think? Is Blackwing a good name for the true high-performance versions of the V-series cars?
 

  • ..."How do you like the Blackwing name?" - Mark Reuss

Drew Dowdell

Mercedes to Launch A250e Plug-In Hybrid Hatchback

The EU and China get a version of the A-Class that we don't get here in the states, the A200 hatchback. The A200 is powered by a 1.3-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder that produces 158 hp and 148 lb-ft of torque.  Coming in September at the Frankfurt Auto Show, Mercedes will be unveiling a plug-in hybrid version of the car dubbed the A250e.  The A250e will sport the same 1.3 liter engine, but will have an electric motor built into the 8-speed transmission that provides 101 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque. 
Power for the electric motor comes from a 15 kWh battery stored under the luggage area floor and a reconfigured rear suspension. In the European cycle, the car is said to be able to go over 37 miles in electric only mode with a top EV speed of 87 mph. DC fast charging should be available. Performance of the A250e is suppose to match the performance of the non-hybrid A250 model, a version not sold in the U.S. (We only get the A220 and A35 AMG)
Why are we taking the time to tell you about a vehicle that is unlikely to be sold in the U.S.?  Because it is just the first in a series of plug-in hybrid powertrain upgrades that will be coming to the Mercedes-Benz lineup.  Expect to see a version of this powertrain in the CLA and the just launched GLB over the coming year.  Those models are more likely to make it to the U.S. market.
 
 

  • ...whether it comes to the states is another matter...

Drew Dowdell

FCA's New Powertrain Chief Has Big Ambitions for Electrification

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has been lagging behind other automakers in terms of electrification, tending to focus more on how many more vehicles they drop the Hellcat V8 into. But that appears to be changing.
The Detroit Bureau had the chance to speak with FCA's new global powertrain chief, Micky Bly. He said that within the next twelve to eighteen months, FCA would try to reposition itself as one of the industry’s leaders in electrification.
“We’re not leaders now,” said Bly, “but we will be soon.”
Bly wouldn't go into detail as to how FCA plans to do this. But we already know that a number of FCA brands have plans for hybrid and electric vehicles - including a new Fiat 500e. Sources also revealed that there is the possibility of the Hellcat V8 being teamed with a mild-hybrid setup that could add 130 pound-feet, and only add around 100 pounds to the overall curb weight. There is also the possibility of a production version of the Chrysler Portal concept, going with a full electric powertrain.
Source: The Detroit Bureau

  • And yes, the Hellcat models could play a role

William Maley

Armored Volvo XC90 Weighs Nearly 10,000 Pounds

If you're a diplomat, politician, or evil genius in need of protection when you are out and about, a new option just arrived on your shopping list.  Volvo has just released the XC90 Armored, an SUV that looks normal, but isn't. 
Volvo worked on the XC90 Armored for about two years, aiming for a protection rating of VPAM VR8, the second highest rating possible.  Decoding that rating, the VR8 means that the XC90 has 360 degree ballistic resistance.  However, it also provides explosive resistance too.  
Starting off as a standard Volvo XC90 T6 AWD Inscription, the SUV heads to Bremen, Germany to complete the process of armoring.  High-strength steel and glass are added. The additional armoring brings the total weight of the vehicle plus 5 occupants to 9,899 pounds.  With all that weight, Volvo upgrades the brakes and suspension to compensate. 
Volvo tried to make the XC90 Armored look as close to a standard issue Volvo as possible so as not to draw any attention from the outside. 
If this odjuret (beast) is too much for you, Volvo also makes a lightly armored version of the XC60.

  • ...Odjuret is how you said "Beast" in Swedish...

Drew Dowdell

Rumorpile: Is Mitsubishi Planning a New Lancer Evolution?

