The new mid-engined Chevrolet Corvette will feature electrified powertrains in the future – with a full electric version under consideration. The new C8 version of the two-seater was launched in Los Angeles, with the initial Corvette Stingray model featuring a 495bhp, 470lb ft 6.2-litre naturally aspirated V8 engine. Chevrolet sources have confirmed the powertrain has been designed to allow for electrification, with insiders suggesting mild hybrid, plug-in hybrid and, while less likely, full electric versions were being considered. Asked if an electrified Corvette might feature a mild hybrid battery-based starter motor, or use a small electric engine to provide four-wheel drive, one project member said: “You would not look stupid if you said that.” When asked by Autocar about future electrified variants of the Corvette, the president of Chevrolet parent company General Motors, Mark Reuss, said: “The company is committed to a strategy of 0-0-0: zero emissions, zero crashes and zero congestion. All of the technology rolling into this vehicle is meant to support that. This platform can carry a lot of different things into the future for General Motors.” Pressed on whether a fully electric Corvette was under consideration, Reuss said: “We’ll see. Stay tuned.” Reuss did confirm that the Corvette would be produced in right-hand drive and will be sold in European markets, which will most likely include the UK. The outgoing C7 model was only available with a limited number of British dealers. Chevrolet sources have confirmed that a convertible version of the Corvette will follow the coupé “in relatively short order”. Paul
Origin: New Chevrolet Corvette could get hybrid or electric versions
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A roof-less Ferrari 812 Spider could be coming in September
David Booth behind the wheel of the 2018 Ferrari 812 Superfast. A convertible version of the Ferrari 812 Superfast could arrive as early as September.Reportedly, some Ferrari owners are already receiving invitations to go and see the drop-top.According to FerrariChat forum users, there will be two events to see the vehicle, on September 2 and 8.Nobody from the United States has been invited to go see the grand touring convertible yet, possibly suggesting the North American release will come later in the year. Ferrari has not officially released any details yet, and one member of the FerrariChat forums says when he tried to contact a dealer to put a deposit on one, he was turned down because the dealer had no idea what he was talking about.The closest the Superfast has ever got to being a convertible was the F60 America, an F12 Berlinetta-based custom built in a limited run of just 10 cars. Buyers had the choice of either a removable carbon-fibre hard top; or a fabric top. A rumour started back in November suggested the so-called Spider would feature a folding metal hardtop.The 812 Superfast is powered by a 6.5-litre V12 that makes 789 horsepower and 530 lb.-ft. of torque. A brisk 100km/h can happen from zero in just 2.9 seconds, before the Fezza presses on to a top speed of 340 km/h. Those numbers are likely to change slightly when the convertible top gets slapped
Origin: A roof-less Ferrari 812 Spider could be coming in September
Almost 100,000 Jeeps recalled over defect that could shift them to neutral
Fiat Chrysler is recalling 10,485 Jeep Cherokee SUVs in Canada because the transmission could accidentally shift into neutral while driving, keeping the vehicle from moving forward.Including Jeeps sold in the U.S., some 91,650 vehicles are affected, specifically Cherokees from the 2014 model year equipped with the 3.2-litre V6.On affected vehicles, a stuck valve in the transmission valve body can keep the clutch from deactivating, which may shift them into neutral while moving and cause an abrupt stop, increasing the risk of a crash.Fiat Chrysler hasnt outlined a specific fix yet for the issue, but nevertheless expects to begin the recall early August. No crashes or injuries associated with the issue have been
Origin: Almost 100,000 Jeeps recalled over defect that could shift them to neutral
Older Teslas could get self-driving-capable chip this year: Elon Musk
A Tesla car arrives at a service center in Los Angeles, California on March 4, 2019.Mark Ralston / Getty via AP Older Tesla models will be most likely retrofitted near the end of this year with a chip powerful enough to allow for full self-driving, according to a tweet-reply from the companys CEO.Teslas full self-driving FSD chip the first its designed in-house has been installed in Model S, X and 3 cars since about March 2019, chief executive Elon Musk said.He plans now to offer it as a free upgrade to owners of 2017-and-newer Tesla models who opted for the US$6,000 Full Self-Driving package upon purchase, reports The Verge. Thats about half-a-million cars.End of Q4, most likely Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 8, 2019Musk boasts that this new FSD chip offers 21 times the processing power of the Nvidia chips installed in Teslas prior to 2019, though that company says the claim is bogus, say The Verge.The hardware upgrade which includes two of the chips for redundancy will be powerful enough to allow for complete self-driving capability, if Musk is to be believed, though of course the software that allows for that sort of autonomy is still under development.For now, the Full Self-Driving package ordered by so many Tesla customers equipped their car solely with a Navigate on Autopilot feature, which the automaker says lets the car handle on-ramp to off-ramp highway driving, including self-directed lane changes and interchange navigation.The name of the package has come under criticism for apparently advertising more than it could
