PSA Peugeot Citroen Chief Executive Carlos Tavares delivers a speech during the presentation of the companys 2018 full year results, in Rueil Malmaison, west of Paris, Tuesday, February 26, 2019.Thibault Camus / Getty The rumours are true: FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) is merging with PSA, the European maker of Peugeot, Citroen, Opel and Vauxhall vehicles, both corporations confirmed in a press release October 31.According to The Detroit Free Press, the two companies struck a deal that will see a 50-50 joint shareholder-owned entity. There would be no plant closures, and the combined entity would save 3.7 billion Euro annually.The two companies will have combined revenues of 170 billion Euro, with profits of more than 11 billion Euro based on 2018 figures. The new corporation will become the fourth-largest automotive group in the world. The hope is the partnership will see more automakers come together and develop self-driving technology and electrification. Under the umbrella of a Dutch parent company, the FCA and PSA will combine with a board made up of 11 members, of which each company will nominate five. Carlos Tavares of PSA will be the CEO of the new company, while John Elkmann will retain his role as FCA Chairman.The decision is still to be finalized in a memorandum of understanding in the coming weeks, but both brands have agreed to proceed.Before his death, it was FCA CEO Sergio Marchionnes vision to create a more consolidated automotive industry, and it seems like this is helping fulfill that vision.The new company will be listed on the New York, Paris and Milan stock exchanges. It isnt clear what the group will be called
Origin: FCA and Peugeot-maker PSA confirm a 50-50 merger, forming new company
Fisker’s new electric SUV has a name
The Fisker revealed October 31 that the brands newest electric vehicle will be named Ocean; the SUV will take on a more conventional shape and layout for the needs of todays buyers.Instead of revealing a concept car followed by a production model, Fisker will show a fully running production-intent prototype sitting on the actual, completely engineered platform, or at least it will January 4, 2020.As far as we can see, the vehicle essentially looks like an electric Jaguar F-Pace. Fisker calls the Ocean the Worlds Most Sustainable Vehicle, a claim aided by way of the trucks building materials. The interior is completely vegan, being made of 100 per cent polycarbonate polyurethane surfaces and 100 per cent reinforced Rayon backing.Other key parts of the vehicle are also made of reclaimed materials: the carpets are made of regenerated nylon from abandoned fishing nets, pulled directly from the ocean; the so-called Eco-suede upholstery is made from old t-shirts and recycled bottles. Fisker also says that recycling instead of producing new polyester reduces CO2 emissions by 80 per cent.Just like Fisker vehicles previous, the Ocean will have a solar panel roof to recoup more energy. The electric range will be between 250 and 300 miles (400 to 480 km) thanks to an 80-kW battery pack.Production of the Fisker Ocean will begin at the end of 2021, with deliveries starting 2022. Early reservations will take place on November 27, 2019, and will be done through Fiskers proprietary app.Pricing should be around the US$40,000, so the Ocean can put Teslas Model Y square in its
Origin: Fisker’s new electric SUV has a name
Alfa Romeo scraps plans for new GTV and 8C models
Alfa Romeo’s future product plans have been slashed, according to the brand’s third-quarter earnings report – with the proposed new GTV and 8C sports cars axed. FCA boss Mike Manley told investors during a conference call that Alfa’s portfolio plan has been “significantly scaled back, with a corresponding reduction in capital spending”. The plan was quietly released in a financial results presentation to investors yesterday (Thursday) and discussed during an earnings call today. It appears to show that the Italian brand’s range has been ‘rationalised’ down to four future models: replacements for the Giulia and Stelvio, the Tonale and a new smaller ‘B-SUV’, which has yet to be detailed. This means the new GTV coupé and 8C replacement, announced in a five-year plan in June 2018, have been shelved or pushed back, alongside a rumoured BMW 5 Series saloon rival to sit above the Giulia. It’s not yet clear if these models have been delayed or shelved entirely, but all signs point to the former for the time being. Last year’s five-year plan was drawn up under the leadership of former FCA boss Sergio Marchionne, who passed away last year. Since taking the reins, Manley has changed tack, responding to significant losses posted by Alfa and FCA’s wider European arm. It’s likely that the decision to cut spending on Alfa Romeo’s future line-up is influenced by the recently announced merger between FCA and the PSA Group, which was confirmed shortly before the financial results were released. The merger creates the fourth-largest car-making group in the world, but PSA CEO Carlos Tavares – who is set to be named CEO of the new merged group – is famed for bringing in wide-ranging cost-cutting measures to increase efficiency and
