The BMW M4 comes equipped with a six-speed manual gearbox — one of the few new models in North America to offer a manual drive.Handout It sometimes feels like the act of driving is under attack. As we cruise toward total automation with adaptive cruise control activated and AppleCarplay streaming an algorithm-generated playlist of songs we’re sure to love straight into our ears, brands continue to pull away from what used to be the pillars of motoring. Such old-school features like manual gearboxes and rear-wheel-drive are being ditched for the safer and more efficient automatic and all-wheel-drive options. This is progress—for most, but not all. BMW’s M, for one, is staying the course, according to an interview BMW M chairman Markus Flasch recently gave GoAuto. The Motorsport division’s smaller passenger vehicles, including (hallelujah!) the M3, will still come with a stick shift and RWD as an optional combo. “With the M3, we were able to take over the entire drivetrain concept that we offer in the M5, and we were able to do a rear-wheel-drive version as well, plus manual transmission,” Flasch said in the interview. “I won’t disclose today how we configure those opportunities, but we can do whatever the markets globally demand. I can’t confirm, but I’ve driven the cars.” The brand chairman explained that because cars like the M4, M3 and M2 are less frequently used as daily drivers than the larger X5 M, M5 or M8, and are more frequently operated as second or third vehicles, the brand is able to justify retaining the more sporty configuration. In other words, it knows what its M drivers want from the smaller, more corner-capable offerings. Flasch also gave some clues to the fate of the CS and GTS monikers, explaining that we will see more limited editions, especially like the CS and, I can imagine, the CSL,” he said, going on to allude they don’t have to stick to coupes. As for the GTS— “We won’t see the GTS sub-brand in the future,” said Flasch. “There will be CS and maybe CSL. There won’t be a GTS in parallel with
Origin: BMW confirms smaller M cars will still get manual and RWD options
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Honda confirms Swindon factory closure following consultation
The firm will now begin the second phase of the consultation, which includes finalising redundancy packages and “identifying the impact on individual roles up until production ceases in 2021”. Honda said it will also consult with the Swindon Task Force set up by Secretary of State Greg Clark to “mitigate the impact of this decision on the wider community”. The closure would result in 3500 job losses. The Wiltshire factory, which builds only the Civic, currently produces 150,000 cars annually – far from its capacity of 250,000 units. The closure is a huge blow for the government’s hopes of the UK remaining an established car manufacturing hub post-Brexit. While Brexit hasn’t been cited as a reason for Honda’s plans, it is the latest factor in a perfect storm for the industry. Already this year, Jaguar Land Rover has announced 4500 job losses, Nissan has confirmed it will no longer build the X-Trail in Sunderland and Ford has said there will be job losses at its plants. Honda has been slow to react to electrification compared to its rivals. It launched its CR-V Hybrid last year but doesn’t offer any electric models, although its Urban EV, a retro-styled electric city car, is due to go on sale late this year. The firm’s intention is to consolidate much of its manufacturing back to its home country of Japan. This will allow it to ship to China – one of the markets where “high production volumes” are expected – fairly easily. The deal that the Japanese government has recently struck with the European Union (EU) is likely to be another motivating factor. It means tariffs on Japanese-made cars coming into the bloc’s 27 member states will be phased out from this year, reducing the financial benefit of Honda having a UK hub. The threat of import tariffs for European-made cars from Donald Trump’s administration will also be a factor, because the US is one of the Civic’s main markets. A statement issued by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) following the first news of the plant’s closure in February read: “Today’s announcement is a huge blow to UK automotive manufacturing, and for the Honda plant’s highly skilled and productive workforce. Whilst production will continue in Swindon until 2021, giving government and industry time to help affected employees and the local supply chain which supports a further 10,000 jobs, this is, nevertheless, devastating news.” “The challenges facing Honda are not unique,” SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said. “The global automotive industry is facing fundamental changes: technological, commercial and environmental, as well as escalating trade tensions, and all manufacturers are facing difficult decisions. The UK should be at the forefront of these changes, championing its competitiveness and innovation, rather than having to focus resources on the need to avoid a catastrophic ‘no-deal’ Brexit.” Honda’s statements have made no mention of Brexit or falling demand for diesel cars – two things that have been recurring in other car makers’ reasoning for problems. Honda of the UK Manufacturing director Jason Smith said: “It is with a heavy heart that today we confirm the closure of Honda’s factory in Swindon. We understand the impact this decision has on our associates, suppliers and the wider community. We are committed to continuing to support them throughout the next phases of the consultation process.” Honda of the UK Manufacturing, which was established in Swindon in 1985, has received a total investment of £1.5 billion across its numerous buildings. It mothballed half of its plant after sales failed to recover following the 2008 financial crisis and then decided to produce just the Civic, with the Jazz and CR-V moving elsewhere in the world. Back in 2008, Swindon produced more than 230,000 cars annually, but that number has now nearly
Origin: Honda confirms Swindon factory closure following consultation
News Roundup: Tesla gets wet, the Kia Telluride debuts strong and Ford confirms a hybrid Bronco
