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dipulb3 · 4 years ago

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2021 Lexus RX 450h is a comfy crossover with troublesome tech

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2021 Lexus RX 450h is a comfy crossover with troublesome tech

The expressively styled Lexus RX is smooth and coddling.

Craig Cole/Roadshow

The 2021 Lexus RX 450h F Sport hybrid crossover is sinuous, frugal and impressively quiet — exactly what I want in a luxury vehicle. There is, however, one aspect of this Lexus that’s unforgivable, a mortal sin that drags down an otherwise pleasant vehicle: the infotainment system.

Stellar Mark Levinson sound system

Spacious and comfortable backseat

Exemplary refinement

Don’t Like

Loathsome infotainment system

Too-aggressive exterior styling

Meh real-world fuel economy

Hybrid versions of the RX come standard with all-wheel drive, but this example is also fitted with the F Sport package, which includes dress-up items like a unique grille, aluminum pedal covers, 20-inch wheels and even performance dampers. For extra sportiness, a $970 handling package is also offered, bringing an adaptive suspension system, retuned power steering and more goodies to the table. Beyond those F Sport upgrades, my tester features the Black Line Special Edition package. The good news is this upgrade costs just $685 and includes special body-side graphics, a black grille surround and a Halliburton Edge lightweight two-piece luggage set. The bad news is the Black Line Special Edition package is limited to just 750 gas-powered RXs and 250 hybrid models.

The Lexus RX’s styling is certainly aggressive, with its comically large grille, angular headlamps and chiseled surfacing, but its interior is much more restrained and pleasant. The cabin’s quality is stellar and its materials are generally very good. The headliner and roof pillars are wrapped in a flannel-like fabric, soft plastics are used liberally throughout and nearly all the switches and knobs feel slickly lubricated. Sure, you’ll find a smattering of Toyota-sourced buttons here and there; stuff you get in, say, a Camry, but these carryover controls are well hidden and hardly objectionable.

Just behind this Lexus’ unusually deep dashboard, the front bucket chairs are all-day comfortable and attractive, rendered in black and white with contrasting blue stitching, a combo that’s also part of the Black Line Special Edition package. Storage space up front is good, consisting of a decently sized bin under the center armrest, a few other small cubbies on the console and generously proportioned front door pockets that pop outward when you pull on them. Moving rearward, the RX’s backseat is nearly sprawl-out spacious, with plenty of legroom and a decent amount of noggin space. Comfortable cushions provide great support, with the lower one being a nice distance above the floor for a chair-like seating position. Providing easy access, this Lexus’ rear doors open nice and wide.

But now for some bad news. If there’s a worse infotainment system than what’s offered in this Lexus, I’m not aware of it. With a bewildering user interface as well as a clunky and difficult-to-use control pad on the console, this multimedia system is half laptop, half low-end Android tablet and all kinds of terrible. Not only is the menu structure confusing, the track pad you use to navigate through it is kludgy, making even simple tasks a distracting chore. Rubbing salt in the wound, this RX 450h is also fitted with the top-shelf 12.3-inch screen (an 8-incher is standard), which is bundled in a $3,365 options package, so you’re paying thousands more for an awful experience. At least that outlay also gets you embedded navigation and a superb Mark Levinson sound system that makes even highly compressed MP3s and muddy satellite radio come alive. While a bit of a reach, the RX’s infotainment screen is touch-enabled, so you can skip the trackpad, but only if your arms are lanky enough. Thankfully, this system also supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (as well as Amazon Alexa), so you don’t have to use the infotainment system any longer than it takes to plug your phone in. The vehicle’s six USB ports ensure everyone’s mobile devices are fully juiced; a wireless charging pad is also available.

The RX’s interior is extremely well built and refined, though its infotainment tech leaves much to be desired.

Craig Cole/Roadshow

The Lexus RX was updated in 2020, gaining a stiffened structure and revised suspension for better handling. This year, the vehicle gains some new technology, including blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, both of which are now standard across the range. Auto-dimming, power-folding mirrors are included at no extra charge, too, as is Lexus Safety System Plus 2.0, a suite of driver aids that includes daytime cyclist detection, low-light pedestrian detection, road sign recognition and lane-keeping assist. Thankfully, I have not had an opportunity to test the pedestrian-detecting systems, but the lane-keeping aid is gentle yet quite effective.