Origin: Older Teslas could get self-driving-capable chip this year: Elon Musk
More than 13,000 Mazda3s recalled in Canada over wheels that could fall off
2019 Mazda3 SportBrian Harper Mazda is recalling 13,108 examples of its 2019-model-year Mazda3 in Canada because a manufacturing defect may increase the odds the wheels will fall off.The Japanese automaker says while the lug nuts on the wheels were tightened to the correct specification at the factory, a manufacturing error may mean a gap between the wheel hub bolt and the hub flange was left during assembly.The gap could allow the lug nuts to loosen when the vehicle is in motion, which could in turn result in the wheels falling off completely.Drivers will hear a rattling sound before the wheel completely separates from the car, Mazda suggested.Recalled vehicles will simply have their lug nuts re-torqued to the correct specifications. No incidents of wheels detaching from Mazda3s has yet been reported, nor have any accidents or injuries tied to the
Origin: More than 13,000 Mazda3s recalled in Canada over wheels that could fall off
Mitsubishi could return to performance cars with reborn Lancer Evolution
Mitsubishi is plotting a resurrection of the iconic Lancer Evolution as part of a return to its performance car roots. It is planned to continue a rich history of Lancer Evolution models kicked off with the launch of the first-generation model in 1992, by offering supercar-beating acceleration together with the choice of either traditional four-door saloon or five-door hatchback bodystyles, according to Japanese-based sources. Details remain scarce, but suggestions are the followup to the Lancer Evolution X produced between 2007 and 2016 would share key elements of its drivetrain with the next-generation Renault Mégane RS, with a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine mated to a dual-clutch gearbox and an advanced Mitsubishi-developed S-AWC four-wheel drive system. In its most potent form, the existing front-wheel-drive Renault Mégane RS’s MR designated engine delivers 296bhp and 295lb ft of torque. However, the possible addition of electronic boosting in a 48V mild-hybrid system being developed for the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance is likely to increase its reserves closer to the 341bhp and 319lb ft of the turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder powerplant used by the limited-edition Subaru Impreza WRX STi S209. The 11th generation of the four-wheel-drive Lancer Evolution has been conceived to sit on the CMF-C/D F4 platform developed within Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi. The current non-performance Lancer was discontinued as an international model in 2017, but the name lives on with a saloon model sold in Chinese-speaking markets due to its popularity. The Evolution’s revival, part of Mitsubishi chairman Osamu Masuko’s plan to restore the Japanese maker to its previous position of strength within the performance car ranks, would depend on the Lancer returning in a new generation. Masuko, 70, is set to surrender his position as CEO to Takao Kato. However, the Mitsubishi veteran will continue to lead the company in the position of chairman. Previous plans by Masuko to develop a successor to the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X were placed on hold following heavy losses at the company and its subsequent purchase by Nissan in
Origin: Mitsubishi could return to performance cars with reborn Lancer Evolution
BMW ‘could produce 100 electrified models by 2023 if demand was there’
BMW “could launch 100 electrified cars by 2023” if customer demand was there to buy them, with today’s announcement that it pulling forward its electrified launch goal of 25 new vehicles by two years having no impact on the engineering teams, according to Klaus Frohlich, the firm’s head of development. Frohlich says this is possible because of the flexibility of the firm’s modular fifth-generation architecture, which is designed to underpin battery, plug-in hybrid and engine applications. “What we have now is a jigsaw puzzle of technology, and we can fit the jigsaw together to provide whatever the customer needs,” he said. “The decision to pull forward the production dates is simply driven by customer demand growing faster than expected. You saw the same flexibility with how we coped with the drop in demand for diesel. My team is reading; for each application all it needs is a year for homologation work and a year for fine-tuning.” BMW will launch plug-in hybrid versions of the new 3 Series in saloon and estate forms, and has also unveiled PHEV versions of the 7 Series, X3 and X5, with the X1, 5 Series and 2 Series Active Tourer due to get similar powertrains in the future. BMW is also putting the finishing touches to an electric iX3 SUV and the new Mini Electric. Frohlich added that the fifth-generation architecture also gave flexibility for the firm to raise and lower the electric range of its plug-in hybrid vehicles according to requirements. “There is space either side of the driveshafts, so if legislation or customer demand changes then we can scale the electric range by adding more cells in the underfloor and without any compromises to space in the boot or fuel tank, for instance,” he said. Frohlich also highlighted his belief that solid state batteries – which have the capability of dramatically increasing range and lowering cost – would not reach significant production volumes until the 2030s. “I’m sure that 99% of production will be around lithium ion,” he said. “There might be some pilots around 2025 but they will be lower performance and higher cost compared to lithium ion, which still has a long way to be
