The Land Rover Defender will be heavily updated when it makes its 2020 re-debut, and will include tonnes of new features lacking on previous models, like an active air suspension system.Top Gear recently had the chance to check out the new Defender prototype, and one of the most important upgrades available on the truck is an optional active air suspension.Besides being height-adjustable, the setup is also more off-road-capable than a traditional coil-spring suspension.One of the big goals for the new Defender was to make it more composed on the road than any previous generation.The air system actively monitors temperature in the dampers and protects the vehicle by changing the parameters of the suspension as youre driving, says Andy Deeks, Defenders durability and reliability program boss.Land Rovers have typically been made to handle any terrain, and this time the brand is proving it by testing 200 new prototypes all around the world in various climates. To make matters worse (or better, for buyers) Land Rover has also strapped the Defender to a machine that shakes it for 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for two months straight, to simulate 10 years of wear. To be a global car you need lots of different benchmarks, because what the Middle East market considers to be the benchmark car is different to America, Europe, China The old Defender is tough, because its uncomfortable to drive quick, says Deeks.Whereas this thing is very comfortable to drive quickly. And as a result, its been designed to be super durable and robust.The 2020 Defender will be offered in three traditional wheelbases, 90, 110, and 130, with each being available with six different
Origin: 2020 Land Rover Defender gets active air suspension
gets
JLR gets 500m from government to develop electric cars
JLR gets £500m from government to develop electric cars The loan guarnatee will boost EV work carried out by Jaguar Land Rover Jaguar Land Rover has been awarded a £500 million loan guarantee by the UK Government to help develop electric cars. The move was signed off by Theresa May, and she told a meeting of industry leaders on Monday (16th July) that the funding would be made up of £500 million from UK Export Finance – the government-backed credit agency – and a further £125 million from commercial lenders. Reports say that Mrs May met with representatives from companies including Jaguar Land Rover, Aston Martin, Vauxhall, and Nissan, plus energy firms including the National Grid, BP and Shell. She told those assembled that the government was committed to supporting the car industry in a switch to electric vehicles. Earlier this month JLR announced significant investment in its Castle Bromwich plant as the company plans to build electric cars there, including the next-generation pure-electric Jaguar XJ saloon.
Origin: JLR gets 500m from government to develop electric cars
Waymo gets permission to pick up California passengers with autonomous cars
Autonomous tech company Waymo has been given the go-ahead to begin picking up actual human passengers in California with its self-driving cars. But before you go booking a flight to L.A. to try the next big thing, know that there’s a caveat: the state’s Autonomous Vehicle Passenger Service pilot program only permits Waymo employees and guests to use the self-driving taxis. TechCrunch confirmed the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) gavethe permit to the Alphabet-powered company, granting its employees and their lucky friends and fam to try out the vehicles (limited to the Chrysler Pacifica at the moment, but soon to include the Jaguar I-PACE) within a predetermined area of South Bay near L.A., including the neighbourhoods of Palo Alto, Los Altos Hills, Los Altos, Mountain View and Sunnyvale. “The CPUC allows us to participate in their pilot program, giving Waymo employees the ability to hail our vehicles and bring guests on rides within our South Bay territory,” a Waymo spokesperson told TechCrunch. “This is the next step in our path to eventually expand and offer more Californians opportunities to access our self-driving technology, just as we have gradually done with Waymo One in Metro Phoenix.”Quick refresher: Waymo One was a similar pilot project that launched late last year, offering free autonomous rides to a couple hundred project participants in a one-hundred-mile radius around Phoenix.Waymo is also contractually obligated to keep a human safety driver behind the wheel, both in Phoenix and California, and to offer the service for free. Sweet deal for Waymo staff. Incidentally, does anybody who works there want to be my friend? I’ve been told I make a great
Origin: Waymo gets permission to pick up California passengers with autonomous cars