Underway, the RX 450h is one smooth operator. Whether you’re traversing frost-heaved highways, tiptoeing along a cratered dirt road or just cruising around your subdivision, this Lexus’ ride is always sinuous. Even rolling on 20-inch wheels, small expansion joints barely register and larger impacts are easily deflected, all with no harshness or gritty vibration percolating through to the passenger compartment. Despite its smooth ride, the RX 450h’s body is decently controlled. Sure, it could feel a bit tighter in corners and it might be nice if the steering were quicker and heftier, but the whole chassis feels so well balanced that these changes aren’t necessary, plus they might ruin the fluffy ride, which would be a shame.

Refined, punchy and economical, there’s little to complain about regarding the RX 450h’s powertrain.

Craig Cole/Roadshow

Matching its over-the-road refinement, the RX’s cabin remains incredibly silent, quieter than naptime in a nursing home, with almost no wind, tire or engine noise being heard. The RX 450h’s hybrid powertrain is built around a 3.5-liter V6, one augmented by two electric motor-generators up front that form a continuously variable transmission, and a separate motor at the rear, which provides all-wheel drive. Whispering while it works, this arrangement provides a net 308 horsepower, though a torque figure is not listed because the math with hybrids is weird. On its own, however, the V6 engine whips up 247 pound-feet of twist. The RX 450h’s easy handling and all-wheel drive add immensely to my confidence one day as the weather goes from drab to dangerous, with a winter storm dumping sleet on the roadways.

Stand on the accelerator and this Lexus scoots. Performance, while not awe-inspiring, is still very good, the engine sounding like it’s operating far off in the distance rather than a few inches ahead of your toes. The hybrid parts of this drivetrain are similarly polished, barely drawing any attention to themselves. The brake pedal is also friendly, with a seamless transition between regenerative and friction braking. For added versatility, the RX 450h offers an EV mode, which allows you to run it solely on electrons. The onboard battery pack has enough juice for you to sneak down a cul-du-sac or into the garage without running the engine, but as soon as you go too fast or prod the throttle too aggressively the engine fires up. Remember, this is not a plug-in hybrid, so electric-only range is not the primary focus.

Cutting fuel consumption, however, is one of this Lexus’ main objectives. Expect 31 miles per gallon in the city and 28 mpg on highway drives. In mixed use, the RX 450h should return 30 mpg, however, in the real world I only average around 25.1, a disappointing score. It’s typically a breeze to meet or even exceed advertised fuel-economy scores in Toyota hybrids, which makes this performance (or lack thereof) a bit of a surprise.

The Lexus RX is something of a mixed bag.

Craig Cole/Roadshow

With its upscale interior, refined manners and, yes, unfortunate infotainment tech, a base 2021 Lexus RX 450h starts at just shy of $49,000, including $1,025 in destination fees. That’s about $2,650 more than an entry-level, front-wheel-drive, non-hybrid RX 350. As it sits, this F Sport example checks out for $59,380, a figure goosed by a few add-ons like a $200 wireless charger, $640 heated and ventilated front seats, $1,365 for parking assist and a 360-degree camera system, plus a few additional goodies. Still, that outlay gets you a family-friendly vehicle that’s more docile and refined than the sportier Acura MDX and, thanks to its aggressive styling (which you may or may not love), more visually interesting than a Lincoln Nautilus or Mercedes-Benz GLC.

There’s an abundance of luxury crossovers available today, great examples from German, American and Asian automakers. Plenty of them offer upscale interiors and loads of fancy features, but few are as refined, fuel efficient — and in one particular way — frustrating as this mostly likable Lexus.

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perksofwifi · 5 years ago

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Is It Worth Getting the Bigger Engine on the New Lincoln Corsair?

More often than not, if a vehicle offers more than one engine, the cheap option is going to be pretty slow. That doesn’t matter to all buyers, but nobody wants to feel like they can’t merge safely onto a fast-moving freeway. The all-new 2020 Lincoln Corsair, though, is one of those exceptions where the base engine is actually pretty good. Do you need to pay for the upgrade, then?

The new Corsair offers two similar turbocharged four-cylinder engines that can drive just the front or all four wheels. A 2.0-liter turbo that makes 250 horsepower and 275 lb-ft of torque is standard, and a slightly larger 2.3-liter turbo making 280 horsepower and 310 lb-ft is optional. That’s not a huge difference on paper, but it’s a slightly larger one on the stopwatch. In our testing, a Corsair 2.0 with all-wheel drive needed 7.3 seconds to hit 60 mph from a stop, and a Corsair 2.3 with all-wheel drive needed 6.5 seconds, a difference of less than a second.

