Monthly Archives: January 2019
New Polestar 2 To Rival Tesla Model 3 Will Arrive Soon
Polestar, the new electric carmaker joining the fray, is coming up with its new model, the Polestar 2, in the hopes of rivaling the Tesla Model 3. The company teased us with a few shots of the new model, which is expected to be revealed in the coming weeks.
The first teaser shot was an aerial view of the Polestar 2. It shows a four-door coupe-like variant of the Polestar 1. A full-width light bar, which was confirmed in a second teaser photo, runs across the car’s rear end. The roof is one large panel made of glass.
Compared to the Tesla Model 3, this car looks like a regular small sports sedan. But here’s the clincher: Polestar said it will offer a range of 300 miles and 400 horsepower. Final specifications will be released as the company moves forward to the production date, which might be later this year or early next year.
It was only in late 2017 when Volvo started its Polestar performance arm into a standalone brand that will focus on developing electrified vehicles. The aim is to engineer a variety of electric cars that will not sacrifice performance and power. The first model arrived in the form of the plug-in hybrid Polestar 1.
Polestar isn’t taking it slow when it comes to developing these new high-performance electrified cars. It is currently constructing its own plant in Chengdu, China and confirmed a Polestar 1, 2, and 3. The Polestar 3 will be a small SUV that’s due in 2022.
The Polestar 2 should make its debut in March at the Geneva International Motor Show. This is also the first vehicle that will carry the Android-based infotainment system that will feature in future Polestar and Volvo cars.
The Polestar 2 will also target the lower bracket of the market. Unlike the Polestar 1, which has a starting price of $155,000, the Polestar 2 will follow Tesla Model 3’s pricing of $40,000.
Carlos Ghosn Resigns As Renault’s Chairman
Former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn voluntarily resigned as Renault’s CEO and chairman following his arrest in Japan in November over allegations that he understated his pay and used company assets for personal investments.
Renault confirmed Ghosn’s decision to step down from the chairmanship after a board of directors meeting. Ghosn is still in jail in Japan and has recently been denied bail once again. He spent his Christmas and New Year in jail. Renault also confirmed that a new CEO and chairman has been named.
As expected, former Michelin chief executive Jean-Dominique Senard was elected as the French company’s new chairman during the board meeting. Theirry Bollore, who ran the business during Ghosn’s absence, will be Renault’s new chief executive.
Following his appointment as CEO, Senard will also be the chairman of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance which Ghosn headed.
In November, Nissan’s board of directors voted to sack Ghosn after he was indicted in Japan for understating his pay. Nissan’s internal investigation also alleged that the disgraced former executive used the company’s assets to cover the loss of some personal investments.
In its investigation, Nissan further found out that Ghosn and former deputy Greg Kelly reported compensation amounts in the Tokyo Stock Exchange securities report that were less than the actual amount. The misconduct happened “over many years.”
Nissan provided the information to the Japanese Public Prosecutors Office as they have been fully coordinating with the investigation, a statement from the Japanese auto company said.
Nissan then apologized to its shareholders and stakeholders for the risks and concerns Ghosn’s actions produced. “We will continue our work to identify our governance and compliance issues, and to take appropriate measures.”
The Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance, however, a long-standing partnership among the three companies, will remain “unchanged” even as one of its founders has left the group.
Bugatti Will Never Join The SUV Segment
There is absolutely zero chance that French company Bugatti will engineer an SUV in the future even as this segment has boomed in popularity in the past decades. Forget about other luxury carmakers like Ferrari and Bentley who succumbed to the lure of the trend. CEO Stephen Winkelmann said the company has no intention of building an SUV.
Winkelmann, of course, is not living in the past. He knows very well that the segment has taken over the industry in the past decade. He even said that the “time appears appropriate” for one.
And though there were rumors last year that Bugatti was preparing to join the fray and build its own SUV, that’s now seriously not in the equation. It makes sense to want one though since many exotic car brands have their own super-luxury SUVs in the lineup. Lamborghini has the Urus, Bentley has the Bentayga , Rolls-Royce has the Cullinan, and Ferrari is developing the Purosangue. A lot of these brands, like Bugatti, also initially resisted building an SUV.
Bugatti now joins McLaren and Koenigsegg as the only three exotic car makers that will not join the SUV segment. However, it’s easy to understand why Bugatti is joining the rarer group here. Bugatti, like Koenigsegg, is defined as the standard-bearer of performance in an industry that has no shortage of competitors. Winkelmann said that developing an SUV will be a “disservice” to its brand and history.
So for now, Bugatti can focus on what’s on the table, which is the long-overdue sedan with the 16C Galibier Concept it previewed way back in 2010. It was rumored to be a fastback luxury saloon that will come equipped with an 8.0-liter 16-cylinder engine with a two-stage supercharging system. The output was pegged at 800 horsepower. This may be the perfect time to finally focus on bringing this luxury saloon to the production table.
3 Things To Know About The 2019 Ram 2500 Power Wagon
The Ram Power Wagon is historically known for being the badass of the road with its muscle and power and burly structure, the Power Wagon screams off-road. However, the latest Power Wagon, which draws from the seven decades of established presence in the pickup truck scene, will be more luxurious and tech-heavy than any of its predecessors.