Welcome to our weekly round-up of the biggest breaking stories on Driving.ca from this past week. Get caught up and ready to get on with the weekend, because it’s hard keeping pace in a digital traffic jam. Here’s what you missed while you were away. Watch a Model S drive down a flooded street, water up to its door jambs If this isn’t a commercial for Tesla then I don’t know what is. pic.twitter.com/Fid0A9L2lr Richard Richter (@Ricardo_Lee_) May 3, 2019 Just because a Tesla could drive through a flood doesn’t mean it should. In fact, as Driving’s in-house mechanical expert Brian Turner points out, the fact that the machine is basically one giant electrical system on wheels means it definitely should not be driven through water. Yet there’s this recent Twitter video showing a Model S driving down a flooded street, submerged in water at least a foot high. Not only are the risks of imminent failure high, says Turner, but there may be long-term effects as well, as “a wet connector can play havoc with these signals, and the water-shielding will keep moisture in…” So, don’t try this at home. People are making Tesla autopilot porn now A modified Tesla Model X drives in the tunnel entrance before an unveiling event for the Boring Co. Hawthorne test tunnel in Hawthorne, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2018. Elon Musk unveiled his underground transportation tunnel on Tuesday, allowing reporters and invited guests to take some of the first rides in the revolutionary albeit bumpy subterranean tube the tech entrepreneur’s answer to what he calls soul-destroying traffic. (Robyn Beck/Pool Photo via AP) Robyn Beck / AP If it’s larger than a breadbox and contains an atmosphere with even a little bit of oxygen, people will find a way to have sex in it. It was only a matter of time, then, that Tesla’s Autopilot feature was used to turn the interior of one of the brand’s EVs into a rolling porno set. That moment arrived earlier this week when ‘Tesla’ became the top search term on popular porn site Pornhub thanks to a new video featuring adult entertainer Taylor Jackson, some guy and a Model X with Autopilot engaged. And judging by the viral nature of the upload, it’s pretty safe to say this won’t be the last Autopilot porn we see. Did Pornhub just get a new category? The 2020 Telluride leaves a lasting first impression 2020 Kia Telluride Nick Tragianis / Driving The world doesn’t need just another SUV, but it may need this one. Driving’s Nick Tragianis was in Banff, Alberta recently to test out the new three-row truckster from the South Korean company. After falling for its peppy and hearty-sounding V6 engine and convenient AWD setup, immensely spacious interior with generous infotainment system, and reasonable price range, he came to his conclusion: “Kia will sell every single one of these.” Ram’s getting a new midsize truck is in the works, and it’s not going to be built on the Gladiator Even older pickups – like the Dodge Dakota that’s been discontinued for quite some time – can still charm pickup buyers. Handout / Dodge Ram has set its sights on a new midsize truck to help fill out its lineup. Automotive News reports that Ram boss Mike Manley is aware of the “clear hole in (Ram’s) portfolio” and promises the team is “focused” on finding the solution. Contrary to previous rumours, it appears the new product won’t be based on the Gladiator platform. And in other good news for Ram fans, the popular and more affordable Ram Classic will remain on sale through 2019. Missouri HOA says this truck is too old, threatens to foreclose on owner’s home Some people have no taste. Like members of the Missouri HOA, for example, who recently threatened to foreclose a man’s house over his truck, which allegedly shows “severe body damage”—parking such a heap in his own driveway goes against HOA rules, they argue. But the truck’s owner claims the 1965 Ford F-250 runs perfectly and is “beautiful the way it is.” Take a look and you tell us: is the old Ford pickup wearing ‘charming patina’ or ‘severe body damage’? Overloaded Chevy sedan sparks outrage on Ontario highway This is not how you carry wide loads in a car. David Fafinski / Facebook Innovative? Perhaps? Dangerous? Absolutely. Video of a Chevrolet Lumina sedan driving along in the right lane of a major highway near Burlington, Ontario with its rear doors and trunk open and bursting with what appears to be various pieces of large furniture and building supplies has inspired our columnist Lorraine Sommerfeld to pull out her soapbox and megaphone. Preach, Lorraine, preach! Should this person be applauded for their innovation and organizational skills, or arrested for stunt driving? You know where Lorraine stands, now put on your own Judgy-Pants and vote in our online poll here. There will be a 2020 Ford Bronco hybrid A teaser image of Ford’s upcoming production Bronco off-road SUV. Ford / Ford Ford is taking another step toward its goal of electrifying
Origin: News Roundup: Tesla gets wet, the Kia Telluride debuts strong and Ford confirms a hybrid Bronco
BMW confirms the retirement of its 3 Series GT fastback
The hatch on the 3 Series GT is larger than before, giving the car more versatility.Handout It’s official. The current-model BMW 3 Series GT fastback will be the last. BMW’s big cheese Harald Krüger confirmed the group would be cutting production of the 3 Series GT during a recent Q1 financial results presentation. “There will be no successor,” said Krüger, driving a nail into the Gran Turismo’s hatch-backed coffin. It’s not shocking to those paying attention, as BMW had previously hinted at the model’s demise, citing the shift in the public’s preference from the low-slung rides of sedans and wagons to the more upright experience of SUVs. The reign of the 3 Series Gran Turismo was not a long one. The hatchback take on the F30-gen 3 Series launched in 2013 and was refreshed in 2016. BMW claims there was still enough customer demand to keep them coming, but the move is part of a greater plan. In fact, it’s just a piece of the US$13.4-billion savings puzzle BMW hopes to solve by the end of 2022. The brand will also be halving the number of powertrain options offered within each model line, replacing prototype processes with digital simulations and implementing other efficiencies.