For comparison, a Range Rover Evoque P300 needs 8.1 seconds to reach 60 mph with all-wheel drive and its optional high-performance engine. A Lexus NX 300, with the optional engine and all-wheel drive, needs 6.9 seconds, the same as a Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 with all-wheel drive. An Audi Q3, which only offers one engine but has standard all-wheel drive, needs 8.5 seconds. The standard Corsair, then, is nearly as quick as or significantly quicker than the competition. Unless you need to be the fastest compact luxury SUV on the block, the base engine will do just fine.

The base engine becomes even more attractive when you consider the price difference. A Corsair Standard starts at $37,585 for front-wheel drive and $41,185 with all-wheel drive and can only be had with the 2.0-liter engine. To even have the option of buying the 2.3-liter engine, you must upgrade to the Corsair Reserve, which starts at $44,270 with the 2.0-liter engine and front-wheel drive. The 2.3-liter engine only comes with all-wheel drive, and to get them both the starting price jumps to $51,010. In effect, the bigger engine that’s less than a second quicker to 60 mph is a $9,825 to $13,425 upcharge.

As always, you should test-drive before you buy. Because you’re still in the research phase now, we can tell you our editors could feel the extra power of the 2.3-liter engine, but they agreed it wasn’t a must-have. The 2.0-liter engine feels plenty quick getting around town and onto the interstate, and although we like that little bit of extra oomph from the big engine, none of us felt we absolutely needed it or that the 2.0-liter engine was lacking.

The good news is that you’ll get just about the same fuel economy whichever way you go. The front-drive Corsair 2.0 is rated at 22/29/25 mpg city/highway/ combined. Upgrading to the all-wheel-drive Corsair 2.3 puts only a small dent in your fuel economy: It’s rated at 21/28/24 mpg city/highway,/combined. The EPA estimates the big engine and all-wheel drive will only cost you an extra $50 per year in fuel. Of course, that’s $50 per year on top of the extra $10,000 or more it cost to buy the top-spec powertrain in the first place.

All told, the Lincoln Corsair’s standard 2.0-liter engine makes such a compelling case for itself in value, performance, and fuel efficiency that we see no need for you to spend extra on the optional engine.

The post Is It Worth Getting the Bigger Engine on the New Lincoln Corsair? appeared first on MotorTrend.

https://www.motortrend.com/news/2020-lincoln-corsair-is-it-worth-getting-bigger-engine/ visto antes em https://www.motortrend.com

