Porsche teams up with Apple to integrate Music into its infotainment

The Porsche Mission E, the concept that previewed the companys upcoming Taycan EVHandout / Porsche Two giants of industry are teaming up to create the next step in a wave of automotive innovation.Porsche and Apple will form a partnership to bring the tech companys streaming service Apple Music into the new Porsche Taycan EV, a first for any automaker.The partnership was just too good of a brand fit, Porsche Cars North America CEO Klaus Zellmer told Automotive News.We know that more than 80 percent of our customers already have iOS equipment, Zellmer said. Porsche and Apple are both bent on innovation, so to mix the two is a winning combination.The system will integrate Apple Music into the Taycans infotainment system and be connected to onboard internet, which will let the user stream as much music as they want. Three years of free internet will be provided by Verizon to purchasers of the new electric vehicle.Using the cars radio antennas will ensure the system will have the highest possible streaming quality. Playlists can be curated from both Porsche and Apple accounts, and either can be accessed even while youre away from the vehicle. The two companies have been working on the partnership for over a year, and it will be available as soon as the vehicle is officially released in September of 2019.As a reminder, the Taycan is powered by two electric motors that generate more than 600 horsepower. Range is expected to be 500 kilometres, and highway speeds can be achieved from a standing start in less than 3.5
Origin: Porsche teams up with Apple to integrate Music into its infotainment

Man pushes birthday-gift BMW into a river

A young man in India apparently pushed into a river a BMW he received as a birthday gift.The incident happened when the apparently unhappy birthday boy realized he hadnt got the Jaguar he asked for, according to BBC News. The car was driven to the edge of the bank, and then pushed the rest of the way.The 22-year-old man was identified only as Akash; according to police, he has a mental deficiency and is undergoing treatment.When the youth was plunging the high-end BMW car into the river, he also made a video and put it on social media, the police said.Akash was unhappy with his father for not buying him (a) Jaguar, police said in a statement. He deliberately pushed (the) luxury vehicle BMW into the river.We thought there may be somebody in the car but when those engaged in the rescue operation reached the vehicle they found none inside, said one unidentified villager.According to India Today, the man was later seen trying to get the car out of the water with the help of some people, but it was stuck on a patch of grass.BMW cars cost around 3.5 million rupees ($65,000) locally in India, while Jaguars cost about 4 million to 5 million rupees ($92,000). No charges appear to have been filed against the young
Origin: Man pushes birthday-gift BMW into a river

GM truck power brake probe turns into recall

2017 GMC Sierra HDGMC An investigation into deteriorating power braking systems in newer GM trucks and SUVs has turned into a recall affecting over 300,000 vehicles in Canada.More than 150,000 similar trucks are also affected by a second, unrelated recent recall regarding a fire risk posed by a rear window defroster.The power brake recall covers 300,655 vehicles, including model year 2015 through 2017 Cadillac Escalades and Escalade ESVs; Chevrolet Suburbans and Tahoes; GMC Yukons and Yukon XLs; and model year 2014 through 2017 Chevrolet Silverados and GMC Sierras.In some of these vehicles, the vacuum output assisting the power brakes may begin to fall off, weakening the power brake assist and resulting a harder brake pedal and longer stopping distances. This extra effort required to stop could increase the risk of a collision.General Motors is still working on a fix for affected trucks and SUVs.A second unrelated recall also announced early July covers some 159,240 trucks, specifically model year 2014 through 2018 Chevrolet Silverados and GMC Sierras; and 2014 through 2019 Silverado and Sierra HD heavy-duties.On vehicles from those years equipped with a power sliding rear window, the rear window defroster circuit could overheat, leading to smoke, melting parts or possibly a fire.General Motors is also still working on a fix for that issue, but dealers can remove the rear defroster fuse as a
Origin: GM truck power brake probe turns into recall

