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.
Read more...
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.
Read more...
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.
Read more...
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.
Read more...
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.
Read more...
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.
Read more...
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.
Read more...
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.
Read more...
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.
Read more...
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.
Read more...