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i-globalone · 5 years ago

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As we move into 2020 drivers are looking for replacements for their old gas hogs and many are looking towards the new models boasting some amazing fuel efficiency ratings. Luxury vehicles previously focused more on creature comforts, power, and advanced technology features but recent consumer demands for better gas mileage have caused them to adopt a new outlook on the design of the engine and fuel consumption. As we move into the new year, if you’re in the market for a brand new luxury car but you want to save money at the pump, then we have a list of upcoming models that might be of interest to you. Here are the top 20 most fuel-efficient luxury cars for 2020.20. 2020 Audi TT: 25 mpg combinedThe new Audi TT Coupe is loaded with luxury features in the standard edition with the Audi virtual cockpit, MMI Navigation plus audio settings, Google Earth imagery, a fully digital 12.3-inch information display, infotainment, and a streamlined interior. The body type is a coupe with a 4 passenger seating capacity. The 4-cylinder turbocharged engine cranks 228 horsepower with 258 lb-ft of torque for acceleration from zero to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds and a top speed of 130 mph.19. 2020 Acura MDX: 20 City/27 highwayThe new Acura MDX is a crossover SUV with a passenger capacity of 6 that comes with a range of interior luxury features, all-wheel drive, and third-row seating. It comes standard with a 290 horsepower V6 engine that delivers power with plenty of torque fast acceleration. An active damper system helps to keep power to the ground. It also features a towing capacity of 5,000 lbs for a nice balance of versatility, efficiency, and performance. 18. 2020 Acura RLX: 20 City/29 HighwayThe new RLX is a sedan with a 5 passenger capacity and an all-wheel-drive that gets up to 20 mpg on the highway. It’s equipped with a V6 engine that generates 310 horsepower without sacrificing mpg. The generous fuel tank holds 18.5 gallons of fuel. Just a few of the luxury features for his model year include precision electronic control wit three settings for heat and an extra 3 for ventilation, a quick warm-up feature, a Krell audio system, and a surround-view camera.17. 2020 BMW X1: 26 mpg combinedThe X1 is a 5 passenger crossover SUV with 5 passenger seating capacity and all-wheel-drive. It’s equipped with a 4 cylinder turbocharged engine for 26 mpg combined fuel-efficiency rating, and tons of luxury features. It’s agile and the sharp handling makes this a fun car to drive. An 8.8-inch touchscreen comes standard, and it gets a refresh on the exterior for 2020 with a larger grille, lots of cargo room and rear passenger space and plenty of high-quality luxury features for creature comfort.16. 2020 Infiniti QX50: 23 City/29 highwayThe upcoming Infiniti QX50 is a 5 passenger luxury wagon that comes equipped with a 4 cylinder turbocharged engine and all-wheel drive. It gives up 268 horsepower which is ample to suit most driver’s needs for power. This is the brand’s first production of the variable compression turbo engine with the top performance that cuts down on carbon emissions for an eco-friendly more efficient luxury vehicle. 15. 2020 Audi A3 FWD: 30 mpg combinedThe Audi A3 FWD will come out for 2020 with a clean design that is modern in appearance but it’s one of the oldest entry-level sedans available today. It’s equipped with a 2.0-liter turbo-four engine in your choice of power levels. This is matched with a 7-speed S Tronic dual-clutch automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. It accelerates from zero to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds. The base front-drive model offers the best fuel efficiency and you sacrifice mileage if you decide to upgrade to the sportier package. You get 184 horsepower with the base model with 222 lb-ft of torque and a top speed of 130 mpg.14. 2020 Cadillac CT5: 23 City/32 HighwayThe new CT5 is a new redesigned compact sedan that is coming out with a new Supercruise technology. It will be equipped with a 2.0-liter twin-scroll turbo engine mated with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Luxury features include a 10-inch diagonal screen, intuitive controls along with a rotary controller. Standard adaptive remote start, cabin air purification ionizer, and front-seat lumbar massage are just a few of the luxury features that come standard.13. 2020 Lexus LS: 25 City/33 HighwayThe 2020 Lexus LS is one of the most fuel-efficient luxury cars on the market for 2020. It is powered with a 3.5-liter V6 Twin-turbo engine that dishes out 416 horsepower with 442 lb-ft of torque. It offers plenty of power with fast acceleration when you need a little extra speed. This model has been tested to move from zero to 60 mph in just 4.6 seconds with a top speed of 136 mph. The interior is spacious and luxurious with all the creature comforts that make the LS a pleasure to ride in, and it’s loaded with updated tech such as an infotainment system and available driver assistance and safety features. 12. 2020 Mercedes Benz A 220: 24 City/34 HighwayThe Mercedes Benz A220 for 2020 is coming out in a 5 passenger styling and is equipped with a 2.0-liter OLI-4 engine that is matched with a 7-speed automatic shift with manual and overdrive. The drivetrain is a 4Matic all-wheel. It’s loaded to the hilt with luxury features and advanced tech in the interior, but it still manages to deliver excellent fuel efficiency with 24 mpg in the city and 34 on the highway. This model is only available as a sedan. It’s a compact luxury car that doesn’t skimp when it comes to power, agility and quick acceleration.11. 