Monthly Archives: August 2019
2020 Porsche Taycan EV To Drop Officially On September 4
The 2020 Porsche Taycan EV will make its official debut on September 4, the company said. It will be revealed at 9 a.m. EST in three simultaneous locations in Canada, China, and Porsche’s native Germany. So, mark your calendars because the global debut will be live-streamed on the company’s dedicated online TV microsite.
The debut in China shows just how much Porsche wants to take a piece of the pie that is the Chinese market.
The first concept of the Porsche Taycan EV was aptly called the Porsche Mission E. Back then, the concept already revealed that the new electric car will have an 800-volt electric system that will allow for super-fast charging. This was a massive investment for Porsche.
It remains to be seen whether this concept’s features will pass on to the production form. The concept promised about 250 miles of range in only 15 minutes of charging. Porsche also said the car will have a driving range of more than 300 miles. The Tesla Model S has the current longest-range version of 370 miles.
According to the company, the Taycan EV can make 600 horsepower and get from 0 to 62 mph in just 3.5 seconds. If you want to take the Taycan, which translates to “lively young horse” in reference to the center of the Porsche crest, to the race track and make repeated hot laps, the electric sedan can still sustain its performance numbers.
This claim was proven by a video on YouTube, which, in just 17 minutes showed the all-wheel-drive Taycan getting from 0 to 124 mph 26 times in a row. The result showed that the fastest and slowest times were only off by 0.8 seconds.
The debut of the Porsche Taycan should give us an idea of how the company envisions the future of electric cars to be.
3 Things You Need To Know About The Black Bison 2019 Suzuki Jimny
The Suzuki Jimny is an adored rugged little retro-styled SUV that has managed to retain its “cuteness” over the years. Wald International has come up with more than just a body kit for the Jimny. Called the Back Bison Edition, the Jimny looks menacing, rough, and old school.
1. Exterior
At the front, the Back Bison Edition looks quite different from the regular Jimny. The welding, cuts, shut lines, and creases look particularly different. Wald International even added twin hood scoops. The side profile is still boxy and the flared-up wheel arches look like they come from Mercedes-Benz G-wagon sports. Adding new heights to the tuned-up Jimny are bigger tires and wheels.
2. Interior
It looks like Wald International didn’t do anything in the cabin, so the Jimny will still have the stock interior. But even if the exterior is a little more rugged, the interior should still be refined and on par with the hatchback segments. Suzuki is known for its practical and ergonomic cabins.
3. Drivetrain
Again, the tuner didn’t change anything with the Jimny’s drivetrain. The changes are entirely physical. The lift made no change to the powertrain. So at this point, we can expect it to have a 1.2-liter four-cylinder K series engine that makes 89 horsepower and 89 pound-feet of torque. This engine is mated to a five-speed manual transmission with all-wheel-drive. It is also available with a four-speed automatic gearbox.
Although the Japanese tuner didn’t do anything about the interior and the drivetrain, that’s not the biggest deal-breaker here. The sad thing about the Jimny is the US market won’t get it. Since the off-road scene in the US is pretty strong, Suzuki could sell a few hundred thousands of units here.
Hyundai To Release 2020 Genesis GV80 This Year
The arrival of the Genesis GV80 this year will signal Hyundai ’s first foray into the luxury SUV brand. It’s already been tested in public roads, but we got the new spy shots to further whet your appetite. The GV80 will be based on the brand’s G80 sedan, sharing much of its underpinnings, as well as that of other Genesis products.
It’s interesting to see Genesis jumping into the full-sized SUV bandwagon based on the spy shots of TopSpeed . The GV80 will specifically go against the Mercedes-Benz GLS and the BMW X7.
Exterior
The GV80 will not be far off from the concept introduced in 2017, but the more extreme features will not be part of the production vehicle. The production model will keep the lower LED stripes with the upper units sporting the conventional headlamps as seen on the sedans. The shape and size of the grille will be similar to the concept, but the big slab of chrome we’ve seen on the concept won’t make it to the production line.
There will be two different front grilles for the GV80: a standard-spec SUV with thin, horizontal slats, and a Sport model with a honeycomb mesh.
At the back, there will be larger taillights compared to the slender ones seen on the concept. The bumper will also have a conventional design while the rear windows will most likely be redesigned.
Overall, although the production GV80 will not be as aggressive in style like the concept, it has that luxury feel needed to compete with the Mercedes-Benz GLS and the BMW X7.
Powertrain
The GV80 will most likely use Genesis’ existing powertrains. That means to expect V-6 and V-8 units. For reference, the larger G80 sedan sports a 3.8-liter V-6 that utilizes a three-stage variable intake system, triangular fuel injector pattern, air-gap exhaust manifold, and a two-stage oil pump. It generates 311 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 293 pound-feet of torque at 5,000 rpm.
Then, there’s the 5.0-liter Tau V-8 that makes 420 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 383 pound-feet of torque at 5,000 rpm.
Both of the engines will be mated with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive will most probably be standard on the base model, but an AWD should be an option too.
Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra To Receive Interior Upgrades Soon
Reports are coming in and it looks like the Chevrolet Silverado and the GMC Sierra, both 2019 models just released, will get an interior update for the 2021 model year.
So, why is a major change coming to both models after the launch of an all-new model? It doesn’t seem like the type of plans Chevrolet is known for—launching 2019 models and bringing significant changes (albeit in the interior) in under two years. But GM isn’t working on its own timeline. It’s working against Ram’s all-new 2019 1500 pickup.
The positive response to the new 1500 pickup was enough for GM to want to start anew for its Silverado and Sierra. The plan is to fit these two models with a more upscale interior—especially on the higher-end trim levels.
