An Italian company is taking a different approach at race car building. It is aiming to produce an affordable electric race car using non-expensive materials to cut costs and make a lightweight construction. According to Motor1, the project is the result of a collaboration between car companies in Piedmont, Italy.
Designed by Fabrizio Pepe of Mastery Design, the Spice-X SX1, which has so far only been previewed in a series of render images, measures just 150.6 inches long and 66.7 inches wide. The materials are so light that the Spice-X SX1 weighs just 1,323 pounds, making it one of the lightest EVs yet.
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The 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 has been in the news a lot recently for many good reasons, among them its upcoming arrival at dealerships. But is it possible for the new Silverado to surpass F-150 in sales? Anything is possible, only if they use the right strategy.
According to Automotive News, Chevrolet has literally “restructured” its full-size pickup truck is not only design and materials but also its lineup range. What was lacking before is now present. For example, for 2019 there will be three new trims to help expand the Silverado’s market share. These new trims, however, are not in the luxury realm but rather at the opposite end of the spectrum.
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Toyota has a new hypercar in the works, previewed by the rather extreme-looking GR SuperSport concept. But while we don’t know too much about it at this early stage, we do know that it’s going to be expensive. As in, seven-figures expensive.
Toyota’s Australian spokesman confirmed the race-car-for-the-road will carry a price tag upwards of a million dollars. And even if a million of Australian dollars may not be worth as much as a million of American dollars, it gives us an idea of what sort of pricing the Japanese automaker will be looking at. At this point, there are more questions than answers. We don’t even know when cars will be available, what markets they will go to and where they will be road registerable and where they won’t.
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Driver assists are now so advanced, we often take technology that can take care of accelerating, braking, and steering in certain situations for granted. But, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, these convenient assists are still no substitute for human drivers.
As reported by Automotive News, the IIHS tested the Level 2 driver assistance systems on vehicles from Tesla, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Volvo and found that each system has potentially dangerous weaknesses. During four track-based tests, the IIHS discovered weaknesses in Volvo's adaptive cruise control and Tesla’s automated emergency braking systems, relative to competitors from Mercedes and BMW.
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Mitsubishi’s current U.S. lineup may not be as performance-oriented as it once was. But with customers flocking to crossovers, the marque hopes it can cash in on the craze by reviving nameplates like “Eclipse.” The Eclipse won’t be the only victim of the SUV shift, though; Mitsubishi has confirmed the arrival of a Lancer crossover.
Artist Tigran Lalayan has imagined a Lancer crossover coupe concept that would look right at home in the current Mitsubishi range. It does not share a lot in common with the outgoing sedan– apart from the slim upper grille – but it does have a few sharp features, including some shared elements with the e-Evolution concept from 2017. The headlights have a futuristic Cadillac XT4-vibe to them, with cascading LED accents. The backside is more distinctive with sharp taillights that embed into the body and a small lip spoiler.
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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has reportedly opened an investigation regarding fire complaints in the 2015-2018 Ford F-150 full-size pickup truck. However, the source of these reported fires is not the typical culprit, the engine, but the truck’s seat belts.
Ford has already announced it is fully cooperating with the government’s investigation of some 2 million potentially affected trucks. “We take the safety of our customers very seriously,” said a Ford spokeswoman. They are investigating the matter and will cooperate with the agency. A recall has not been announced yet. For now, it’s just an investigation that all began when the NHTSA received five complaints about seat belt pretensioners made from ZF-TRW or Takata were activated. Three of the trucks were destroyed by the fire, the remaining two went out on their own.
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It’s been six years since Tesla Model S has been around. In fact, the original design dates back to 2009 when the Model S Concept was introduced. Both the Model S and Model X will be getting a facelift in Q3 2019 adding a new minimalist interior to match the Model 3. Sadly, this means that next-generation versions of both models are likely still a few years away.
It’s not an ideal situation as Tesla will soon face some stiff competition in the EV segment from major automakers like Mercedes-Benz, Audi and Porsche as early as 2019. Tesla will need to come back fighting, and render artist Emre Husmen has envisioned what the next-generation Tesla Model S could look like. Inspired by the Tesla Roadster concept’s design language, the EV rendering looks more aggressive to help Tesla fight off its future rivals thanks to its more aerodynamic exterior.
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There’s no doubt that Daimler’s Smart car brand did not succeed in the US. Although it found some early success in Europe, Americans did not find the Smart car’s small dimensions particularly appealing. But Daimler, which is also the parent company of Mercedes-Benz, is not giving up on the Smart brand.
Bloomberg reports the German automaker is currently holding talks to build Smart cars in China with its long-time Chinese partner Beijing Automotive Group. The intent is to begin selling electric cars to the world’s largest EV market. Smart has already made plans to become an EV-only brand, so it makes a lot of sense to get a strong foothold in China. Apparently, Daimler is aiming to set up a new joint venture with Beijing Electric Vehicle, which just so happens to be a unit of Beijing Automotive Group.