Ford’s ridiculous GT Mark II stuffs 700 hp into a Le Mans-spec chassis

When is a production car faster than the race car that its based on?Why, when its the US$1.2-million Ford GT Mark II.Now, were all familiar with the Ford GT, the car that quite literally rocked Detroits Cobo Hall at the North American International Auto Show in 2015.What was less well-publicized or properly explained was that the GT was not a supercar on which a racer was later based, but rather a race car which was then civilized for the street. And, believe it or not, it is the road car thats the more powerful trim.You see, the Ford GT competes in the ACOs GTE LM class, which has very strict rules to promote close competition. So, while the race car gets all manner of chassis upgrades lower weight, better suspension and a whopping dose of downforce its the road car that has all the power, boasting no less than 647 turbocharged ponies while the race version, again restricted to promote close racing, barely makes do with 500 hp.Ultimately, the race car will be faster around a closed course, but, in a straight line, the street car will leave it in its dust. What if, asked Hau Thai-Tang, Fords chief product development officer, we could unleash the full performance potential of the Ford GT without any artificial performance limitations dictated by racing sanctioning bodies? Well, the result would be the GT Mk II, the wildest combination of power and performance ever to wear the Blue Oval.Designed solely for the track but without regard to any racing rule book, the Mk II boasts the street cars engine in this case, massaged to 700 horsepower with water-jet-cooled intercoolers, a straight-through exhaust system and new pistons mated to the race cars chassis.That means 400 per cent four times! the downforce of the already-aerodynamic street car. The production cars mamby-pamby adjustable-height suspension so you dont drag expensive carbon-fibre bits over curbs has been done away with, the whole chassis now 90 kilograms lighter and 50 millimetres lower. Michelin Power Sport race tires mean the Mk II easily generates over two Gs of cornering force.Inside, youll find a Sparco racing seat with a six-point safety harness. The passenger seat is optional. Oh, and by the way, Ford is only building 45 of them.All of which means you better get in line right now, ready to part with US$1.2 million. And, before you start complaining about the price, Ford points out that other unlimited track-only cars can cost much more. Ferraris FXX will set you back at least three mil, Aston Martin wanted $2.3 million for its Vulcan and even the McLaren Senna will set you back almost $1.4 million greenbacks. In other words, bespoke track playthings dont come cheap.And, oh yeah, the whole thing is still built in Markham,
Origin: Ford’s ridiculous GT Mark II stuffs 700 hp into a Le Mans-spec chassis

Schwarzenegger pranks new car shoppers into buying electric vehicles

A video posted to Arnold Schwarzeneggers YouTube channel late June shows the famous actor and former California governor dressing up as a used car salesman and pranking people on the lot.The goal? Annoy them with his pro-gasoline schtick so much theyll consider nothing but an electric car.The spot, which the actor pulled off with California EV non-profit Veloz, starts off with an action movie-style intro, with Arnie getting into character as Howard Kleiner, a dealer rep set on selling people gas-guzzling muscle cars instead of new, greener tech.The character is perfect for Schwarzenegger, who is known for mercilessly killing bad guys and driving a Hummer in movies, we mean, but probably in real life, too.Schwarzenegger goes on to talk people out of buying electric cars, and without explaining every joke in the video, well just say he goes a little over-the-top with the benefits gas cars provide, and throws in a few of his own movie quotes.Honestly, if these are real people and not actors, its pretty incredible none of them picked up Arnies thick accent immediately. From the moment we hear his voice over the PA system, its pretty much obvious who it is.In the end, besides being good for a laugh, the ad serves a purpose: encouraging people to consider alternative-fuel vehicles. Schwarzenegger himself has a few electric cars for daily use, saving the Humvees for special occasions (though hes got an electric example of one of those,
Origin: Schwarzenegger pranks new car shoppers into buying electric vehicles

North Macedonian firm turning ancient Zastavas into EVs

When you think of the perfect electric vehicle, is it a massive, luxury sedan with gobs of horsepower and comfort; or is it a 1960s Italian-styled supermini? You know the answer to that.Turns out this perfect EV exists, and its the product of BB Classic Cars, located in the capital city of North Macedonia, Skopje.Usually, the firm just restores vehicles, but now with the help of government funding, its converting some to electric power as well, marking the countrys first EV effort.The Zastava 750 is essentially a copy of the Fiat 600, so you get the funky Italian styling without the giant price tag. And now that its been converted to electric, it should be reliable, too.The Zastava was originally from Yugoslavia, where it was powered by, essentially, a sewing machine. Now in place of the engine is an electric motor, powered by a 10-kWh battery pack.It only takes three hours to charge it up from a home charger, and that is good enough for 150 kilometres of classic motoring. At fast-charging stations, the charge time drops to just 15 minutes. North Macedonia has high hopes of joining the EU where emissions rules are very strict, but currently the country, sandwiched between Albania and Bulgaria, has a major polluting problem chalked up to car emissions and coal-burning. Subsidies for EV buyers will hopefully increase the prevalence of zero-emissions cars, helping their chances.The price of the small EV is just 20,000 euros about $30,000 which means it undercuts a lot of other offerings from big brands, and offers a lot more
Origin: North Macedonian firm turning ancient Zastavas into EVs