The report did not give any more details about what the changes could be. It described only a revised center stack that will feature a larger infotainment screen. The materials and smaller details used in the interior will be changed to make way for more environmentally-efficient materials. And since there are criticisms against the Silverado’s and Sierra’s exterior design, maybe we can expect a few tweaks in that direction, too.
With a new Ford F-150 coming in 2021, these proposed changes in the Silverado and the Sierra are not too far-fetched.
Thought the interior for the current cars is not bad, it didn’t have any major upgrades from their 2017 models. And that’s a bad thing, considering the number of new technologies that have been launched since then. Ram, on the other hand, probably has one of the most beautiful and generous interior setups of all time.
Sales for both the GM trucks have been falling while the Ram 1500 truck continues to report soaring figures, thanks in part to the success of the previous-generation Ram Classic.
New Hyundai Kona Hybrid Priced At £22,495 In The UK
The Hyundai Kona Hybrid crossover will be priced at £22,495 in the UK. It will be on sale this September this year.
The hybrid crossover is mating the brand’s turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder GDi petrol engine with an electric motor. It’s rated at 66mpg with an emissions rating of 99g/km of CO2.
This petrol-hybrid powertrain has a combined output of 139 horsepower and 265Nm of torque. It sends power through a front-wheel-drive system through a six-speed dual-clutch transmission. It can go from 0 to 62 mph in just 11.2 seconds and it has a top speed of 99 mph.
All Kona Hybrid models come standard with 16-inch alloy wheels, cloth upholstery, and a 10.25-inch infotainment system with support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. That starts with the SE models.
The more premium models, which are priced at £24,295, have wireless smartphone charging, automatic windscreen wipers, and front fog lamps, a larger 10.25-inch touch screen, and 18-inch wheels.
Meanwhile, Premium SE models will also feature LED headlamps, LED rear lamps, heated and ventilated front seats and a head-up display. These models sell for £27,195.
Also standard to the Kona Hybrid is the SmartSense technology that includes front collision warning, lane-keeping assist, a driver fatigue warning, high beam assist, and avoidance assist with pedestrian and cyclist detection ability. There’s an optional safety kit that has a blind-spot collision warning and rear cross-traffic collision warning.
Other options include Intelligent Speed Limit Warning and Lane Following Assist systems. The speed-limit warning uses the car’s front camera to monitor the changes in speed and notify the driver while the lane-following assist keeps the car in the center of the lane when it’s on automatic cruise control.
There are seven paint options available such as the Blue Lagoon launch color. Inside, the Kona Hybrid has gloss black accents on the door handles and the steering wheel. There are white accents on the air vents and gear level, as well as a gray headlining.
Mini Set To Become An EV Brand?
Rumors are swirling around the auto industry that the beloved Mini brand could be turning into a full-blown EV (electric vehicle) company. After it has introduced the electric version of its Hardtop, the company is again making waves that could change the auto landscape in the foreseeable future.
According to a report from Automobile , managers at parent company BMW Group canceled plans to develop and offer internal combustion engines in the next-generation Mini lineup. The cars will be developed as EV cars, instead.
The report also said that the new electric Minis will be based on a skateboard-style platform, the development of which we have no idea when or where will be. The platform will out the electric motor at the front axle. There will be a pack of battery—ranging from 35 to 50 kilowatt-hours—somewhere there.
The entire lineup will be fully electric, reports indicate. But these are not entirely new cars. The lineup should include replacements for the Hardtop and the Countryman too. There will be a new downsized Mini (as if the Mini wasn’t small enough even for one passenger) as well.
Plans for a downsized Mini were nothing new. A month ago, it was reported that the downsized Mini is based on the 2011’s Rocketman Concept.
Last year, BMW Group, which manages Mini, signed a letter of intent with Great Wall Motors in China to jointly develop and manufacture electric Minis in the Asian economic giant’s shores. Although there was no mention of when the partnership will take effect, reports said that the first jointly developed Minis will arrive by 2022 or 2023.
The question is, will Minis (whether regular or electric) still be made out of China? There was no mention of exclusivity in the partnership with Great Wall Motors. Rival company Daimler, which owns Mercedes-Benz, signed an agreement with Geely in March to jointly develop and manufacture future Smart cars exclusively in China.
Tesla Stands By Its Claim That The Model 3 Is ‘Safest Car Ever Tested’
Despite a warning from a federal safety regulator last fall that Tesla stops advertising its Model 3 as the “safest car ever tested,” the Palo Alto-based company is standing by its claim.
According to Tesla, Model 3 passengers will have “the lowest probability of injury of all cars the safety agency has ever tested.” This is still on the company’s website. However, documents showed that in at least five instances, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) sent subpoenas to the company, seeking information on crashes involving their vehicles.
In October last year, the same federal agency sent a cease-and-desist letter to Tesla for not complying with the agency’s guidelines in its Model 3 safety assertions. NHTSA apparently chided Tesla, which is led by billionaire Elon Musk, for publishing misleading statements about the safety of the car.
In a letter dated October 31, 2019, Tesla stood by its analysis of NHTSA’s data. Tesla deputy general counsel Al Prescott said that Tesla’s statements “are neither untrue nor misleading.”
“To the contrary, Tesla has provided consumers with fair and objective information to compare the relative safety of vehicles having 5-star overall ratings.”
According to the automaker, 40% of cars have five-star safety ratings from the NHTSA. The advertisement aims to help consumers know the difference in safety features among the cars currently in the market.
A letter from NHTSA chief counsel Jonathan Morrison to Musk on October 17 last year said that this was not the first time that Tesla did not heed the guidelines of the agency “in a manner that may lead to consumer confusion and give Tesla an unfair market advantage.”
Safety groups have criticized Tesla and Musk for being unclear about the capabilities of its Autopilot, a partial autonomous driving feature that falls just short of not needing driver intervention whatsoever.
