2020 Mercedes-Benz EQCHandout / Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz is delaying the Canadian release of its EQC, its first full battery-electric vehicle, by more than a year as it focuses on the vehicles launch in Europe.The SUV was originally intended to enter our market in spring 2020, but according to reports from American news outlets, its now being delayed to 2021.The EQC launch in Europe and other markets earlier in 2019 generated high interest worldwide for the EQC. In a recent direction from Daimler AG, it is a strategic decision to first support the growing customer demand for the EQC in Europe, Mercedes-Benz Canada told Driving.As a result of this decision, the Canadian and U.S. market launch dates of the Mercedes-Benz EQC will be rescheduled to 2021 (originally Q1 2020).So yes, the Great White North will be the Wait White North for a little while, while Mercedes readies its first true EV for the masses. While it may very well be Europeans buy more EVs than North Americans do, causing Benzs shift in focus as it says, it could also be because it gives the company a chance to update the EQC for the North American market.As it sits now, the SUV only gets about 200 miles (320 km) of range per charge. Thats just not enough for most people, especially considering the vastness of Canada. Mercedes-Benz has promised to announce 10 all-electric models by 2022, to meet stricter European emissions regulations. By 2030, European automakers will be required to reduce their fleet emissions by 37.5
Origin: Mercedes-Benz is pushing back the Canadian launch of its first full EV
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Greenhouse full of rare Jaguars uncovered in England
A collection of 30-plus vintage Jaguar vehicles were just discovered in a greenhouse next to a museum in Beaulieu, a town on the southern coast of the U.K.The vehicles were discovered by Beaulieu Garage, and, as explained in a Facebook post, most of them are E-Type sports cars. Over 30 classic Jaguars, mostly E-Types, most of which looked like theyd been there a very long time, the post documents as among those uncovered. An offer was made and now I need to work out what to do with a whole lot of rusty metal.The vehicles have been moved from their greenhouse and into a storage facility to be cataloged and sorted out.Condition wise theres a few you could probably get running in a couple of days but most are more long term projects. A greenhouse is not a good place to store vehicles, as the humidity and exposure to sunlight take their toll on metal and fabric. Eventually, though, they will all be sold.We are still cataloging exactly what we have and will be posting the cars up for sale with lots of pictures soon so please follow us for updates.So far, Beaulieu Garage has only posted one vehicle for sale, a 1960 XK150 3.8-Litre Drophead Coupe, which has the distinction of being the last Jaguar car built in Cream colour, and the fourth last XK150 ever built.So if youve ever thought there arent any more project vehicles or barn finds out there, think again. Sometimes theyre right in clear
Origin: Greenhouse full of rare Jaguars uncovered in England
2019 LA motor show: full report and pictures
Welcome to Autocar’s extended coverage of the 2019 Los Angeles motor show, one of the last major shows of this year’s automotive calendar. As ever, it is a uniquely Californian show that plays home to a varied mix of SUVs, V8s and electric cars. Manufacturers including Audi, Ford and Volkswagen are all in attendance, with major announcements expected throughout the week. Some brands even jumped the gun, revealing all ahead of the show floor opening to the industry. We were on the ground in LA to bring you all the news as it breaks from the show, as as well as providing insight and comment from industry figures, and first drives of some of the biggest new launches. LA 2019: show report Wheeled vastness, electric vehicles and fast-breeding mid-size SUVs were the most visible exhibits at an LA show marked by the welcome arrival of heavy rain and hail to a parched California. Whether this sudden shift was merely weather or a symptom of climate change, there were certainly signs of fundamental change at the show, where the electric Mustang Mach-E is Ford’s surprisingly potent – and fairly pricey, at £40,000 upwards – Tesla fighter. VW’s ID Space Vizzion concept, the E-Tron Spaceback that makes Audi the first premium player to introduce a second EV, the new-to America electric Mini and numerous plug-in hybrids will all be able to take advantage of the fact that California’s solar and wind power