2020 Acura ILX: 24 City/34 HighwayThe Acura ILX is a compact car that features an excellent power to weight ratio that makes it among the most powerful cars in its class. The engine is a 201 horsepower 82 i-VTEC that has been specially engineered for excellent agility with a gas-saving feature. On the interior, you’ll experience comfort and luxury with Ultrasuede trimmed seats and A-Spec badging. You can order the ILX in 4 trim packages including A-Spec, Technology, Standard, and Premium.10. 2020 Mercedes Benz CLA: 25 City/35 HighwayThe new Mercedes Benz CLA will offer drivers up to 35 mpg on the highway and 25 in the city in one of the season’s most fuel-efficient luxury vehicles. This model is equipped with a gas-sipping automatic transmission. The CLA 250 is going to cost a little more money than the A-class sedan but the all-wheel drive is a feature that some drivers will opt for at the sacrifice of a few more dollars and the more powerful engine only takes a 1 mpg hit on fuel economy. This is destined to be one of the best choices in luxury vehicles for 2020 for those wishing to conserve on fuel-consumption without sacrificing power, style or luxury features. 9. 2020 Lexus LC: 27 City/35 HighwayThe 2020 Lexus LC is coming out in a limited production inspiration series that will be offered with Nori Green paint on the exterior and Saddle tan leather on the interior. There have been a few minor changes to the optional feature availability and the standard features. A convertible has also been confirmed for 2020 with the production release date TBA. This model is a part of the LC 500 generation that made its debut in 2018. It features exceptionally high-quality interior materials with a sporty appeal. The manufacturer was generous with the standard features.8. 2020 BMW 330i: 26 City/36 HighwayThe base model is the most fuel-efficient with a 2.0-liter turbo-sour engine with 295 lb-ft of torque. and 255 horsepower. It offers plenty of power and excellent acceleration. The engine is mated with an 8-speed automatic transmission and it’s also available in an all-wheel-drive version with just a couple mpg loss. The interior boasts upscale luxury with plenty of space and easy to use controls. This model is a part of the seventh generation which made its debut in 2019.7. 2020 BMW 3 Series: 26 City/36 HighwayThe 3 Series model is in its seventh generation and is packed with innovative features. The powerful engine and sport tuning for this sean give it amazing acceleration with up to 382 horsepower. The exterior design gives it a sleek and attractive aesthetic that is functional for enhancing road agility and aerodynamics, along with a tuned suspension that has been improved over the previous model year.6. 2020 BMW 530e: 350 miles hybridThe 530e is a midsize car that is coming out with a few improvements. It receives a larger battery for the 2020 model year which gives it a longer range of up to 21 miles in EV mode with a total of 350 miles when both modes of this hybrid are used. It is equipped with a 2.0-liter turbo-four engine with an electric motor for lots of power at your disposal. You can also order this model in an all-wheel drive.5. 2020 Audi A4: 37 mpg highwayThe new Audi A4 has received a new look thanks to the refresh that it has received. It’s sporty and sleek with a minimalist approach to the interior. It gets a new MMI infotainment system with a larger display and a choice of several engine options but the base model with the 2.0-liter turbo-four grants the best fuel efficiency with 248 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque for quick acceleration and all the power you should need.4. 2020 Volvo S90-T8 490 milesThe Volvo S90 T8 is yet another fuel-efficient luxury model offered by the brand for 2020. thanks to the electric and fuel-powered engines, it offers a total of 400 horsepower and it leaves a smaller carbon footprint in the process. It’s a high-end luxury vehicle through and through in a plug-in hybrid powertrain and luxury features including a crystal electronic shifter, matte wood trim, and a large back seat. It gets 21 miles of EV on a single charge and a total of 490 miles combined range.3. 2020 Volvo S60/V60 T8: 510 miles 1charge/1tankThe Volvo S60 is a hybrid luxury car that features improved efficiency with a further range in EV mode, up to 22 miles and 510 total miles when using both power options. The larger battery enhances the range potential. This Swedish luxury car is equipped with a 415 horsepower engine and pushes 494 lb-ft of torque for zippy acceleration and plenty of power.2. 2020 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid: 39 City/42 HighwayThe new Lincoln MKZ Hybrid is coming to the end of its current generation with the 2020 model but it’s a luxury car that gets one of the best fuel-efficiency ratings of them all. The designing engineers paired a 2.0-liter gas engine with an I-4 electric motor, and the result was 42 mpg on the highway., and 39 in the city. It generates 188 horsepower combined with a price that starts at the same as the gas-only edition.1. 2020 Lexus ES 300H: 43 City/44 highwayThe ES 300H is a model that was first introduced alongside the brand’s flagship, the LS. This luxury sedan will kick off the last generation of the model with a new hybrid system. It combines a new 2.5-liter inline 4 engine with an electric motor for up to 44 mpg on the highway. it cranks out 215 horsepower with plenty of power and a continuation of the luxury cabin with all the bells and whistles you’ve come to expect from Lexus.