Rumor has it that Mitsubishi is working on a return of the Lancer Evolution as a high performance sedan and hatchback. The car could be one of the first results for Mitsubishi of joining the Alliance with Nissan and Renault.  The new Lancer Evolution would use the alliance's modular CMF platform, shared with the next generation Renault Megane RS. 
Under the hood would be the powertrain from the Megane, a turbo-charged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder producing up to 341 horsepower.  While the Renault would stick with front-wheel drive, the Mitsubishi would get a version of their S-AWC all-wheel drive system.
As Renault is just now updating the current Megane line, any Mitsubishi Evo that comes from it is still years away and yet to be green-lighted. So don't hold your breath just yet.

  • ...Evolving from the Alliance...

Drew Dowdell

Ford Europe Laying Off Another 12,000

Ford of Europe announced Thursday that the company would be laying off around 12,000 employees as part of a global restructuring.  This is on top of the layoffs Ford previously announced earlier this year.  Ford says it will reduce the number of plants in the region to 18 and reorganize its business into three divisions; Commercial, Passenger, and Imports such as the Ford Mustang.
Most of the positions in Europe will be eliminated via voluntary separation programs and should be completed by the end of 2020. Of the jobs lost, 2,000 will be salary and another 5,000 will be white color positions. 
Ford is struggling to make its European operations profitable against a backdrop of stagnant sales in the EU.  Ford of Europe says that in future, all new vehicles will come with an electrified version, be that a full EV or a hybrid. 
 

  • ...this is on top of the layoff already announced...

Drew Dowdell

Audi Unveils Updated Q7

Audi has unveiled their updated Audi Q7 in Ingolstadt today.  The new Q7 gets a more robust look with an even larger grille than before, but overall retains the same basic shape.  The headlights can be optionally equipped with HD Matrix LED and Audi laser light. 
Many improvements went into the suspension. Now available as an option is active roll stabilization to reduce the cars tendency to roll into the curve. Adjustable stabilizers reduce body movement on uneven roads.  Customers can also elect the S-Line option that offers a firmer suspension and a 0.6 inch lower ride height. 
The powertrain at launch in the EU will be a choice of two diesel units, with a gasoline engine and a plug-in hybrid to follow later.  All of the ICE engines get a mild-hybrid setup using a belt-alternator-start (BAS) and 48 volt electrical system.  The BAS can recover up to 8kW of power into the battery. 
The Q7 can be ordered in either a five or seven seat configuration.  The cockpit is fully digital and includes two large touchscreens for the MMI infotainment system. Adaptive cruise assist is standard and also includes traffic jam assist, active lane assist, and adaptive speed assist. Emergency assist is new to the Q7 and if it detects the drivers is inactive, the system will bring the car to a stop and initiate protective and rescue measures. 
The 2020 Q7 launches in Europe in September with a US launch to follow later.
 

  • ...now with even more grille...

Drew Dowdell

Ford Puma Reincarnated as a Crossover

The Ford Puma sold in Europe was once a little coupe based on the Ford Fiesta.   Since coupe sales are dangerously close to zero, when Ford decided to reincarnate the name, it instead brought it back as a crossover coupe version of the Ford EcoSport.
The new Puma will be powered by a 1.0 liter, 125 horsepower engine with 48-volt mild hybrid setup or a more powerful 155 horsepower system horsepower running through the front wheels.  Diesel options will come later. Under the rear floor is a storage area with a drain plug that Ford calls a Megabox, something probably more appropriate for an F-150. 
It will come with Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Speed Sign Recognition, and Lane Centering. The driver cluster is a full TFT digital display. Sync3 with Android Auto and Apple Car Play are standard. 
No word yet on whether the Ford Puma will come to the US, but given the crossover craze going on here, we would not bet against it.  If it does come to the US, the direct competition would come from the Mazda CX-3, Hyundai Kona, and Honda HR-V. 
 
 

  • ...Europe only for now...