quite regularly generates surplus electricity in need of a home. Yet the industry’s growing battle to introduce affordable electric models was overshadowed, literally, by the bombastic trucks littering much of the Chevrolet stand, a spectacular ultra-high-riding, highly modified Ford F250 pick-up in the main entrance foyer and any number of medium to large SUVs. Not all of them from US manufacturers either, Mercedes unveiling AMG versions of its GLE and GLS, Audi its potent RS Q8, Toyota a new Highlander SUV of a size unremarkable in an American context, Land Rover its Defender and Kia its not-for-Europe Seltos. The almost absurd contradiction in all this can be hard to explain, but to understand the big trucks follow the money – these beasts are highly profitable US best-sellers – while the EU’s CO2 squeeze, China’s commitment to EVs and Tesla’s sales success explains the heavy peppering of battery-powered cars at this show. Which also explains the strange avenues some manufacturers are travelling in an effort to clean up the car and maintain its appeal. Who would have thought that there would one day be a five-door Mustang SUV punching out as much as 459 electric horsepower, or that BMW would have hired a couple of musicians to devise soundtracks for its EVs, or that it would be harvesting methane from a US dairy farm to produce electricity? VW, meanwhile, will plant 1000 trees to compensate for the 1000 miles that its Atlas Cross Sport R will travel in the Baja 1000 off-road race and Subaru, which had turned its stand into a virtual slice of US National Park, would be planting no less than half a million trees to rebuild US forests destroyed by fire. Even the unchanging is changing. There’s a new Mustang Shelby GT 500, but there’s now a Mustang EV. There’s a new Corvette, this the legendary sportscar’s first US show appearance, but its engine lies behind the driver rather than in front. On the other hand, some things really don’t change. Dodge celebrated 50 Challenger years with a very limited limited edition of 490 multi-hued cars, FCA’s policy of starving most of its brands of genuinely new product underlined by the sorry 300C saloon at the back of a Chrysler carpet park of ageing minivans and a modest Fiat stand deprived of its one-time mainstay 500, now deleted. Yet this show was optimistic, as motor shows almost invariably are. Live blog Thursday 21 November, 1000 GMT Last few udates from the show floow. “Big show for Hyundai,” says editor Tisshaw. “Not only is it previewing its new design language with the Vision T SUV concept, but also its plans for its first mid-engined car with the RM19 prototype. Think of that for a second: a mid-engined Hyundai. That’s remarkable progress from the company in such a short space of time.” The sun always shines in LA, right? Not today: heavy rain and thunderstorms are rattling the convention centre, and each executive giving a speech has made pretty much the same gag about the weather at the start of their presentations. Kia has a new SUV at the show, but it’s not for the UK. The Seltos is sized between the Stonic and Sportage in European terms, a gap Kia has just filled with the XCeed in Europe. The Seltos will instead be offered in the US, Korea, India and the Middle East. Thursday 21 November, 0900 GMT Jaguar stole a march on its big German rivals with the I-Pace, but Mercedes-Benz and Audi have caught up with launches in their own. And now in the case of Audi, it’s gone past Jaguar with the launch of its second electric car, the E-Tron
Origin: 2019 LA motor show: full report and pictures
Plugged In: Toyota’s circuitous route to full electrification
Toyota Canadas Stephen Beatty, right, with the companys FCEV, the Mirai.Toyota Canada Toyota has led the hybrid charge for two decades, and as Toyota Canadas Stephen Beatty tells Plugged In host Andrew McCredie, is now all-in on EVs, particularly fuel cell vehicles.The companys vice president also has some interesting things to say about some provinces push to create electric vehicle sales quotas for 2030, and tells us about Toyotas fascinating, and potentially game-changing, work with Quebec to produce green hydrogen. Plugged In is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google
Origin: Plugged In: Toyota’s circuitous route to full electrification
Ford is upgrading Sync and offering full over-the-air updates