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jesusvasser · 7 years ago

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Wheelspinning Our Way Through 2017

If 2017 was the year of President Trump everywhere else, in the automotive world, it seemed to be the year of Elon Musk. Again. Musk’s Tesla began 2017 with some 440,000 intenders each holding $1,000 deposit receipts for a new $35,000+ Model 3 with hopes they would start to get their cars by midyear.

Tesla ended 2017 with Musk now building anticipation for a new semi truck, apparently named “Semi,” which he says will have a 500-mile range and will begin deliveries in 2019, with a new Roadster model—actually a 2+2 targa grand touring car capable of 250 mph+ and 0-60 mph in 1.9 seconds—arriving at dealers a year later.

Musk said Tesla delivered just 233 Model 3s by the end of the third quarter. When I asked Tesla public relations for an update on deliveries through, at least, mid-December, the response was to refer to Musk’s third-quarter analysts’ call held November 1. Tesla PR said the number of deliveries will be updated in the first quarter 2018 analysts’ call. So it goes.

In reality, 2017 was the year that traditional automakers ramped up their counter-assault on Tesla’s electric vehicles, with plans for everything from fuel cells and solid-state batteries to new ways to make the internal combustion engine cleaner and more efficient. Here’s how I saw the year in automobiles …

Fords with a future: CEO Mark Fields announces a $700-million investment in its Flat Rock, Michigan, plant to build a hybrid Mustang, a 300-plus mile EV SUV by 2020, and a hybrid-powered fully autonomous vehicle by 2021. Ford also will build hybrid versions of its F-150 pickup, and its Explorer-based Interceptor Police Utility vehicle and Taurus-based Police Interceptor sedan. At the same time, Fields attempts to assuage President-elect Trump’s anti-North American Free Trade Agreement position by cancelling plans for a new Mexican assembly plant.

Mary Barra adds “chairman” to her title: General Motors’ board elects its first female CEO to become its first female chairman, as well. Through much of its 109-year history, GM has assigned those titles to separate executives.

U.S. auto sales hits another record: Automakers report January 5 that they sold 17.54 million cars and light trucks in 2016, topping 2015, the previous record year, by 56,211 units. While car sales clearly have peaked, we’ll finish off calendar year ’17 at a still-healthy 17.1 million, according to AutoTrader’s mid-December estimate.

North American International Auto Show highlights: The 2017 Detroit Auto Show featured the new Kia Stinger, Mercedes-Benz E-Class coupe, Toyota Camry, Nissan Vmotion 2.0 concept (the next Altima), Honda Odyssey, Infiniti QX50 concept, Chevrolet Traverse, Lexus LS, and Volkswagen I.D. Buzz concept (a modern EV Microbus). Sergio Marchionne reveals in his annual Detroit show press conference that the next-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee will share the new longitudinal engine platform that underpins the Alfa Romeo Stelvio. Ford shows nothing of significance.

EPA says Fiat Chrysler’s diesel Jeeps and Rams violate the Clean Air Act with defeat devices: Just prior to President Trump taking office, the Environmental Protection Agency announces it’s investigating Fiat Chrysler for alleged fuel economy/emissions test cheating devices on its Jeep and Ram EcoDiesel engines. Fiat Chrysler in May announces it has a software fix to solve the problem.

GM and Honda announce a fuel cell deal: In late January, General Motors and Honda announce a joint venture to design and develop a next-generation, compact fuel cell stack. They plan to build these fuel cell stacks together at a GM plant in Brownstown Township, Michigan, that assembles battery packs for the Chevrolet Bolt and Volt by 2021.

Geneva International Motor Show Highlights: The new McLaren 720S was the show’s runaway hit, though Robert Cumberford also singles out the Fittipaldi EF7 by Pininfarina. Automobile staff also like the Aston Martin Valkyrie, Mercedes-AMG Concept GT, Volkswagen Arteon, Range Rover Velar, Alpine A110, Volvo XC60, and Bentley EXP12 Speed 6e.

GM sells Opel/Vauxhall to PSA Peugeot Citroen for $2.3 billion: The world’s third-largest automaker runs from one of the world’s largest markets¬—the European Union, collectively, is about as large as the U.S. market in millions of annual sales. It’s also a very tough market, with strict regulations, loose enforcement (see, German-brand diesels), and relatively strong unions that make it hard to move assembly plants to former Soviet satellite countries with lower labor costs. In the end, though, it may have been Brexit that pushed the sale over the line. GM’s Vauxhall was stronger in the United Kingdom than was Opel on the Continent.

Trump rescinds the Obama administration 2025 CAFE standard: Automakers selling cars and trucks in the U.S. were required to reach a 54.5-mpg Corporate Average Fuel Economy standard under an agreement reached with the Obama administration in 2010, shortly after the GM and Chrysler loan guarantee bailouts. But the standard always was subject to a “mid-term review” that could pull back the standards. The new Trump administration jumps ahead of that review with an executive order. For automakers, it will offer relief from having to reach the 54.5-mpg CAFE number. However, automakers already were well on their way in engineering new powertrains and lighter, more aerodynamic (and CAFE standard “footprint” measurements) bodies. We’re not likely to see much pullback from those plans, so most automakers will probably be close to meeting the ’25 standard, if a few years late, anyway. What’s more, Trump’s executive order does nothing to the California Mandate requiring a certain percentage of zero-emissions vehicles sold there and in 16 other, mostly coastal states. The California Zero Emissions Mandate already is responsible for cars like the Chevy Bolt and Nissan Leaf, as well as Tesla’s relative success.