Drew Dowdell

BMW Vision M Next Concept Unveiled

BMW unveiled their BMW Vision M Next Concept in Munich today. This concept displays the prototype of BMW's future driving assistance technologies named "EASE" and "BOOST".  EASE allows the car to take over the task of driving and allowing the driver to relaxing in a comfortable living space.  Relaxing, talking, in-car entertainment, or other things focused away from driving are possible here. BOOST offers the driver the ultimate driving experience. 
The interior is driver oriented even if the driver is not driving. The design keeps the driver focused on the right content at the right time. 
Much of the Vision M Next Concept is a homage to the current BMW i8 PHEV. The exterior is pure sports car. Power comes from a PHEV drive with a total output of 600 horsepower and a top speed of 186 MPH.  Zero to 62 MPH is said to take just 3.0 seconds. There is also a BOOST+ mode that grants extra power at the push of a button.   All electric mode is good for up to 62 miles of range allowing for most commutes to be made purely on electricity alone...assuming you don't use the BOOST+ button too often. 
The concept isn't expected to go into production, but could indicate the path that BMW takes for both the i8 and fully autonomous driving.  Parts of the structure use recycled carbon fiber reinforced plastic, similar to bits of the 7-series and the platform can be used for EV, PHEV, and internal combustion engines.  BMW plans on releasing 25 electrified models over the next few years with all of them on the scene by 2023.
 
 

  • …the Ultimate Driving Machine can take the wheel for you, or let you have fun on your own...

Drew Dowdell

Camaro to Die - Again

Rumors coming out of Detroit are saying that the 7th generation Camaro development has been shelved, citing multiple sources from within General Motors, MusclecarsandTrucks.com reports. The current model will likely run until 2023 and then the nameplate will go back into the dustbin for the second time. 
The current car is based on the Alpha platform, the bases for the now canceled Cadillac ATS and CTS.  Their replacements, the Cadillac CT4 and Cadillac CT5 use a second generation of that platform called Alpha 2. The sources say that the Camaro will not move to the new Alpha platform. 
If the rumor is true, this will be the second time the Camaro has been canceled.  The last of the 4th generation, then known as F-Bodies, finished their run in 2002. Chevrolet revived the Camaro for a 5th generation using a cut down version of the Australian Zeta sedan platform. The current 6th generation car came out as a 2016 model and was lighter and slimmer than the 5th generation car.  The Camaro only sold 50,963 copies for 2018, a substantial drop from the 84,391 sold in 2012. 

  • ...reports say the 7th generation Camaro has been shelved....

Drew Dowdell

Jaguar Land Rover Insists It Is Not For Sale

Jaguar Land Rover's chief Dr. Ralph Speth insists that in spite of recent spate of terrible earnings, the company is not for sale.   JLR's recent issues stem from the collapse of diesel car sales in Europe while the company has a drought of hybrids and cleaner vehicles for sale.  JLR is also spending billions on building plants overseas for global market production. Jaguar has recent had to layoff thousands of workers in an effort to slash $3.2 Billion in annual spending. 
Dr. Speth's comments come after the Jaguar I-Pace won three World Car Awards, including World Car of the Year. 

  • ...The Boss says so...

Drew Dowdell

Mini-Cooper John Cooper Works GP Warms Up on the 'Ring

At the Nürburgring this weekend, Mini-Cooper will be showing a lightly disguised prototype of the new John Cooper Works GP, a limited production car coming next year.  Mini says that only 3,000 units will be produced.  The model features a 300 horsepower twin-turbo 4-cylinder engine, specialized suspension, weight reduced construction, and specialized aerodynamics. The prior version of this car was able to run the 'Ring at 8 minutes 23 seconds.  The engineers will conduct test runs of the prototype without pushing it to its limits this weekend at the 24 hour race at Nordschleif. 

  • ...Prototype previews the new Mini John Cooper Works GP with a test run...