News Roundup: Boat on highway causes waves of puns, 2020 Shelby GT500 gets priced, and Rivian keeps on poaching
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.A police photo of a boat blocking a Toronto highway has turned into a national caption contestCaption? This boat ended up on #Hwy407 at Dixie Rd tonight. No one hurt. #HappyCanadaDay pic.twitter.com/rDU3sePzJ7 Sgt Kerry Schmidt (@OPP_HSD) July 2, 2019When Ontario police got a call about a boat blocking a lane-and-a-half of traffic on the GTA’s 407 ETR Highway on Canada Day, they knew just what to do: Snap a photo and post it to Twitter, obviously. The OPP’s official Twitter account shipped out a photo of the mid-size motorboat beached in the left lane, calling for the public to caption it. And the public, Driving.ca’s commenters included, did not disappoint. There were a ship-ton of boat puns, some fun Photoshop work, and a few solid references to Gilligan’s Island, which it turns out is still the most relevant piece of nautically-themed pop culture. The 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500’s price tag nears six digitsFord has released pricing for the upcoming Mustang Shelby GT500, the most powerful Mustang ever made. The 2020 Shelby GT500 will go for $94,675 in Canada, which isn’t what the kids would call ‘el cheapo’. However, it’s a lot of car, with “the most torque-dense V8 ever,” according to the brand, good for 625 lb.-ft. of torque alongside 760 horses. Should you care to spend even more on mechanized muscle, Ford is happy to accommodate. There’s the Carbon Fibre Track Package that adds bare carbon-fibre 20-inch wheels and racing tires, a GT4 adjustable wing and more; or, for a little less, the Handling Package with a Gurney flap rear spoiler and front splitters. A hearse driver with a corpse in back argues right to use HOV laneA headline out of Nevada is serving as a reminder to funeral employees that if you’re going to use the HOV lane, your passenger has to have a pulse. When Nevada highway patrol pulled over a Dodge Grand Caravan traveling in the HOV lane with what appeared to be a sole occupant in the vehicle, they were met with an interesting argument by its driver. There was a passenger, the local funeral home employee told the officer—they just weren’t in a seat, rather in a casket in the back. Clever, but not technically legal. The driver was let off with a warning.What do truck nuts really say about a driver? There are many offensive and unnecessary ways to decorate your car, from the classic bumper sticker to gawd-awful accessories like headlight eyelashes, but king among them in terms of outrageousness are the truck testicles, a.k.a. TruckNutz. Now, columnist Lorraine Sommerfeld isn’t a fan of most car decorations, believing decor should be saved for the home, but she’s especially turned off by the dropping sacks that adorn the rear hitch of some of the world’s least discerning driver’s vehicles. So, if you own a set of TruckNutz and have an actual good reason why you feel the need to set them swinging from your F-150 – other than “balls, tee hee” – she wants to hear from you. We all do. Rivian can’t stop, won’t stop poaching employeesThe race to the world’s first long-range electric pickup truck is a hungry one. In an attempt to fight to the top of the pile, EV startup Rivian has been steadily leeching employees from automotive and tech competitors like Tesla, Ford, McLaren and especially Faraday Future. Since last spring, the Michigan-based company has doubled its number of staff, with nearly 50 engineers and other staff coming over from the struggling EV brand Faraday Future, many of whom had been furloughed by the company. The latest big hire made by Rivian, however, was of an Apple employee. Mike Bell, who helped bring the first-gen iPhone to market, will serve as Rivian’s first CTO. The 2019 Mazda MX-5 is the same old Miata we love, only now with more powerFun. That’s the Mazda MX-5 Miata’s modus operandi. Always has been. That’s why, when the previous-gen MX-5 (aka the NC) hit roads with a bigger body and a less powerful engine, some fans were… we won’t say disappointed, but confused. This year, though, Mazda has decided to clear things up with a return to the nimble nature and a boost of 26 horsepower. The 2019 MX-5 Miata once again plays to its strengths with a spirited four-cylinder engine, spot-on chassis and a host of other performance upgrades that make this generation one of the G.O.A.T.s. As reviewer Nick Tragianis notes, “On a tight, serpentine road, the Miata is more of the same, but better.”The 2019 Ford Ranger narrowly misses Top Safety Pick award at IIHS crash testsIt was the darned headlights. Thanks to a “marginal” rating given to the lamps, the 2019 Ford Ranger just missed the Top Safety Pick at this year’s IIHS safety tests. But it still did pretty well, earning a “superior” for front crash prevention, “good” for five