Origin: Alfa Romeo scraps plans for new GTV and 8C models
Ford’s 2019 SEMA scheme is all about heavy-duty trucks
This new 2020 Ford F-250 Super Duty debuts in Tremor off-road trim with Black Appearance Package by Ford Accessories as the most capable four-wheel drive Super Duty ever.Ford Ford is bringing no fewer than five truck concepts to this years SEMA show in Las Vegas, and they range from mild to way wild.First up is the LGE-CTS Motorsports Baja Forged Ford F-250 Super Duty Crew Cab XLT; its list of upgrades is as long as the name itself.The standard cargo bed was replaced by a Pronghorn modular utility flatbed, and a special canopy installed on top. A custom roof rack also holds a Tepui tent, and an integrated light bar. A 4.5-inch lift an 18-inch wheels complete the package. According to Ford, its a mobile command center, campsite and workshop. This LGE-CTS Motorsports Baja Forged 2020 Ford F-250 Super Duty Crew Cab XLT is the Swiss army knife for the modern adventurer – functioning as a mobile command center, campsite and workshop. Ford Up next is the Ford Accessories F-250 Super Duty Tremor Crew Cab with Black Appearance Package, pictured up top. This concept features the new Tremor off-road trim and pairs it with the Black Appearance package to give it a subtle but purposeful look.A winch is built into the front bumper, 35-inch tires are present, and a front-axle LSD and rear locker make this a formidable truck on the trail. The ultimate in workplace trucks, DeBerti Design takes this seriously capable 2020 Ford F-450 Super Duty Platinum Crew Cab and ups the storage and styling to levels never before seen. Ford The third concept looks like pretty much every modified F-450 on the planet, but this time, its built by DeBerti Design. The dually truck features huge 22-inch wheels, a ridiculous light bar, and an air ride suspension. Dual pullout fender cabinets are included in the bedside.Built by BDS suspension, this F-350 Super Duty has pretty much every bell and whistle you could want. BDS Suspension’s project Go Beyond is outfitted as the ultimate off-road adventure 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty Crew Cab XLT Ford Theres a tent above the utility bed, which is complete with drawers and gas cans; theres a Warn winch in the front bumper; and the whole thing is lifted to fit the huge tires wrapped around the 20-inch wheels.The final truck is another F-250 with the Tremor and Black Appearance packages, but this time built by CGS Performance Products. Its painted red instead of blue, and features 20-inch wheels and 37-inch tires. No winch here, just a light bar. Check a Seismic monitor, CGS Performance Products dials up this 2020 Ford F-250 Super Duty Crew Cab Tremor with Black Appearance Package into a full-on earthquake. Ford Look for all five of these trucks at next months SEMA show for the automotive aftermarket in Las Vegas. Well be covering some of the neatest vehicles from the floor of the industry exhibition, so keep your eyes on this
Origin: Ford’s 2019 SEMA scheme is all about heavy-duty trucks
Car Review: 2019 Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S 4-Door Coupe
2019 Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S 4-DoorPeter Bleakney / Driving OVERVIEW Beauty meets brutality in AMG’s first four-door car PROSballistic, engaging, sharp handling, exquisite interior, hatchback configuration CONSA tad to edgy for those seeking true GT characteristics VALUE FOR MONEYcompetitive WHAT TO CHANGE?Find a little more compliance in Comfort mode HOW TO SPEC IT?This colour, this interior get two thumbs up. The optional rear spoiler? Go for it. Might as well get this out of the way right off the bat: The 2019 Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S 4-Door Coupe, finished here in satin Designo Brilliant Blue Magno, is quite a looker. No car, this side of a Lamborghini or McLaren, has attracted so much attention during its brief stay at Chez Bleakney. Sitting in my driveway, the AMG drew gawkers like buzzards to a squashed possum. Most of my neighbours are pretty blas about what I bring home, but not with this car.Yet the Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door is not in-your-face outrageous. It seduces with a masterful blend of grace and menace, art and aggression, beauty and brutality. Its lines are pure, flowing and unadorned, yet that toothy grill looks hungry for small children.The $177,500 Benz does not write any visual cheques it cant cash this car backs up its looks with bonkers performance or so Ive read. Driving