Trump wants to tear up NAFTA and place a tariff on Mexican-built autos: After the U.S. auto sales peaks of 2015 and 2016, there’s no shortage of auto manufacturing capacity. As I reported in late March, Trump’s plan to tear up the North American Free Trade Agreement would not push automakers to build new, $1-billion+ factories in the United States (although Volvo, for one, already plans its first assembly plant here). The president specifically attacks Ford for moving Focus production from Michigan to Mexico in 2018, though it’s adding more profitable Ranger pickup and Bronco sport/utility production in its place in Michigan. Ford has since rescinded its plans for a new Mexican plant, and instead will move Focus production to China. President Trump has yet to act on rescinding U.S. participation in NAFTA.

Tesla’s market cap exceeds GM’s and Ford’s: Tesla’s market capitalization first passes Ford Motor Company’s, then in April, General Motors’. Tesla stock has since settled into the low $300s-per-share range, while GM stock has rallied to top the disruptive EV automaker’s cap, again. As of December 21, Tesla was worth about $55.1 billion to GM’s $60.1 billion. Wall Street bulls have defended Tesla’s stock value as a sign of an all-electric future. Tesla will be well positioned to lead that future, the bulls say, though as it continues to lose money and have problems getting Model 3 production up to speed, more and more bears are popping up in the analysts’ community.

Tesla loses $397 million in the first quarter: The losses are worse than analysts’ expectations, but by early June, stock values start to rise again.

Ford fires Fields: Ford Motor Company CEO Mark Fields, a corporate veteran credited for turning around Mazda (which Ford formerly controlled) in the late 1990s, is fired allegedly for lagging on electric car development. The real reason is Ford’s lagging stock value, a bigger concern for William Clay Ford and his relatives, who control the company with 40 percent of its stock. Fields’ replacement is Jim Hackett, hired away from the office furniture company, Steelcase.

GM shareholders reject a dual-class stock proposal: Greenlight Capital wants to split GM stock into two classes [not unlike Ford’s Class B stock] in order to cash in some value out of the automaker. To those of us far from Wall Street it seems the sort of action that would put GM in the same position it was in 12 years ago, when an economic downturn or a change in automotive tastes due to something like a spike in oil prices could lead to serious cash shortage. At GM’s annual meeting in June, shareholders roundly reject Greenlight’s proposal.

BMW 2 Series to lose manual option?: In June, a BMW executive in Germany was quoted indicating that the company would stop importing manual transmission 2 Series models to the U.S. The uproar that caused in the purist-enthusiasts’ community resulted in a clarification. If BMW stops selling stick shift 2 Series models here, it won’t be until the car’s next generation, expected to be the 2020 model year (now less than two years away). Automobile magazine’s Four Seasons ‘17 M2 came with just one option; the dual-clutch seven-speed automatic, because, BMW said, customer demand for the manual created a shortage. I wouldn’t be surprised if the next 2 Series came only with a DCT, which is handy for Level III or IV autonomous features. And the upcoming X2 “sport/activity vehicle” almost certainly will not be offered with a three-pedal layout.

Volvo goes all-electrified by 2019: The misleading headline at Volvo’s own website reads, “Volvo goes all-electric,” but the copy underneath says that by ’19, all Volvos will have an electric motor. While the hyperbole led The Cult of Elon to believe they had won their revolution, at Volvo, this entails everything from pure battery-EV to plug-in hybrid to 48-volt. For sure, the 48-volt revolution is coming, with that technology aiding stop/start systems and in some cases limited EV driving while accommodating the expansion of elaborate infotainment systems. In any event, Volvo’s announcement spurred similar claims later in the year from rival premium automakers.

Nissan launches ProPilot Assist in its all-new, 2018 Leaf: The automated cruise control will start and stop in rush hour traffic, but you still have to keep your hands on the steering wheel, which gently helps you around curves. The new Nissan Leaf’s range is now 150 miles on a full charge, still 78 miles short of the Chevy Bolt’s stated range.

Cadillac launches Super Cruise: Is Cadillac in the autonomy lead? Yes, I think it is, even if Mercedes-Benz and Volvo have slightly more capable systems in the works. As part of Super Cruise’s safety redundancy, GM mapped 180,000 miles of U.S. roads. You must take the wheel of the Cadillac CT6 to change lanes, but otherwise it’s even easier than two-fingertip steering on long, boring Interstates.