Origin: News Roundup: Boat on highway causes waves of puns, 2020 Shelby GT500 gets priced, and Rivian keeps on poaching
Florida man gets himself in heap of trouble jumping Nissan over canal
Perhaps inspired by the Dukes of Hazzard, a Florida man jumped his Nissan Versa over a 20-foot-wide canal June 2019Warner Bros. Pictures A man in Lehigh Acres, Florida, broke his back after attempting to jump his vehicle across a canal, Dukes of Hazzard-style.According to NBC, 35-year-old Robert Foley mistook his Nissan Versa for an orange 1969 Dodge Charger and tried to jump over a 20-foot-wide canal.One witness, known to NBC only as Gerald, saw the whole thing happen.He was driving full speed, came across the canal, he landed right here on the bank as you can see, he told the news outlet.He hit this, hit the truck right here, he got out and started running. I went inside, I was scared.A short clip of the aftermath from NBC shows the destroyed vehicle sitting on the other side of the canal. The bank is still damaged where Foley smashed into it.You have to hand it to the guy, though, he did make it across to the other side, and he ran away despite having a broken back. Needless to say, dont try this at home.Foley has had his licence revoked since 2017, and now faces a hit and run charge as well as two DUI
Origin: Florida man gets himself in heap of trouble jumping Nissan over canal
The 2019 Ram 1500 Classic gets extra-cool with new Sub Zero trim
What’s a company to do when it’s selling a truck with a ten-year old design alongside a brand new one? Give it as many special editions as possible, of course. Earlier this year, we saw Ram bring out a Warlock package for the Ram 1500 Classic. Today, it introduced a Sub Zero package. In the middle of summer, no less. Offered on ST, Tradesman and Express models, the Sub Zero trim adds heat to the front split bench seat and steering wheel, a remote start for those cold mornings, and a 10-way power driver’s chair. Other goodies include the 5-inch Uconnect with satellite radio and an overhead console. “The new ‘Sub Zero’ package was designed by Canadians for Canadians,” said Reid Bigland, President and CEO of FCA Canada before getting back to the business of bringing a lawsuit against his own company. “We created an exclusive package with affordable, all-weather comfort and conveniences to complement the award-winning capability and features of our Ram 1500 Classic, helping our Ram customers better conquer tough Canadian winters from coast-to-coast.” Through to the end of May, sales of Ram pickups have fallen off by six percent compared to the same time last year, down to 37,152 units sold. Across all its brands, FCA Canada is down by about 14 per cent so far this year, not having yet cracked the 100,000-unit barrier. It had done so at this point in 2018. Ram pickup trucks, by the way, are head-and-shoulders above the other products in FCA’s portfolio in terms of sales, with the next-best-selling vehicle being the Caravan, at 13,199 units sold. In fact, Ram pickups outsold the entire Jeep brand in this country by a wide margin. Having two half-ton pickups at different price points surely helps. This all-weather goodness, which the cynical amongst us will say is simply a way to use up remaining Ram 1500 Classic parts they keep finding in FCA warehouses, will add $1,495 to the window sticker. It’s offered on Quad or Crew Cab 44 Ram 1500 Classic models with all engine configurations and is available
Origin: The 2019 Ram 1500 Classic gets extra-cool with new Sub Zero trim
GMC’s 2020 Sierra 1500 gets a new diesel engine, plus other options
2020 GMC Sierra Denali CarbonPro Edition GMC spilled the details on its 2020 Sierra 1500 late May, noting the truck will offer such new features as a diesel engine and a camera view that can make a trailer “disappear.” The updated truck adds features to the all-new 2019 Sierra, which introduced the available six-function MultiPro tailgate. For 2020, the Sierra can be ordered with a 3.0-litre Duramax turbodiesel engine and ten-speed automatic. That transmission will also be standard or available on specific trim levels with the 5.3-litre V8 engine; it was previously mated only to the 6.2-litre V8. Other available features include a “transparent trailer view,” introduced on the 2019 Sierra HD, with a total of 15 camera views that combine to give a view of what’s behind the trailer, as if it isn’t there; adaptive cruise control that uses a windshield-mounted camera and can bring the truck to a complete stop; and stand-alone optional trailer tow mirrors. 