on public roads is essentially an exercise in frustration; other than a few wide-eyed felonious blasts and some off-ramp strafing, I came nowhere near pushing this nutty hatchbacks envelope. But in reality, nor will most who buy it, unless they live in Germany or take it out for a day at the track.This is the second car designed and built in-house by AMG, and while it follows the svelte two-seat AMG GT Coupe, it does not share that cars all-aluminum/rear transaxle architecture, instead riding on the bones of the Mercedes-AMG E 63 Wagon. This is, after all, a long and luxurious executive express with generous rear legroom and a hatch able to swallow a full compliment of luggage. Nonetheless, it goes about its business with the classic AMG atomic-fist-in-a-velvet-glove sedan thing that, up until now, has not seen this level of ferocity. And that is saying something.It all stems from AMGs masterpiece of a 4.0L twin-turbo hot-vee V8 that, in this 63 S iteration, makes the most power of any application yet 630 horsepower and 669 lb.-ft. of torque. Yes, you can buy a turbocharged straight-six version of the AMG GT 4-Door Coupe, or even the slightly detuned V8-powered 63 variant with 577 horsepower, but why would you? In for a penny, in for pound, I say. With a body this sexy, you might as well take the engine that drop kicks the laws of physics into whimpering submission. Just because.I liken the four-door AMG GT to Danielle House, the Newfoundland beauty who lost her 1996 Miss Canada International crown for punching out her exs new girlfriend in a bar. Its not all about explosive straight-line acceleration, however, even though the 63 S will eclipse the speed limit in a tick over three seconds. The chassis shines, displaying a sharpness, agility and sense of communication that belies the cars 2,045-kilogram mass, no doubt helped by the standard rear wheel steering. Grip from the optional 21-inch forged wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires ($1,500) seems unending, and the steering is precise and connected. The 4Matic all-wheel-drive system is decidedly rear-biased, and theres even a Drift Mode that disengages the front wheels entirely for those times when exiting the Sobeys parking lot requires just a tad more drama.The AMGs attitude is easily altered by the nifty rotary controller placed at four oclock position on the steering wheel. Switch from Comfort to Sport, Sport+, and Race, and the sedan gets progressively louder, stiffer and more alert. Yet even in Comfort mode, the 63 S never really relaxes every ripple on the road is felt and 21-inch tires thwap away on expansion joints. At lower speeds the nine-speed AMG Speedshift transmission can be jerky, too Porsches PDK twin-clutch, this is not. And if you have the exhaust in Sport mode all the time guilty as charged well, it just furthers the impression the car is dog that would rather hunt than sit on the porch.But thats what I love about this beautiful bruiser. Its unapologetic about its status as Mercedes fastest and most aggressive four-door. You want something almost as fast but a bit softer? Theyre happy to sell you the 603-horsepower E 63 S sedan, at $117,000. The interior of this tester is the most visually pleasing of any Mercedes Ive seen, stunning with its Saddle Brown/Black Nappa Leather (an $1,800 option) and Grey Ash Open Pore trim (another $500). The dash panel features the broad expanse of digital screenage found in most Mercedes sedans now, while the centre console with its array of buttons for modifying the cars behavior is snagged from the AMG GT Coupe. I found the ventilated sport seats supremely
Origin: Car Review: 2019 Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S 4-Door Coupe
Government to close mobile phone use ‘loophole’
Transport secretary Grant Shapps is aiming to “urgently” tighten the laws surrounding mobile phone use while driving to ensure motorists can be prosecuted for taking photographs or for using the internet. The current law prevents drivers from using a hand-held mobile phone for ‘interactive communication’ – essentially to make calls or text – without a hands-free system. A number of people caught using their phones to take photos or film while driving have escaped prosecution because their lawyers successfully argued such activity does not fit that description. The government will now take forward a review that will tighten up the law to ensure that any driver caught texting, taking photos, browsing the internet or scrolling through a music playlist while driving can be prosecuted. Shapps said: “We recognise that staying in touch with the world while travelling is an essential part of modern-day life but we are also committed to making our roads safe. Drivers who use a hand-held mobile phone are hindering their ability to spot hazards and react in time – putting people’s lives at risk.” The change to the law, which follows recommendations in a report by the Transport Select Committee, will prevent “reckless driving and reduce accidents on our roads”, according to Shapps. Government research shows that a driver looking at a phone for two seconds while travelling at 30mph will travel blind for 100 feet. Ministers are also looking at the current penalties in place for hand-held mobile phone use while driving. However, there are no plans to ban hands-free phone use.The government expects the new proposals to be in place by early