Drew Dowdell

Quick Drive: 2020 Kia Telluride SX AWD

At an event in May, I got to spend some time with the 2020 Kia Telluride. The Telluride is an all-new model for Kia, though it is based on the Kia Sorento’s platform.  Being a good bit longer than the 7-passenger Sorento, it is substantially roomier inside, allowing for 7 or 8 passenger configurations depending on trim level.  The version I tested was the top of the line SX package with all-wheel drive and an additional Prestige Package.  Kia makes standard a whole host of active safety equipment.  Thankfully, I didn’t get to test any of the more important ones. One important safety feature on my shopping list is Smart Cruise Control with Stop and Go, and the Kia has it standard.
On appearance alone, Kia is going to have a hit on their hands.  Though on the same platform as the Kia Sorento, the Telluride strikes a handsome square and almost truck-like silhouette. The overall look is of a vehicle even bigger than it is. Up front are an attractive set of headlight clusters with yellow surround daytime running lamps. As this is a new entry to the segment, Kia spells out the model name across the front of the hood making sure you know what model vehicle it is.  It still manages to look classy. My tester had the black 20-inch wheels, LED headlamps, and rear fix-glass sunroof that comes with the SX trim level.  
Because this was the top of the line SX with Prestige Package, it came with beautiful Napa leather chairs, second-row captain chairs, heads up display, and premium cloth headliner and sun visors.  The overall fit and finish of my tester was excellent. Switchgear is nicely weighted and has a premium, if not luxury, feel to it. The styling inside is handsome if conservative, and passengers could be fooled into thinking they were in a vehicle of higher pedigree.  While it is roomier than the Sorento, is it still smaller than some of its primary competition. The Honda Pilot, Chevrolet Traverse, and Buick Enclave all boast roomier interiors.  Still, second-row comfort was good and third-row accessibility is acceptable, though best left to the kids.
My experience with the Telluride’s 10-inch infotainment system was limited, however, it is based on the same UVO system found in their other vehicles.  Even in its native modes, I find Kia UVO to be one of the easier systems to use, but if you use the included Android Auto and Apple Car Play most often, you won’t be in the native system much anyway.
The only engine option on the Kia Telluride is a 291 horsepower 3.8 liter direct-injected V6.  Torque comes in at 261 lb-ft, about average for this segment.  Coupled to the engine is an 8-speed automatic, and if you check the box for an additional $2,000, you get an active AWD system.  The system constantly monitors traction and via a controller in the cabin, the driver can select between 80/20 (Comfort and Snow), 65/35 (Sport), and 50/50 (Lock, best used for off-roading).  If you do care to do off-roading, you have 8-inches of ground clearance to play with. Towing capacity is 5,000 pounds which again is pretty much the expected capacity for the segment. EPA fuel economy is rated at 19 city / 24 highway / 21 combined.  The 2020 Telluride has not yet received a crash test rating.
Though the engine only puts out 261 lb-ft of torque, the 8-speed automatic makes quick work of it and acceleration is sufficient at a reported 7.1 seconds.  Engine noise is hushed and refined.
One of my favorite things about the Kia Telluride is its ride. The suspension is soft and comfortable.  The big 20-inch wheels can slam hard if one hits some more serious potholes, but overall this is one of the nicest riding big SUVs.  That soft suspension does have a downside; body roll and handling are not what you would call sporting. Though the steering is precise and well weighted, the big Kia hefts and leans through corners. Take it slow with grandma in the back and all will be well.  The towing package adds a hitch receiver and a load leveling suspension.
Kia is not a brand known for luxury vehicles, but in SX Prestige trim, this Telluride can certainly count as one.  That leads us to the price. At $46,860 after destination charges, the Telluride handily undercuts the competition, some of which don’t even offer the level of active safety technology the Kia offers as standard.  If you’re shopping in the large SUV segment, the Kia Telluride is definitely one to add to your test drive list.
Year: 2020
Make: Kia 
Model: Telluride
Trim: SX
Engine: 3.8L Gasoline Direct Injected V6
Driveline: All-Wheel Drive
Horsepower @ RPM: 291 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Torque @ RPM: 262 lb.-ft. @ 5,200 rpm 
Fuel Economy: City/Highway/Combined - 19/24/21
Curb Weight: 4482 lb.
Location of Manufacture: West Point, GA
Base Price: $31,690
As Tested Price: $45,815
Destination Charge: $1,045
Options:
SX Prestige Package - $2,000
Carpeted Floor Mats - $210
Carpeted Cargo Mat w/ Seat Back Protection - $115

  • …Kia brings a credible challenger to the large SUV field...