2020 GMC Sierra Available Transparent Trailer Rear Camera View A new trailering app lets drivers create and edit trailer profiles on a mobile device. Depending on the trailer’s configuration, owners could remotely turn on an RV’s air conditioning or water heater, check the water and holding tank levels, or monitor on-board generator fuel supplies from a phone. The app will also send trailer maintenance reminders to the driver. The CarbonPro carbon-fibre pickup box, introduced for 2019, is available on specific models. The company said it increases durability with dent, scratch and corrosion resistance. While the Sierra is sold on both sides of the border, it’s a far more important truck for Canada than for the U.S., where truck buyers overwhelmingly prefer Chevy. In 2018, Americans bought 585,581 Chevrolet Silverados to 219,554 GMC Sierras; but in Canada, the Sierra outsold its Silverado sibling by more than 1,100
Origin: GMC’s 2020 Sierra 1500 gets a new diesel engine, plus other options
2020 Audi A4 gets new face, infotainment touchscreen
Static photo, Colour:Terra grayAudi Audi is in the midst of a massive redesign of its entire lineup, with the A4 being the latest model to go under the knife. Not too much is new in terms of technology, with the main changes happening on the outside. The front fascia sees the most obvious upgrade, with redesigned LED daytime running lights and headlights that have been made less angular to better fit with the front end. The grille is also much better-looking than previous models’ and gives the car a more approachable appearance. Aggressive creases over the wheel arches give it an awesome box-flare look. The taillights also feature the same lighting elements as the front does, to mimic the style of the headlights. Inside, the vehicle doesn’t appear to have changed too much, but a touchscreen now sits where the big rotary knob infotainment system used to be. Powering the A4 will likely be the same turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder that makes between 188 and 248 horsepower in North America. The S4 will also stay the course with a 3.0-litre V6 making 349 horsepower. Interestingly, Audi lists a new 3.0-litre V6 diesel option available for the European market; it makes 341 horsepower and 516 lb.-ft. of torque when installed in the S4, and features a supercharger powered by a 48-volt electrical system, making it a mild hybrid. We don’t expect the diesel to make it across the water, however. Audi has unfortunately discontinued the manual transmission in the A4, so expect the new model’s engines to be paired with a seven-speed automatic across the board. All models of the A4 will get the upgrades to styling and technology, including the Avant, the S4 and the Allroad. Canadian pricing, availability and engine options haven’t been announced at this
Origin: 2020 Audi A4 gets new face, infotainment touchscreen
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
Honda’s Urban EV concept gets a real name: ‘e’
Name of Honda’s urban electric car confirmed: ‘Honda e’Honda Honda’s small Urban EV concept with throwback styling caught the attention of just about everybody when it was revealed at the Geneva auto show a couple years back, and Honda has just announced the production model’s name: Honda e. A simple name for a simple car. The Honda e gained a lot of love for its resemblance to the original Honda CVCC (the car later rebadged Civic) and will surely get a lot of love for what it can offer, as well. Honda says, for example, the e will deliver over 200 km of range, and that the battery cells supplied by Panasonic will fast-charge to 80 per cent in just 30 minutes. The e will also be rear-wheel-drive, so it might actually be quite sporty. Honda decided to build the vehicle after over 22,000 customers in Europe expressed interest in buying it, showing there would probably be a good market for small EVs for urban areas. The e will be a great addition to Honda’s vision of electrifying its entire lineup by 2025. Honda’s Electric Vision, renewed and emboldened at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, is for 100 per cent of the brand’s European sales to feature electrified powertrains by 2025, the automaker said in a release. The Honda e, presented as a production prototype in Geneva, is Honda’s first model to benefit from a dedicated EV platform and takes a bold step with its design and technology. The compact electric car offers trademark Honda driving dynamics, aided by the sporty rear-wheel-drive format and advanced electric powertrain. Production and sales of the Honda e will hopefully start later in 2019, and we sincerely hope that Honda finds a way to make the e available in
Origin: Honda’s Urban EV concept gets a real name: ‘e’
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