Origin: BMW confirms the retirement of its 3 Series GT fastback
Ram confirms new mid-size truck coming, different from Gladiator
The 2008 Dodge Dakota TRX4 Crew CabHandout / FCA Ram trucks has made it its mission to build a new mid-sized pickup to fill a gap in its lineup. According to Automotive News, Ram CEO Mike Manley says the lack of a mid-sized truck in its range is an issue that needs fixing fast. I want that problem solved, frankly, because it’s a clear hole in our portfolio, Manley said. It will not be filled by Gladiator because Gladiator is a very, very different mission. Trust me, they’re focused on it. We need to get it fixed soon. Despite previous reports, Manley says the Ram truck will not be built on the Gladiator platform; building it around a different architecture, though, will add extra cost to the development. Being able to find a cost-effective platform in a region where we can build it with low cost and it still being applicable in the market is what they’re struggling with at the moment, the exec admitted. Despite this, Manley says Ram is focused on solving a metric ton midsize truck solution for us because it’s a big part of the portfolio and growth we want to achieve. We previously wrote about Ram’s mission to build a mid-sized truck, but at that time it seemed it was only a consideration—it’s move to a full-on mission makes its debut near-certain. Ram would do well to introduce a mid-sized truck as that market is red-hot right now with offerings like the Ford Ranger, Chevrolet Colorado and even the soon-to-be-redesigned Nissan Frontier. Whether or not the truck will wear the classic Dakota badge remains to be seen, as does the specific availability date, forecast now for 2022. Finally, Manley noted Ram plans to keep on selling its last-generation Ram Classic alongside its new Ram 1500, calling the former the real traditional workman’s truck, one that fleet and commercial customers seem to keep on snapping up, in part for its lower price versus the 2020 Ram. Automotive News hears from dealers the Ram Classic could remain on sale through to the end of
Origin: Ram confirms new mid-size truck coming, different from Gladiator
FCA confirms a US$355-million investment in Windsor Assembly Plant
A production line worker assembles a Chrysler plant in Windsor, Ont. on January 18, 2011.Geoff Robbins / The Canadian Press FCA Canada officials confirmed their commitment to the Windsor Assembly Plant April 17, informing Unifor officials it will invest US$355 million in the plant for future product in the next 12 months. “There’s no question Fiat Chrysler is committed to Windsor,” said Unifor national president Jerry Dias after meeting with Mark Stewart, FCA’s Head of NAFTA Manufacturing, for 90 minutes at Toronto’s Royal York Hotel. “The bottom line is they’re investing for future product. It doesn’t mean it’ll save the third shift, but that’s what we’ll work on now.” It was the first formal sit-down the two sides have held since FCA announced three weeks ago it was eliminating the third shift and 1,500 jobs at the Windsor Assembly Plant as of September 30. The company has blamed softening sales of the Pacifica and Grand Caravan for the decision. In Canada, FCA has only sold 816 Pacificas through the end of March this year. That represents a drop of 59 percent over last year, when Canadians bought 2,012 Pacificas in the first three months of 2018. Caravan sales were up 13 percent last month (3,370 vehicles), but are down nine percent for the year compared to a year ago. FCA has sold 8,206 Caravans this year. In the U.S., Pacifica sales in 2019 are down 29 percent to 23,274 vehicles while the Caravan has declined by 18 percent to 35,4340 minivans. Dias said the conversation was detailed about the future of the plant, but couldn’t divulge what that future product might entail. It’s been heavily rumoured that FCA will introduce an all-wheel version of the Pacifica and revive the Voyager nameplate as a new lower-cost minivan to replace the Caravan. The Caravan is currently due to be phased out after 2020. “Ultimately it’s a good news message today. They know what they want to do, but they’re finalizing a few things,” Dias said. “They want to maximize their investment in Windsor. The Pacifica platform gives them all kinds of
Origin: FCA confirms a US$355-million investment in Windsor Assembly Plant
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