Fords SYNC3 features high-speed performance, an easy-to-use smartphone-like touchscreen and clean graphical interfaceAndrew McCredie / Driving Tesla has made much of the fact all its cars can be updated via over-the-air (OTA) upgrades. Now Ford is doing the same thing for legacy automakers. And although the company says that the process is a little more difficult the time it takes to download and upgrade is critical since traditional cars have but a puny 12-volt battery that is easily depleted virtually everything software-related in 2020 and later Fords, bumper-to-bumper, says said Don Butler, executive director of Fords Connected Vehicle and Services, will be upgrade-able remotely.That means that, on top of updates to infotainment and creature-comfort subsystem, new Ford engines, transmissions and even brake systems will be OTA-repairable. For instance, glitch shifting on new eight- and ten-speed automatics a common consumer complaint can now be fixed while you car is in your driveway.In fact, since Fords latest controllers can store the updates in the background, John Vangelov, Fords modem feature manager, says you can even program updates to occur while youre asleep.Meanwhile, in its steady progress from what was the worst infotainment system in the biz the original Sync to what is now one of the segment leaders, Ford is introducing the fourth generation of its infotainment system. Besides a whole bunch of new screens from the current 8-inch screen to a whopping 15.5-inch monstrosity and even a landscape-oriented version Ford is pushing cloud connectivity and machine learning even deeper into its architecture.So, says Ford, Sync 4s voice recognition is now conversational, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity is now cord-free and machine learning means the system now learns your restaurant and entertainment preferences faster. On the largest 15.5-inch display, Sync will now let you run six different functions simultaneously, their controls displayed in something called Adaptive Dash Cards, Ford-speak for tiles.Whatever you call them, each of these little cards can remain minimized with basic controls or they can become the main display with full functionality. Its pretty slick and should keep Ford at the leading edge of dashboard man-machine interfaces. Ford says that accessing the cloud also increases the speed and accuracy of the built-in navigation system with up-to-the-minute updates and a wider range of information including things like parking spot availability and pricing to name but one advantage.Theres even a digital owners manual on-board that will include in-depth information on vehicle features and streamable how-to videos and more all through a searchable database.Look for Sync 4 as redesigned 2020 models arrive in Ford
Origin: Ford is upgrading Sync and offering full over-the-air updates
Volvo reveals XC40 Recharge as first full electric model
The four-wheel-drive XC40 Recharge features two 201bhp electric motors, one mounted on each axle, that combine to offer 402bhp and 487lb ft of torque. That enables it to achieve 0-62mph in 4.9 secs, with a limited top speed of 112mph. Power is drawn from a 78kWh underfloor battery, with Volvo citing a WLTP-certified range of more than 248 miles. Charging is available through an 11kW AC charger or a 150kW DC fast-charger, which the firm says can deliver an 80% charge in 40 minutes. The vehicle largely retains the exterior and interior styling of the conventional XC40, albeit with the addition of a new sealed fascia in place of the traditional radiator grille for the combustion engine. The model also gets Recharge branding and other minor design tweaks, while the charging port is located on the rear pillar of the car in the same place as a traditional petrol cap. Built on the same Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) platform as the regular XC40, the Recharge version retains largely the same dimensions with a length of 4425mm and a width of 2034mm. Because of the underfloor batteries, the XC40 Recharge has a slightly reduced ground clearance of 175mm, compared to 211mm on the regular model. The XC40 Recharge offers 413 litres of luggage capacity, a reduction of 460 litres for the regular model although, due to the space saved by the lack of a combustion engine, it gains a 31-litre ‘frunk’ storage area underneath the bonnet. The machine weighs a minimum of 2150kg, compared to 1497kg for the combustion-engined version. The XC40 Recharge is also the first Volvo to feature a new infotainment system powered by the Google Android operating system. That system features Volvo On Call, the firm’s digital platform. The likely initial price of the XC40 Recharge is similar to that of the closely related Polestar 2, the first electric model from Volvo’s spin-off performance brand. That model, which features the same electric