Drew Dowdell

Jaguar Readies New Platform For XJ

As we wrote late last month, the Jaguar XJ is about to use up one of its nine lives. The big cat gets euthanized next month without a direct replacement ready for market.  However, we also told you that the cat will be back, possibly as an electric vehicle next time.  At an investor meeting Jaguar confirmed that to be true.
Jaguar is working on a new Modular Longitudinal Architecture (MLA) platform for use under the next XJ and for the next Range Rover.  The flexible platform is capable of being used in electric, plug-in hybrid, or mild-hybrid configurations.  It is also being designed to be very light weight, eventually to be used to replace all five of the platforms that Jaguar Land Rover uses.  Jaguar Land Rover hopes to increase profits by reducing the number of architectures.  Jaguar does plan to continue to develop the I-Pace platform which is unrelated to MLA.
The XJ's direct replacement will launch first as a electric model with a predicted range of 292 miles using a 90.2 kWh battery. Later, 6-cylinder models (likely the new inline-6 recently shown in Range Rover) will become available.  The 292 mile range in the XJ would rival the Tesla Model S and Porsche Taycan.
For those who prefer a plug-in hybrid, the MLA platform will use a 13.1 kWh battery giving an estimated EV range of about 31 miles. Mild-Hybrid versions get a belt-alternator-starter setup to give a small electric boost at start.
Also on the MLA platform will be the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport. Both names currently offer plug-in hybrid versions, but the new MLA platform could enable the Range Rover to be available in an all electric version.  Land Rover has not yet confirmed this to be the case.   The Range Rover would come first with the Sport following close behind in 2021.
All of this comes in the background of huge job cuts at Jaguar after a record $4.6 billion loss.

  • ...flexible platform will work in both EV and Gasoline models...

Drew Dowdell

Kia Unveils the Seltos

In Delhi, India today Kia has taken the wraps off their tiny SUV calling it the Seltos.  While this model signals Kia's entry into the Indian market, it is highly likely that the Seltos will be sold in the U.S.  Kia is planning a massive launch in India with the most dealerships ever seen for a new brand entry.  
The Seltos is essentially a production version of the Kia SP Signature Concept that debuted in March of 2019. While it is a small crossover, the Seltos design affords a sporty look with a relatively long hood and strong character lines. LED lights surround the exterior. In the Indian market, the Seltos comes with 16", 17", or 18" wheels, however the US market model may skip the base 16" wheels. 
Depending on the market (read: the U.S. isn't getting the diesel), the Seltos is powered by a 1.6-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder making about 175 horsepower, a 2.0 liter naturally aspirated 4-cylinder making 147 horsepower, or a 1.6 liter diesel with 134 horsepower. Transmission choices are a 7-speed dual clutch, a 6-speed auto, or a CVT.   The driver can select different powertrain modes of normal, ECO, and Sport. 
Inside the Kia's UVO infotainment system is there with a 10.25 inch screen that feature split screen ability to display up to 3 different applications on the screen at the same time. Unfortunately, we don't have any images of the interior yet. But it does come with a "Sound Mood Lighting" option with 6 themes and 8 colors that synchronizes to the beat of the music. 
The Kia Seltos will be built in India and Korea.
 

  • ...this tiny crossover is likely coming to the U.S....

Drew Dowdell

760 Horsepower For 2020 Mustang Shelby GT500

Ford confirmed today that the all-new 2020 Mustang Shelby GT500 will boast a 5.2 liter supercharged V8 producing 760 horsepower and 625 lb.-ft of torque making it the most power-dense and torque-dense production supercharged production engine in the world.  It is also the most powerful street legal Ford ever built.

 
The engine is a hand built aluminum V8 that features a lower center of gravity by inverting the intercooler into the valley of the engine. The oil pan is structural and has active baffles to keep oil in the right place during hard maneuvering.   Power is fed to the rear wheels via a 7-Speed TREMEC dual-clutch transmission that can change gears in under 100 milliseconds. Rotational weight is further reduced by the use of a carbon fiber driveshaft. 
You can read more about the Mustang Shelby GT500 below:
 

  • ...World's most power-dense supercharged production engine...