Origin: Government to close mobile phone use ‘loophole’
Volkswagen ID 4: 2020 electric SUV shown in disguised form
Volkswagen’s upcoming ID 4 has been displayed again as the maker confirms it will also be produced in China alongside the ID 3. The electric crossover-style SUV will be a big part of the VW ID brand’s range offensive in the US, as well as in Europe. Previous spyshots gave us the best glimpse of the production model next to its hatchback sibling. The bodywork similarities of the two prototypes suggest the ID 4 will be closely linked to the ID 3 it is testing alongside, albeit slightly larger and sporting more evident SUV design cues. The ID 4 was on show at Frankfurt inside a glass box and wrapped in a similar pattern. The set-up was similar to that used by VW when it launched pre-sales for the ID 3 hatch earlier this year. Although VW was giving away little information about the car at Frankfurt, to keep the focus on the company rebranding and the launch of the production ID 3, the Kia e-Niro rival is set to go into production next year. Despite the camouflage, the new EV appears to retain many of the same exterior themes as the ID Crozz concept car, which was first shown more than two years ago and then reworked for the 2017 Frankfurt motor show. Volkswagen ID 3 2020 review Two production versions of the ID Crozz will be offered: a coupé-SUV in the vein of the original concept and this straight SUV model with a more conventional roofline and tailgate design. We can also see it has conventional rear doors, ditching the sliding items of the 2017 car. It’s not yet clear if the coupé variant will also adopt this approach, but it’s likely. The ID 4 will be built in Europe, the US and China, cementing its status as a truly global model and a crucial kingpin of the brand’s rapid EV rollout. “As early as 2020, we aim to sell 100,000 all-electric Volkswagens (per year),” said VW Group chairman Herbert Diess at the Crozz concept’s 2017 unveiling. “But this is just the beginning. By 2025, annual sales could increase tenfold to one million vehicles.” Diess said the new ID electric car line-up will be offered alongside traditional combustion-engined and hybrid-powered VW models. The ID 4 aims to combine the dynamic lines of a modern-day sports car with the all-terrain capability of a dedicated off-roader. It’s said to offer interior space on a par with the Tiguan Allspace, a new long-wheelbase version of VW’s best-selling SUV model. The ID Crozz concept is 4625mm long, 1891mm wide and 1609mm tall, putting it in between the five-seat Tiguan and seven-seat Tiguan Allspace in terms of dimensions. The wheelbase is 2773mm. The MEB-based ID Crozz features two electric motors – one mounted within the front axle, and one at the rear – powered by an 83kWh lithium ion battery housed within the floor structure. The front electric motor sends its 101bhp and 103lb ft to the front wheels. The rear unit delivers 201bhp and 228lb ft to the rear wheels, giving the car a combined output of 302bhp and 332lb ft of torque. This is just under 100bhp more than the powertrain used by the rear-wheel-drive ID hatchback, intended to offset a likely weight increase. The ID 4 is set to have a range of more than 311 miles, with no specific figure yet quoted. No performance figures have been revealed, though VW says it intends limiting the top speed to 112mph. With the car’s large battery mounted low down within the floor structure and the electric motors also housed within the axle assemblies front and rear, VW also claims it possesses a front-to-rear weight distribution of 48:52. VW officials have talked up the dynamic qualities, suggesting the new platform and chassis provide a “large spread between handling and
Origin: Volkswagen ID 4: 2020 electric SUV shown in disguised form
Bentley rolls out augmented-reality app for new Flying Spur