powertrain – and identical power, torque output and range – costs £49,900 in its initial Launch Edition. Planned base models are likely to cost around £34,500. To accompany the launch of the XC40 Recharge, Volvo is also revamping its sales process. From early next year, customers visiting its website will be asked first if they want an electrified car, and a range of financial incentives designed to encourage efficient electric driving will also be offered. With Volvo aiming for plug-in hybrids to account for a fifth of its total sales next year, the firm is planning to triple production capacity for its electrified models, including the XC40 Recharge. It will also offer a new Designer’s Choice selection for Recharge models, which it says will feature “radically reduced delivery
Origin: Volvo reveals XC40 Recharge as first full electric model
Porsche’s new Taycan EV will beat Tesla to a full vegan interior
Porsche could beat Tesla to a fully vegan vehicle cockpit by implementing an animal-products-free interior in its new Taycan EV.The German automaker revealed the much-anticipated sedans cabin late August, ahead of a full reveal September 4, and explained thered be two interior options available for the car, a natural olive-leaf-tanned Club Leather; as well as a fully leather-free vegan option with Race-Tex microfiber, made out of recycled polyester.Now, that fully vegan part does come with an asterisk, because there are still other parts of the vehicle that use animal by-products, such as the tires and various fluids and adhesives. Still, its a step in the right direction.Besides the materials announcement, the reveal showed off the Taycans classic five-gauge instrument cluster, which reminds us of vintage 911s except, yknow, now theyre completely digital and can be configured into different layouts. To the right of the floating glass pod is the 10.9-inch infotainment screen, and a touchscreen for the passenger. The centre console also has screens for a battery level gauge, handwriting inputs and climate controls. Apparently, the system is so powerful it can show a map on every screen without lagging. The screens can also all be turned off for a driver-focused cockpit.Teslas interior is almost fully vegan, with the steering wheel being the only piece that still puts real cow to use. Elon Musk has said the only reason Tesla steering wheels havent been wrapped in synthetic material yet is because its been difficult to find something durable enough that can handle a heating element, but synthetic will be happening
Origin: Porsche’s new Taycan EV will beat Tesla to a full vegan interior
Ontario classic car collection auction full of trucks and Studebakers
A 1937 Studebaker Coupe Express from the Rier Collection.Supplied / Sheldon Rier A Cambridge, Ontario-based collection of classic cars and trucks is being trimmed down via a massive auction July 6 numbering some 150 lots, most of them of rare cars, trucks and motorcycles dating back to 1927.Sheldon Rier and his father John have been acquiring obscure classic cars for many years, with one of their focuses on Studebaker models and trucks.Dad had a 1936 Studebaker back in the mid-70s, and all these years later we have this flock of them, says the younger Rier about the collection.The sheer size of it is getting to be a lot for the pair to store and maintain, so the plan is to shed the bulk of the cars via this sale.Its a pretty big change for us but its a good time for others to be caretakers of some of these cars that we have had so much fun with, Sheldon Rier said. Highlights from the sale include a concours-shown 1937 Studebaker Dictator Business Coupe; a 1927 Ford Model T pickup; a 1932 Auburn Brougham; a 1941 Willys pickup; and dozens of cars and trucks in project condition.Aside from the classic cars up for sale, the auction will see some of the Riers motorcycles, automobilia, and old literature, brochure and parts trade hands, too.The auction preview is July 5, with the actual auction going down the next day; bidding can be done in person, online or by
Origin: Ontario classic car collection auction full of trucks and Studebakers
New Vauxhall Corsa: full engine range details released