Texas shop plans to swap manuals into Ferrari 458 Italias

The Ferrari 458 Italia may have been born and bred in Maranello, Italy, but a select few are going to be spending some time being retrained at a small stable in San Antonio, Texas. European Auto Group (EAG) has announced its plans to be the first tuner to fit the Ferrari 458 Italia with a gated six-speed manual transmission. The 458’s naturally aspirated 4.5-litre V8 making 562 horsepower and just shy of 400 lb.-ft. of torque has always been commanded by the brand’s dual-clutch F1 tranny—until now. Carbuzz spoke with the shop’s owner, Art Bartosik, about the project. People are screaming for a manual 458 and 488. If the demand wasn’t there, we wouldn’t do it” he said. It won’t be easy, even if EAG’s portfolio includes a Ferrari F430 it converted into a manual, because the F430 already had a factory manual option available to work with. The 458 does not. This time around, Bartosik says, the “transmission in the 458 needs to be swapped out for a six-speed because it came with a dual-clutch.” The video above features the prototype, which is still in development. Bartosik says the company plans to convert “around 10 or 11 of them.” We’ve already got a list but people should start lining up out the door, he said. It’s going to be exclusive.” Deposits are being collected now, and these purist machines surely won’t be long on the market. Bartosik says that there are more swaps to come once they’re done with the 458s. The Lamborghini Huracan is definitely on the list.”
Origin: Texas shop plans to swap manuals into Ferrari 458 Italias

Texas shop plans to swap manuals into 458 Italias

Lexus just sent the sound of its V8 RC-F into space

Lexus just pulled a Tesla. Sort of. The Japanese automaker didn’t fire an actual vehicle into outer space like Elon Musk’s EV brand did, but it did recently transmit the sound of its V8 engine out beyond the atmosphere. Why, you ask? For publicity, of course. The brand is promoting the new Sony Pictures film Men in Black: International, starring Tessa Thompson and Chris Hemsworth, and with a supporting role from the Lexus RC F. The Lexus RC F’s engine bay is home to Lexus’s most powerful V8 to date. To get its music out beyond the clouds, Lexus partnered with Swinburne University of Technology’s Centre for Astrophysics, harnessing the southern hemisphere’s largest radio telescope to send the sound of the V8 encoded in an audio waveform, along with the message “New Lexus RC F. Earth. We’ve been expecting you.” The 5.0-litre naturally aspirated piece makes 472 horsepower and does sound otherworldly, so maybe the aliens will appreciate it. Or maybe they’ll hate it and we’ll be wishing that MiB was a real thing and Tommy Lee Jones was on his way to save us with his old-man strength. The message was directed toward Orion’s Belt. Scientists at the centre say they expect to know if anyone or anything received the message in a few thousand years or so.
Origin: Lexus just sent the sound of its V8 RC-F into space

Chevrolet plugs the 6.2-litre V8 into Silverado Trail Boss and RST

2020 Chevrolet Silverado Custom Trail Boss Pickup customers looking for a Silverado Trail Boss with a mouth to match its trousers are now able to quench that thirst for power. Chevrolet is expanding the availability of its mighty 6.2-litre V8 engine, choosing to stuff it into the macho Trail Boss and natty four-wheel drive RST models. It’ll be appended to GM’s excellent 10-speed automatic transmission. For those keeping count, more than half of the Silverado trims can now be equipped with the large-displacement engine, which pumps out 420 horsepower and 460 lb.-ft. of torque. If that’s still not enough for you, be sure to check the option box for the Performance Upgrade Package which adds a performance air intake and cat-back performance exhaust system, raising output to 435 horsepower and 469 lb.-ft. of torque. ‘Murica! Buried in the middle of this information drop was the tidbit this newfound power will increase Silverado’s maximum towing capacity to a heady 13,400 pounds when properly equipped. Alert readers will note this is a class-leading figure. With the Detroit truck wars perpetually raging, especially in the area of towing supremacy, you can bet the house on Ford and Ram responding in kind very quickly. In a fit of practicality, Chevy chose to endow both the Custom Trail Boss and LT Trail Boss trims with the 6.2-litre option. In those trucks, all that power is paired with a 2-inch factory suspension lift, locking rear differential, Rancho shocks and Goodyear Duratrac rubber. We are planning a celebratory off-road soirée as we speak. With yesterday’s news of the ten-speed automatic making its way into the 5.3-litre V8 power team, the powertrain count for the 2020 Silverado rises to no less than seven: a base V6, the turbo four, a 5.3-litre V8 with either active or dynamic fuel management systems (the latter with a choice of two transmissions), the 6.2-litre V8, and an inline-six turbo-diesel. GM truck fans are spoilt for choice in 2020. While this information is not yet reflected on any of GM’s Canadian websites, we did reach out to the Product Communications Manager who confirmed Chevy will be offering the same packaging options in this
Origin: Chevrolet plugs the 6.2-litre V8 into Silverado Trail Boss and RST