eyes – All about car

This week’s snippets of automotive news include DS on why lights are crucial to car design, the continuing popularity of diesel for Land Rover, and where the T-Cross sits in Volkswagen’s revised global line-up. But first, how personalisation means very few Porsches are alike… More personal Porsches on the horizon Porsche produces 25,000 911 and 718 models at its Zuffenhausen factory annually, but with 39 variants and an ever-growing range of customised trim options, plant manager Christian Friedl says that it only produces identical cars “a maximum of two times per year”. The firm is set to introduce even more options, with Friedl claiming it will offer “the most personal car” possible. Illuminating design at DS How important are lights to a car? For DS, design director Thierry Metroz says they’re key to showcasing the brand’s refinement and technology pillars. “I have a specific team working only on lighting,” he said. “We have six exterior designers, and five only for the lighting – it’s so important.” Shelby’s long-awaited second series Shelby has updated its only bespoke model, the 20-year-old Series 1 sports car, to create the Series 2. Available with Ford-based big or small block V8s, just four will be built each year, priced at $350,000 for a carbonfibre body or $850,000 for custom-made aluminium. Diesel not dead at Land Rover Diesel still accounts for 80% of Jaguar Land Rover sales in the UK, says boss Rawdon Glover. “Diesel will continue to be relevant and remains a viable choice for customers,” he added. Volkswagen’s new global flagship SUV The new T-Cross will be a “cornerstone” of the Volkswagen global SUV line-up, says chief operating officer Ralf Brandstätter, with different regional versions to be built in Spain, China and Brazil. Market demands mean the Chinese and South American versions will be
Origin: Autocar confidential: Porsche eyes more diverse line-up, Shelby introduces limited-run sports car and more

Ontario Premier Doug Ford is pictured during a photo opportunity with New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs at the Ontario Legislature in Toronto on Wednesday May 22, 2019.Chris Young / Canadian Press Less than a year after freezing driver and vehicle fees in Ontario, the Progressive Conservative government is considering raising them again, while bracing for a negative reaction.In a proposal quietly posted to a regulatory registry for public comment, the government says it is seeking to introduce annual fee increases of two per cent across the board for various driver, vehicle and carrier products and services.These moderate fee increases will allow the government to continue delivering services and move towards full cost recovery without increasing taxes for all Ontarians, said the posting.Transportation Minister Jeff Yurek said Wednesday that he is looking at implementing predictable increases, after the previous Liberal government introduced multiple increases per year at larger amounts.We are looking to see how we can attain that cost recovery model, but in a way that reflects peoples ability to pay and were going to try to tie it to inflation, but as I said, no decisions have been made and I look forward to peoples responses on that, he said.The posting on the regulatory registry was up for just five days and removed on Monday. Only two comments were received, the ministry said.The fee increases would start July 1 and continue for five years, under the proposal.It is anticipated there will be a neutral to negative reaction from drivers, vehicle owners and commercial carriers, with the impact on drivers and vehicle owners estimated to be low as proposed increases are minimal and will be spread over a five-year planning horizon, the proposal says.The government froze some driver fees last August, cancelling increases that had been set for the following month, leaving the fee for a new drivers licence, for example, at $90 instead of $97.People are fed up with paying more and more every time they need to renew their licence or take a driving test, Premier Doug Ford said in a statement at the time.Later, the government also cancelled increases for some passenger, commercial and farm vehicle and driver fees that were set to take effect Jan. 1, 2019. Interim Liberal leader John Fraser said the government is saying one thing and doing another.The Ford government made a big deal about not raising license fees and now theyve done this quietly, hoping no one would notice, he said in a statement.The Ford government has put themselves in a very tight fiscal box. Theyve reduced their revenues through tax cuts for the rich and corporations as well as ending cap and trade. When revenue is reduced, it limits your
Origin: Ontario government eyes raising driving fees months after freezing them