Bentley has introduced an app for its third-generation Flying Spur that allows users to virtually experience the luxury sports saloon ahead of first deliveries in early 2020. The app, which is free to download on Google Play and Apple’s App Store, is targeted at prospective customers. However, Bentley also anticipates that it will appeal to enthusiasts and fans of the brand. Users can explore the outside and interior of two versions of the car, once they are logged into the app: the luxury spec, which features a gun-metal exterior and bespoke interior linings; and the more driver-focused chrome ‘performance’ version. The performance variant can also be toured with a recently added black accent. Bentley launched a similar app for its centenary concept car, the EXP 100 GT, allowing users to tour the car and superimpose it onto various locations, including their own driveway. This feature is also on the Flying Spur app, as well as a new option to get behind the wheel and take a virtual drive. For users looking to purchase the car, Bentley’s configurator and dealer contacts can be accessed through the
Origin: Bentley rolls out augmented-reality app for new Flying Spur
Fisker Ocean details revealed
Fisker Ocean details revealed The new electric SUV will feature a solar roof Fisker has revealed details of its forthcoming production SUV, including the fact it will be called the Fisker Ocean. The Ocean will come with a range of between 250-300 miles on a charge, from a battery that will be around 80 kWh in capacity. It’s been designed to be one of the most sustainable vehicles on the road, with a number of efficiency and recycling systems built in. A solar roof will be included, good for around 1,000 free miles each year, and further updates to the car’s hardware is expected to see that figure increase further down the line. The carpets are made from recycled fishing nets, the interior will be vegan, and the cabin’s materials will be made from recycled polyester fibres from things such as t-shirts and plastic bottles. The Ocean will be available on a flexible leasing plan run through an app, with no long-term contracts. As well as the system becoming increasingly popular with customers, another reason behind the move is to help keep Fisker’s environmental responsibilities in-house. This way, the company is in greater control of recycling parts. Production is set to begin at the end of 2021, and a full launch will take place at the beginning of January next year. Reservations via the app will be available from 27th November 2019.
Origin: Fisker Ocean details revealed
2020 Ford Puma ST: hot crossover laps the ‘Ring at speed
Ford is readying an ST performance version of its new Puma SUV, and our spy photographers have caught a prototype being put through its paces at the Nurburgring. The Hyundai Kona N rival has shed some camouflage since we last saw it, revealing that it will feature a trapezoidal lower grille design, large-diameter performance-inspired alloy wheels shod in low-profile tyres, and the same wing-mounted headlight clusters as the standard model. A prominent lower bodykit extends around the car from the splitter-style front bumper to a new rear bumper designed around a twin exhaust tailpipe – the same as that fitted to the Fiesta ST. Official details of the model’s drivetrain and chassis set-up are still yet to be confirmed, but images of the prototype raising a rear wheel under hard cornering show it will feature a stiffer suspension set-up in the same vein as the Fiesta ST. The big wheels appear to hide larger-diameter front brakes, too, while the Puma seems lower to the ground than the stock model. Ford global development boss Hau Thai-Tang told Autocar earlier this year that the Puma “would be a good place for us to look” in expanding the ST range beyond the Fiesta and Focus in Europe. The Puma ST is expected to share its key running gear, including a 197bhp 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo engine, with the Fiesta ST. An ST version of the Puma (as rendered below by Autocar) is unlikely to vary drastically from the ST Line version of the car, which was revealed back in April. But we can expect a bespoke chassis set-up, possibly including an optional limited-slip differential, selectable drive modes and a launch control function. Thai-Tang said Ford is keen to continue leveraging its Ford Performance arm for road car development, but the company would not simply look to create an ST version of each car. In addition to its two European hot hatches, Ford also makes ST versions of its Edge and Explorer large SUVs. “We look at creating STs by very objective measures to make sure it is credible as an ST,” said Thai-Tang. “Do we have the right building blocks (on which to base it)?” A new Focus RS is also understood to be in development, but it’s unlikely to appear before 2022, after the Focus’s mid-life update. “We have nothing to announce but we recognise the importance of that car,” said Thai-Tang. It is understood that hybrid power is one consideration for the Focus RS. “We’ll see where we go,” Ford’s automotive president Joe Hinrichs said. “The world is changing on powertrain and propulsion. No hints, but there’s a lot to talk
Origin: 2020 Ford Puma ST: hot crossover laps the ‘Ring at speed
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