Exterior
For the 2019 model year, the Ram 2500 Power Wagon will have a rather significant update in its looks. The changes might look similar to the recently revealed 2019 Ram 1500, especially when it comes to the front fascia and the lines. The cab, box, and doors, however, are more or less identical to the outgoing Power Wagon model.
Some of the new things we can expect are the 17-inch aluminum wheels, the bigger grille, the taller nose, and the reshaped LED taillights.
Interior
The new 2500 Power Wagon may look burly and muscular outside but inside, it’s all about luxury and comfort. The overall appearance of the cabin will remind you yet again of the newly released Ram 1500 series and boy, does it look good on the 2500 Power Wagon.
The vehicle sits up to six passengers and is exclusively in crew-cab configuration and standard six-foot, four-inch box that matches the outgoing model. The steering wheel design, dashboard, center console, HVAC vents, and various controls all feel more luxurious. It also comes with a unique upholstery for the seat patterns, an optional 12.0-inch infotainment screen, 17-speaker audio, top-down 360-degree camera system, and power-release tailgate.
Performance
All these luxuries have to come with power, right? It comes with a standard 6.4-liter Hemi V-8 that features cylinder deactivation and Variable Cam Timing. The total output is pegged at 410 horsepower and 429 pound-feet of torque. With the proper configuration, the 2500 Power Wagon should be able to offer a payload increase of 1,660 pounds with the base model while towing increases to 10,620 pounds.
2020 Lincoln Aviator Gets Starting Price of $52,195
Lincoln ’s new midsize SUV, the 2020 Lincoln Aviator, will start selling at $52,195, although when fully loaded and configured, the price can balloon to as much as $90,000.
The base model will come with a 10-inch touchscreen, exterior and interior welcome lighting, heated front seats, a 10-speaker audio system, and tri-zone automatic climate control. Also standard to the base model is the Lincoln Co-Pilot360, a system that includes blind spot detection with cross-traffic alert, pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, lane keep assist, and a rearview camera.
The $52,195 model will have a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V-6 engine that produces 400 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque.
The starting price is surprisingly competitive, given that the car makes more than the usual horsepower you will receive from a vehicle cut from the same segment. It is less expensive than the base model of the 2019 Audi Q7 , which has a starting price of $54,545. Instead of a V-6 engine, the Q7 only comes with a four-cylinder engine. The model that makes a respectable 329 horsepower comes with a six-cylinder engine for the Q7 but the price begins at $60,945.
Another competitor is the 2019 Volvo XC90 , which has a base price of $57,295 when buyers choose the four-cylinder engine that makes 316 horses.
If you got more in the bank, you might want to check out the Reserve trim of the Aviator. This adds a 360-degree camera, quad-zone climate control, ambient lighting with illuminated front scuff plates, hands-free liftgate, and a Revel audio system with 14 speakers for $57,285.
The Black Label models give more updates with a 28-speaker Revel sound system, panoramic roof with power shade, a head-up display, 30-way adjustable first row seats with ventilation, and a choice of special interior colors and materials. Those who choose the Black Label trim will also get 22-inch wheels and special Black Label services such as complimentary car washes, remote service pickup and delivery, annual detailing, and more. All these will come with a heavy price tag of $78,790.
There’s a plug-in hybrid option too that pairs the 3.0-liter twin-turbo V-6 to an electric motor. Combined, this makes 450 horses and 600 pound-feet of torque. The plug-in hybrid option starts at $69,895 with the Grand Touring trim.
The Black Label Grand Touring trim is the most expensive of all trim levels. It starts at $88,895 but will reach $90,000 when all options are checked.
The base and Reserve trim arrive early this summer while the Black Label, Grand Touring, and Black Label Grand Touring will go on sale late in the summer. Pre-orders will start in the spring.
Next-Generation Dodge Charger and Challenger Might Go Hybrid
The Dodge Charger and Challenger are outdated. That is when you look at their specs on paper. But once you get to handle these two massive machines, you’ll realize why car enthusiasts kept on placing these two at the top of the wish list. There is nothing outdated with the 797 horsepower in the Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye.
Big power is always going to be a favorite, no matter if they come in forms of a powerful sedan or in pickup trucks. But fuel economy all around the world is becoming stricter. The regulations in Europe alone will not allow the continuation of high-performance Challengers. So, how will they survive under these stricter regulations?
They must go hybrid. That’s exactly what Dodge is looking at with the next-generation Dodge Challenger. According to The Detroit News, who spoke with Fiat Chrysler CEO Mike Manley, the company is “surprisingly” open to the idea of going electric. Since we’re technically entering the 2020s, the platforms and technology used in the current-generation Challenger, for example, cannot be carried over.
“New technology is going to drive a load of weight out, so we can think of the powertrains in a different way. And we can use electrification to really supplement those vehicles,” Manley said.
What’s the takeaway here? Manley is looking at electrification not only to follow fuel economy regulations and cut down on gasoline and diesel use but also to improve the performance of the cars. Of course, that means that the era of the Hellcat, a supercharged V-8 engine that makes 700 horsepower, might be over.
Electrification, according to Manley, will be part of the fabric of creating American muscle cars in the future. And while the thought of saying goodbye to the 700-HP Hellcat might not sit well for the car’s fans, let’s give the future—an electrified Challenger—a chance first.