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A few days ago we learned that Ford plans to launch a new next-generation Focus-based small pickup truck in the US for 2022. The automaker has yet to officially confirm this, but the source of the rumor is solid. Besides, such a vehicle does make a lot of sense given America’s love for pickup trucks.
If such a vehicle gets built, it will be slotted below the upcoming 2019 Ranger pickup truck in size, price, and general capabilities. It will ride on a car-based platform, meaning front-wheel drive and, very likely, all-wheel drive as well. Another noteworthy fact is that Ford will essentially kill off its US car lineup over the next couple of years.
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Fiat Chrysler is recalling 1.4 million Ram pickup trucks across the US to upgrade their tailgate locking mechanisms. After an investigation, the company discovered the power locking mechanisms in the tailgates of certain pickups have a small internal component that may break over time.
This could cause the tailgate to unlatch and open while driving, spilling the cargo onto the road and potentially causing an accident. The company says it is not aware of any related injuries or accidents. Specifically, the recall affects certain Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500 pickups from model years 2015 through 2017 equipped with 5-foot-7 and 6-foot-4 cargo beds.
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Months after unveiling the hatchback variant for Europe and the long wheelbase version for China, Mercedes-Benz has finally revealed the A-Class sedan that will be sold in North America for the first time in the model’s history. Measuring 179.1 inches long and riding on a 107.4-inch wheelbase, the standard A-Class sedan is 2.3 inches shorter than the Chinese version but it still looks extremely stylish with clear design cues from the CLA.
As revealed by Mercedes earlier this week, the new compact luxury sedan has the lowest aerodynamic drag of any production car in the world with a drag coefficient 0.22, beating the previous record set by the CLA Coupe. The A-Class Sedan will be available in two different flavors: an A220 and an A220 4Matic. Both trims are powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine sending 188 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque to either the front or all four wheels, mated to a seven-speed dual clutch transmission.
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It was back in 2011 when the Nissan Juke launched in the US. Many did not know what to make of the funky-looking small crossover with its frog eye-like front-end design and, at the time, unusual proportions. In 2018 just about everywhere one goes a Juke can be spotted on the road. Automotive News reports that Nissan has officially dropped the subcompact Juke crossover from its American lineup.
Sales were down last year by 48 percent, compared to 2016. Its replacement is the all-new Nissan Kicks. Americans haven’t quite taken to the Juke in nearly the same enthusiastic manner as the Europeans have, but it was an important vehicle for Nissan North America nonetheless. It brought attention to the brand. Nissan says the Juke’s goal in the US was not to appeal to family crossover shoppers, but rather young single men whose next car would hopefully be a 370Z.
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Mitsubishi reported a 36 percent jump in operating profit:
Mitsubishi ’s operating profit reached $253.9 million in the fiscal first quarter. It means the company’s profits jumped 36% in the latest quarter as the automaker's rebound gathered speed on rising sales in every key market.
The robust results were buoyed by new vehicles such as the Eclipse Cross and Outlander PHEV crossovers in the United States and the Xpander MPV in Southeast Asia. Looking ahead, Mitsubishi kept its earnings outlook unchanged. It expects worldwide operating profit to increase 12 percent in the current fiscal year ending March 31, 2019, while net income inches ahead 2 percent. Gains will come from rising sales and stepped-up cost control. Mitsubishi forecasts global retail sales to grow 14 percent to 1.25 million vehicles.
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The Land Rover Defender has been out of production for a few years now. A new-generation model is on the horizon. But if you can’t wait for the all-new version to arrive, Ares Design, an Italian coachbuilder has revealed a new take on the iconic off-roader, and it’s probably going to be a bit controversial.
Dubbed “The Ultimate Defender”, Ares says that “every aspect” of the Defender has been reworked, from the engine to the interior, and the SUV also gets a full body kit. “The Defender is a motoring icon,” said Ares CEO Dany Bahar, who previously worked as the boss of Lotus. “Icons can be reimagined, though, and our Defender is the ultimate incarnation of the bespoke 4x4, delivering incredible performance, captivating looks and opulent touches more akin to a luxury SUV."
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The United States has entered a trade war with China after imposing a 25% tariff on $34 billion worth of Chinese goods. China has reciprocated with tariffs of its own, companies like Tesla are already feeling the burn. Tesla had to increase the price of its cars in China, but CEO Elon Musk already has plans to get around the tariffs.
Since it looks like the US and China aren’t backing down, Tesla has announced a new factory in Shanghai. Musk met with Chinese officials, and Shanghai will speed up efforts to cancel restrictions on foreign investment in the country. In the past, automakers that wanted to build in China needed to have a Chinese partner.