Drew Dowdell

2020 Cadillac CT6 Makes Big Price Moves

The Cadillac CT6 has been in the news a lot lately.  First it was potentially canceled as its home factory in the U.S. is slated for closure. Then there was the Cadillac Blackwing V8.  Most recently it has dropped both the base 2.0T 4-cylinder and the mid-range (now that there is a V8) 3.0 twin-turbo V6. 
With all of those changes, there is bound to be some price changes to accompany them.
For 2020, the CT6 will see a base price rise of $8,500 over the 2019 model to $59,900. With that rise, the base engine becomes the 3.6 liter V6 and AWD standard. It is also adding about $3,500 worth of active safety equipment as standard. 
Moving up to the Premium Luxury model will add $12,000 to the price tag but comes with Cadillac's famous Super Cruise automated driving system, the rear seat package, the Comfort and Technology package, and the 34-speaker Panaray sound system. At $75,490, that's actually a $2,500 discount on those packages over the 2019 model. 
The top model, the CT6 Platinum will come standard with the Blackwing V8, replacing the 3.0 twin-turbo on the spec sheet. It also gains 20-inch wheels that were optional last year. 
While the future of the CT6 is murky, the fact that GM continues to make improvements to the model gives us hope that it will live on. 

  • ...now with a base V6....

Drew Dowdell

Lexus GX 460 Gets a Face..... Lift?

The Lexus GX 460 is one of those vehicles that just keeps on being sold in spite of being rather old. For 2020, the GX 460 gets a face lift, a new safety system, and an available all-new off-road package.
Starting off with the styling, Lexus added a giant spindle grille to the front, apparently borrowed from the larger LX.  Lexus also added Lexus Safety System+ as a standard feature across the lineup.  This addition means that now all Lexus vehicles have standard active safety equipment.  The Safety System+ on the GX 460 consists of Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Departure Alert, Intelligent High Beams, and High-Speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control.
The new available off-road package offers multi-terrain monitor, panoramic view monitor, transmission cooler, fuel tank protector, crawl control, and multi-terrain select. The suspension is Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System that helps level out the vehicle in different load conditions to keep all four wheels on the ground.  On-road smoothness is helped by the Adaptive Variable Suspension that uses electronically controlled shocks that can be selected to Normal, Sport, or Comfort modes depending on the driver's mood. 
The standard and only engine remains the same, a 4.6-liter V8 producing 301 horsepower 329 lb-ft of torque. 
The updated 2020 Lexus GX 460 arrives at dealerships this fall. 


  • ...take that BMW and your big grilles...

Drew Dowdell

BMW's M Division Might Get Bespoke Model

BMW is studying ways to give its performance M-Division special models not based on any current or former BMW.   BMW has already apparently decided which class of car the models will be in, but will not reveal details on it just yet.  Multiple concepts are being studied. 
The comments came from Markus Flasch, BMW's head of in-house tuning.  Further up for debate is whether the models would be internal combustion or electric or a blend of both. Whichever form they take, the M cars would "fit our character.... a combination of precision, agility, and luxury", though they would not necessarily be positioned above the M8.
Having standalone models would help BMW's M-Division better compete with Mercedes-Benz AMG

  • ...could be gasoline or electric...

Drew Dowdell

Mercedes-Benz E-Class getting more powerful base engine

The 2020 E-Class is moving to a new base engine and at the same time, changing the base designation from E300 to E350.  The updated 2.0-liter turbo-charged 4-cylinder makes slightly (14) more horsepower at 255 than the outgoing engine, and the torque stays the same at 273 lb-ft.  C&D tested the old E300 and found the zero to 60 mph time to be lackluster at 6.5 second.  The new engine shaves half a second off the C300 4Matic and could make similar improvements in the E350. Power is routed through a 9-speed automatic. Mercedes 4Matic can be ordered for an additional $2,500.
Along with the engine change comes a base price increase of $550.   

  • ...along with a new base designation...

Drew Dowdell