A GM-based Corsa was all but finished by that point and it could have been launched, but the ‘toolbox’ of newly available PSA technology, including access to BEV hardware, plus licensing costs that would have been payable to GM, meant starting again was “a no brainer”, according to Adams. “We hand-picked our most experienced designers and engineers,” said Adams. “This is not a committee car.” He added that Opel’s design and engineering team had learnt new methods on the way but that the company couldn’t work within such a timeframe with every new model. “You’d kill people with the intensity of the work,” he said. PSA sees Vauxhall and Opel as a good fit with its French brands, noting that their respective British and German heritage means they’ll achieve sales volumes in their home markets that Peugeot, Citroën and DS won’t be able to match. PSA CEO Carlos Tavares has overseen a surprising turnaround of fortunes in an extremely short space of time. Opel-Vauxhall returned a £750m profit last year, its first in two decades. That has come from a mix of cost reduction, extra buying power and a reduction in discounting rather than a notable sales increase. Both Adams and new Vauxhall CEO Steve Norman say Opel-Vauxhall has much more autonomy within the PSA Group than under GM, where it made products that sold not only in Europe but also, with Chevrolet, Holden or Buick badging, in other regions. “You can’t micromanage success”, says Adams, who added he was pleased to find that PSA CEO Carlos Tavares was “extremely focused on brand values”. That approach has allowed Opel-Vauxhall to deviate from other PSA brands and inject its own DNA into the Corsa’s design. Deliveries of the new Corsa start at the end of this year in internal combustion form, with the Corsa-e electric variant arriving a few weeks later. The new Corsa-e can be ordered from this week and will cost £26,490 including the government grant. QA with Steve Norman, Vauxhall CEO Is the Corsa representative what of we should now expect from Vauxhall? “It’s what the brand has needed for some years now, and this will be the precursor for the new Mokka, which will be much more radical still in terms of design.” Is it correct that the small platform means a pure-electric option, while large platforms can have a plug-in hybrid powertrain? “For the moment, yes. What’s interesting in the Corsa-e is that there won’t be an option with less than 136bhp. One of the things that concerns people is that Vauxhalls have become a bit staid, and we need to inject something back into it. This will be quite a fast car.” Do you think there’s a shift in how the business runs day to day? “I wasn’t there in the GM days but the people who work for me were – they think the change is total. They are given freedom to act, that’s the big difference.” “When Carlos Tavares entered into this, he was convinced Opel was undersold in Germany and that Vauxhall was undersold in the UK, and on that I think he was right.” Lawrence Allan and Matt
Origin: New Vauxhall Corsa: full engine range details released
Full profile of 2020 Land Rover Defender leaked in infotainment snapshot
The latest spy shot of the upcoming 2020 Land Rover Defender comes from an unlikely source: the vehicle itself. A photo of the vehicle’s infotainment system picturing what appears to be a full-on side view of the new Defender has been making the rounds on Twitter. Land Rover is known to project a profile of its vehicles on the display cluster like that, so thats legit.The All-New Defender! Someone managed to sneakily photograph the display cluster of the New Defender.#AllNewDefender #landroverdefender #landroverphotoalbum #landroverevolved #Defender2020 pic.twitter.com/H2TOTCr7u3 landroverphotoalbum (@landroverpa) June 24, 2019 The alleged Defender is pictured with a white roof and an interesting C-pillar seemingly built into the rear door. The Twitter account dedicated to Land Rover images also shipped these spy photos, potentially snapped by the sneaky-peeker. New Defender interior and suspension exposed. Theres a rampant automotive peeping-Tom lurkingVia https://t.co/UYyBXHjB1D#AllNewDefender #landroverdefender #landroverphotoalbum #landroverevolved #Defender2020 pic.twitter.com/COvVvJvQTr landroverphotoalbum (@landroverpa) June 24, 2019LR can’t seem to catch a break in keeping the machine a secret, because last week Smyths, a toy retailer in the U.K., accidentally put up an early online ad for the 2020 Defender LEGO Technic Kit. It was removed, but not before the Internet took ownership of the images and details. The kit includes a “detailed inline six-cylinder engine,” which hints at a similar powerplant in the actual model. The LEGO version also has the white roof, as well as round headlights and a single-bar grille. The 2020 Land Rover Defender is expected to be revealed intentionally and in full by the brand itself at or around the Frankfurt auto show in
Origin: Full profile of 2020 Land Rover Defender leaked in infotainment snapshot
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