Toyota and Mazda announce joint-venture U.S. assembly plant: Likely to be built somewhere in the UAW-bereft Southeast, the joint venture also will help struggling Mazda get into electrified powertrains. Let’s hope it leads to a future for the Mazda MX-5 Miata and Toyota 86, as their Fiat and Subaru deals are not likely to have sequels.

Mazda announces Skyactive X engine technology: Mazda will equip its next 3, coming in 2019, with a compression ignition gasoline powered engine said to nearly equal a similar-sized four-cylinder turbodiesel, and match it for CO2 emissions.

Fiat Chrysler ‘confirms’ it has not been approached by Great Wall Motors: The late-summer denial that a Chinese automaker was looking to buy Fiat Chrysler comes in the middle of a year in which CEO Sergio Marchionne is pretty transparent about his desire to find a dance partner. In my Motor City Blogman column, I note that Jeep and Ram are the two brands that would attract such a partner, and that if Marchionne expected value to be paid for the rest of the brands, the company might have to go it alone for a while longer.

IAA Frankfurt motor show highlights: The Honda Urban EV concept, Mercedes-AMG Project One, a roadgoing F1 car driven onto the stage by Lewis Hamilton (who would soon win his fourth World Driver’s Championship), Renault Symbioz concept, a modern rolling living room, Ferrari Portofino, Hyundai Kona, Kia Proceed concept, and according to Robert Cumberford, the new Borgward Isabella and something called the Aspark Owl.

Delphi splits in two: We don’t often cover Tier One suppliers, but it’s worth noting that this former GM parts division this year split into two companies. Delphi Technology continues to work on updating and improving powertrains, mostly the internal combustion engine, while Aptiv covers autonomy and connectivity. While I often write about automakers’ latest autonomous technology breakthroughs, much of the advances are coming from companies like Aptiv, Continental, Bosch, etc.

GM will launch ‘at least’ 20 new battery-electric or fuel cell vehicles by 2023: While no one has figured out how to make money on BEVs or fuel cells yet, this announcement spurs on GM’s already soaring share prices. The first two new EVs will arrive by mid-2019 and will be based on the current Chevy Bolt, while the new models after that will be off a new electric/fuel cell platform, including what looks to be the C8 Corvette E-ray.

Tokyo Motor Show highlights: The Honda EV Coupe concept, Mazda Vision Coupe concept, Mazda Kai concept (next Mazda3), Subaru Viviz Performance concept (next WRX/STI), Daihatsu DN Compagno concept, and the Toyota TJ Cruiser. In time for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Toyota also displays a new Century limousine and a Tokyo cab, replacing models first designed for the 1964 Olympics that raised the city out of its postwar doldrums.

Tesla loses record $619 million in the third quarter: The cost of developing the much-awaited Tesla Model 3 and its production facility no doubt contributed to all this red ink. CEO Elon Musk says Tesla delivered just 233 of its mass-market EVs as of the end of the quarter, and says ramp-up of production to 5,000 per month now is delayed to the end of the first quarter of 2018—originally, this was the goal for the end of the year.

Peugeot-Citroen launches car-sharing service ahead of return to the U.S.: Free2Move is launched as an aggregation app for Car2Go and Zipcar in Seattle. The app will help PSA relearn the U.S. market ahead of its planned return selling cars here, says North American chief Larry Dominique. PSA will sell one of it from Performance Junk WP Feed 4 http://ift.tt/2BXQdmE via IFTTT

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eddiejpoplar · 7 years ago

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Wheelspinning Our Way Through 2017

Tesla loses $397 million in the first quarter: The losses are worse than analysts’ expectations, but by early June, stock values start to rise again.

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enginerumors · 6 years ago

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2020 Lexus ES Hybrid Review, Price, Release Date

2020 Lexus ES Hybrid Review, Price, Release Date– By using global car manufacturers creating substantial enhancements about successful performance, any hybrid marketplace includes broadened to become relatively very contesting. Also, Lexus seeing that appropriately for the reason that with a quest that will pre-present an ecologically solid touring knowledge about 2020 Lexus ES Hybrid that is…

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jonathanbelloblog · 7 years ago

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Wheelspinning Our Way Through 2017

Tesla loses $397 million in the first quarter: The losses are worse than analysts’ expectations, but by early June, stock values start to rise again.

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perksofwifi · 5 years ago

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Is It Worth Getting the Bigger Engine on the New Lincoln Corsair?

The post Is It Worth Getting the Bigger Engine on the New Lincoln Corsair? appeared first on MotorTrend.

https://www.motortrend.com/news/2020-lincoln-corsair-is-it-worth-getting-bigger-engine/ visto antes em https://www.motortrend.com

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