The electric Ford Mustang is coming, but nobody knows when, Motoring reports.According to Ron Heiser, chief engineer behind the new Mustang Mach-E utility, a non-SUV Mustang with battery power is an inevitability.I think if you look out in the future who knows what timeframe that is the market is eventually going to roll over to EVs, Heiser told Australias Motoring.The next-generation Mustang is rumoured to sit atop a modified Explorer SUV chassis, which will set up the vehicle with a hybrid option for the first time.While an electric Mustang is likely already in the works, it wont share that same platform. Luckily, Ford already has a new EV-capable platform in the form of the Mach-E. The Mustang Mach-E debuted riding on a modular platform set to underpin a few different electric vehicles of various sizes, with either front- or rear-wheel-drive. Its likely a modified version of this platform will underpin the future electric pony.The Mach-E took the name of the classic muscle car, but not all vehicles that ride on the platform will wear the Mustang badge.It doesnt need to have a Mustang name on it, but we chose the first vehicle on this platform to be a Mustang, said Heiser. We dont give them names any more, he laughed.The Mach-E is not based on Volkswagens MEB EV platform, but Ford will use that platform for two new Ford models for Europe.LISTEN: In this week’s episode, we talk about all the electrifying news coming out of the 2019 Los Angeles Auto Show with Postmedia Driving senior writer David Booth, including Ford’s bold Mustang Mach-e SUV. And, of course, we get Booth’s take on Tesla’s Cybertruck. Plugged In is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Podcasts.Is the player not working? Click
Origin: An electric Mustang coupe is inevitable, says Ford engineer
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Ex-Uber engineer Levandowski charged by U.S. with stealing self-driving car secrets
Former Uber Technologies Inc. engineer Anthony Levandowski was charged with stealing driverless-vehicle technology from Alphabet Inc.s Waymo unit, resurrecting the intrigue of the biggest legal battle to grip Silicon Valley in recent memory.The 33-count indictment announced August 27 by federal officials in California adds a new criminal chapter to the saga surrounding Waymos civil claims of trade-secret theft against Uber.Even after the companies abruptly settled the litigation in the middle of a high-stakes trial last year, questions remained about the mysterious engineer at the center of the turmoil.All of us have the right to change jobs, San Francisco U.S. Attorney David Anderson said at a press conference in San Jose. None of us has the right to fill our pockets on the way out the door. Theft is not innovation.Levandowski, 39, voluntarily surrendered to authorities and faces a maximum of 10 years in prison if hes convicted. Anderson said the governments investigation is ongoing, but he declined to discuss the probe further.Levandowski didnt steal anything from anyone, his lawyer, Miles Ehrlich, said in a statement. The indictment rehashes claims discredited in a civil case that settled more than a year and a half ago.In his initial court appearance Tuesday, Levandowski pleaded not guilty and was released by a judge for now on US$2 million bail and a condition that he wear an ankle bracelet. He was told to return to court September 4 for another bail hearing after prosecutors voiced concern that with his vast wealth and dual citizenship in France, he might try to charter a private plane and flee.Legal experts had long speculated about what prosecutors might have found after the San Francisco judge handling the Waymo lawsuit referred it for further investigation in May 2017 and the case produced streams of evidence and testimony embarrassing to Uber. Emails and texts revealed a deeply personal connection between Levandowski and Ubers then-chief executive officer, Travis Kalanick. The criminal charges largely mirror Waymos civil claims that Levandowski while he was still at the company hatched a plan in 2015 with Uber for him to steal more than 14,000 proprietary files, including the designs for lidar technology that helps driverless cars see their surroundings.Throughout the case, U.S. District Judge William Alsup said it seemed overwhelmingly clear Levandowski took confidential files from Waymo but that theres no smoking gun proof Uber illegally used the information.Uber said in a statement Tuesday that it has cooperated with the governments investigation and will continue to do so.Waymo said, We have always believed competition should be fueled by innovation, and we appreciate the work of the U.S. Attorneys Office and the FBI on this case.Pronto, Levandowskis latest autonomous vehicle venture, said Tuesday that its chief safety officer will take over as CEO as a result of the
Origin: Ex-Uber engineer Levandowski charged by U.S. with stealing self-driving car secrets
The Corvette C8 will never get a manual because no one buys them: engineer
The 2020 Chevrolet Corvette C8Chevrolet The C8 Corvette is changing the game in a lot of ways for Chevrolet: it is, of course, the first mid-engined sports car its ever built. And weve now learned it is, unfortunately, the brands first sports car to forego a staple of the segment: the manual transmission.In a conversation with Motor Authority at the cars reveal, lead engineer Tadge Juechter simply said No when asked if the manual transmission would make an appearance in the C8.We couldnt find anybody honestly whod be willing to do it. Because just like the automatic, the DCT, it would have to be a bespoke manual, Juechter said.Its low volume, very expensive. The reason is its a low-volume industry. That industry is dying building manual transmissions.The numbers have changed vastly from when the Corvette first appeared on the scene, he said; now only 15 per cent of Corvette buyers choose the manual. Every year it goes down, down, down, down, Juechter lamented. Ouch. So not only will people not buy them, Chevrolet cant even get anybody to build them one at a decent cost, but it makes sense considering the requirements the C8 had for a transmission.According to Jeuchter, there isnt much room behind the driver to fit the engine, let alone the transmission, so it had to be compact. The engine is already dry-sumped to give it a small oil pan, and all the cooling devices associated with the engine also needed a place to go. Also, there had to be a place for the owners golf clubs, and thats more important than any performance options.Making the engine anything but an automatic posed too many problems for the team, so the manual was not even considered, marking the end of the row-your-own Corvette. Will you miss
Origin: The Corvette C8 will never get a manual because no one buys them: engineer
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