Origin: BMW ‘could produce 100 electrified models by 2023 if demand was there’
FCA could drop the Dodge Grand Caravan for a new low-cost Voyager: analyst
The 1984 Plymouth Voyager and Dodge Caravan started the minivan segment.FCA As part of a massive retooling of the Chrysler Windsor plant to build a new Chrysler Pacifica, FCA may also plan to bring back the Voyager minivan as an entry-level option.Automotive News Canada reports that FCA plans to invest $350 million into the Chrysler Windsor plant over the summer in order to handle the production of a new all-wheel-drive version of the popular Pacifica minivan.The next step could be to use the extinct Voyager nameplate on an entry-level version of the Chrysler Pacifica, in order to maintain a foothold in the cheap minivan segment after the likely exit of the Dodge Grand Caravan.They just cant afford to risk that foothold that they have in the minivan space, I think theres more of a risk in killing the Caravan and having only one Pacifica and having too many trim levels where they lose the high-end Caravan buyer to a higher-sized Pacifica, according to industry analyst Joe McCabe.Thats where we see the risk. They have to make sure they backfill the more cost-conscientious Caravan buyer.If not for the introduction of a minivan with a lower price point, FCA would at least have to offer better packages and larger rebates on the Pacifica after the Grand Caravan goes away, in order to keep those customers in the fold. Thats the thinking of Ryan Tessier, general manager of Drumheller Chrysler in Alberta, who said a cheaper van is pretty important.Minivan sales have been on a steady decline due to the influx of SUVs, but FCA isnt ready to let other manufacturers take all the
Origin: FCA could drop the Dodge Grand Caravan for a new low-cost Voyager: analyst
2020 Audi A6 Allroad could make a trip across the pond
Static photo, Colour: Gavial green It’s true that every automaker, Audi included, has a model line that is filled to the gunwales with crossovers and SUVs. Those of us with long memories will remember the genesis of this segment, when companies like AMC and Subaru offered station wagons with slightly more ground clearance and a butch appearance. Of course, Audi also did this with the original Allroad. In this country, we are blessed with the ability to purchase the A4 Allroad, a wagon combining increased ground clearance and Quattro all-wheel-drive. Now, according to reports, there’s a chance the midsize A6 Allroad will be offered in North America as well. This would be great news for Audi fans who want Quattro traction and prodigious cargo space in a wagon-shaped package larger than an A4. Across the pond, the A6 Allroad sits 1.8 inches higher than a standard A6 wagon. It features adjustable air suspension, which set ground clearance at 5.5 inches but can stand a further 1.8 inches taller on its tippy-toes, when the proper settings are selected. Oh yeah, it can also tow more than 2,200 kilograms if the correct, European-spec engine is fitted. 2020 Audi A6 Allroad Handout / Audi Why do we need crossovers again? In other markets, a myriad of powertrains are offered including a trio of diesel engines, one of which heaves out 457lb.-ft of torque. If the A6 Allroad makes it to our country, look for a turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 under the hood. That mill is currently found in the A6 sedan, making 335 horsepower. It’s connected to Audi’s seven-speed S-tronic transmission and can scamper from rest to 100km/h in about five seconds. Given the extra sheet metal and glass needed to create a wagon, an A6 Allroad would likely be a little bit heavier than the 1,935-kilo A6 sedan. Price? Our best guess would be in the mid-$70,000 ballpark, given that the A4 Allroad is priced about $10,000 more than an entry-level A4. Raise one while you’re watching the Raptors tonight in hope that Audi will bring this Quattro wagon to our
Origin: 2020 Audi A6 Allroad could make a trip across the pond
Ram recalls 6,886 trucks in Canada over driveshafts that could fail
2019 Ram 1500Handout / Ram Ram is recalling close to 7,000 pickups in Canada because their rear driveshafts could detach thanks to a bad weld. Some 6,886 model year 2018 and 2019 Ram 1500 44 trucks are affected, the automaker said. In affected vehicles, a weld in the rear drivehsaft could crack and fail, and the shaft could separate from the pickup. If the truck is in rear-wheel-drive mode when this happens, it could cause an immediate lack of propulsion. Additionally, the broken-off shaft could pose a hazard to other drivers or people nearby. Owners may notice a weird vibration or hear noises prior to the weld separating, though FCA notes only about one per cent of the recalled vehicles are likely actually affected. The automaker came across the issue last summer when it noticed a higher-than-expected number of warranty claims coming in for cracked driveshafts. Affected owners will be notified via mail, and will have their driveshaft replaced for
Origin: Ram recalls 6,886 trucks in Canada over driveshafts that could fail
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