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The BMW Group has confirmed that they are right on schedule to roll out an all-electric Mini next year, and released a couple of teaser images to give us an idea of what to expect. The fully electric Mini is set to be based on the two/three-door hatchback, and it will feature a completely electric powertrain.
The plans were confirmed at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this past weekend, where the automaker showcased the Mini Electric Concept that was first revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show last year. This will be the brand’s first completely electric model since the Mini E that was released as part of a pilot program a decade ago. The electric powertrain components will be manufactured by BMW in Germany, where it also makes the i3 and i8.
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BMW has been showing strong sales numbers over the past year across its range, but electrified vehicles have really taken a jump. According to BMW, compared to the same month last year worldwide electrified vehicle sales have shown an increase of 47.6 percent. This means that 13,806 BMW I, iPerformance and Mini electric vehicles found new homes. It is only a small fraction of the 200,000+ cars BMW sells each month but it is a big improvement, none the less.
The situation is changing rapidly though. A member of the board of management at BMW estimated that by 2025 up to 25% of all cars sold will have some form of electrification. This could mean over 50,000 electrified cars sold monthly, a goal that seems very reachable considering the investment that is being put into the next generation of hybrids and EVs.
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A company called Lazante Motorsport teased a new version of the McLaren P1, which was slated to debut at the 2018 Goodwood Festival of Speed. Lazante was the company that helped McLaren win at LeMan with the original F1 GTR Longtail in the 1990s, so it is the right candidate to make a P1 even faster.
The highly anticipated McLaren F1 Longtail successor is finally here, and it is making its full debut at Goodwood. This car is called the P1 GT, and it is the latest in a line of boosted, race-prepped McLaren from Lazante. They took the already fabulous McLaren P1 and fitted it with an aggressive new aerodynamic package that includes a fixed rear wing and longer tail. The company did not specify if the power has been increased or how much the P1 GT weighs.
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Going to a car dealership isn’t always a pleasant experience. There are some ways to avoid a bad experience, but it would just be simpler if automakers allowed you to look at their cars somewhere else – like on the internet. Mercedes-Benz is looking to inch away from the painful dealership experience.
Mercedes pop-up stores are coming to the US this year. Unlike traditional dealerships, pop-up stores are designed to focus on showing off the product, rather than just selling it. Mercedes experimented last year with pop-up stores in Atlanta and Miami and will follow up with a third location in Chicago. This year, Mercedes is planning on opening more of them probably focused on new product launches. The pop-up stores will look a bit like Apple stores that you see in the mall.
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The Goodwood Festival of Speed represents a chance for automakers to show off their most exclusive new products. It is also an opportunity for smaller marques to rub elbows with well-established luxury brands. To be noticed and remembered, companies have to bring something special.
A small Indian company called Vazirani Automotive has revealed a new supercar called the Shul, and it really catches your attention. The Shul is a new type of supercar, that features a turbine-electric drivetrain that is designed to appeal to “purists and petrolheads.” Four electric motors sit on each wheel to provide fully independent torque vectoring, each sending power through a single-ratio gearbox.
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The clock is ticking for Tesla buyers in the US to receive the full $7,500 federal tax credit for electric cars. Tesla delivered its 200,000th car this month which means a slow phase-out of the tax credit has begun.
Put in place early on in the Obama administration, the tax credit was seen as a tool that could be used to encourage customers to buy plug-in electric or hybrid vehicles. It was meant to offer consumers a bit of a break while the cost of battery technology slowly came down and to encourage manufacturers to push for greater advancements in that technology.
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Five motorsport-inspired Audi R8 are set to be sold in Britain – a car Audi calls its “most capable and focused to date.” The limited-edition supercar, only 44 of which will be produced worldwide, adds a number of performance parts which increase downforce and drop weight, while the power number remains the same as the R8 Plus’ 600 horsepower.
The additions aren’t just cosmetic though. As well as the car’s diet, the enhancements are said to improve cornering ability. The body kit adds a large fixed rear wing and diffuser, as well as side skirts, and more elements behind the wheel arches and at the front of the car to further direct airflow through and around the car. There’s also a large front splitter that reminds of the Audi R8 GT3 racing car.
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Last Friday, the trade war between China and the US kicked off, as US President implemented a 25% tariff on $34 billion worth of Chinese goods. China has already retaliated with an increase in electric car tariffs from 15% to 40%. This means that cars that are imported into China will now be more expensive. According to The Wall Street Journal, Tesla had to raise its prices in China.
The Model X now costs $140,000, which is a significant increase over the old $117,100 price. TheModel S now costs $128,400, an increase of about $21,000 compared to the old price. Elon Musk, Tesla CEO, will reportedly meet with Chinese officials in Shanghai and Beijing this week to discuss the issue. It does not seem like either government will back down. President Trump could be looking to impose tariffs on even more goods, and China has accused the US of “bullying” and starting “the largest trade war in economic history.”
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