Autocar confidential: Porsche’s colour conundrum, Renault hatches a plan and more

In this week’s round-up of automotive news bites, we hear why Volkswagen’s CEO thinks EVs are the only way, how Porsche created the 911’s interior colour combinations, and more. Renault’s hatch, back? Renault will not quit the small car segment, unlike some brands, according to its Europe boss Jean-Christophe Kugler. “I’ve been asking my team to investigate deeply this segment” he said. “Let’s look at it and understand what is the evolution in the main cities.” Kugler also claimed car sharing could make the Twingo – now dropped from the UK – more viable. Porsche’s colourful combos One of the biggest challenges in developing the new Porsche 911 was making sure that all the interior trim colours matched, according to the firm’s quality control boss, Frank Moser. He noted the 11 interior colours offered on the new 911 had to work with 16 equipment levels and across 300 visible parts featuring 51 different materials, produced by 76 different suppliers. Ssangyong predicts a taxing period for manufacturers The growing uptake of EVs is going to have major effects on the rest of the UK car industry when it comes to taxation, according to Ssangyong’s UK MD, Nick Laird. “Manufacturers invested big in diesel technology for 20 years because that’s what all the signals the governments were giving. The government needs to find that (missing fuel duty) from somewhere.” Is hydrogen a load of hot air? “There’s no alternative to electricity to cut emissions and make mobility CO2-free,” VW Group chairman Herbert Diess said, despite Audi recently restarting its hydrogen powertrain research. The group’s vehicles are responsible for 1% of all transport-related emissions worldwide and it is committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2050.
Origin: Autocar confidential: Porsche’s colour conundrum, Renault hatches a plan and more

Street-racing Dodge Vipers in B.C. show off more horsepower than skill

In this week’s installment of “Just Because You Can Afford the Car, Doesn’t Mean You Can Drive It,” we have an offering from Surrey, B.C. RCMP there will be using video posted to Twitter to track down what happened when two Dodge Vipers went head-to-head – almost literally – in a drag start off a light gone wrong. The video, posted Monday evening, reveals two freaked-out people in the car with the camera.The red Viper, to the right, takes a left turn into the black Viper almost directly off the light. Maybe one driver thought he was at a drag strip, the other at NASCAR? Either way, all that throttle was under a very inexperienced foot.Warning: The video features foul language.Watch the clip: you can hear the unmistakable sound of two high-powered cars acknowledging their intent as the light turns green. B.C., like many jurisdictions, is introducing more speed cameras and harsher penalties, and much of it is because of drivers like these. These two clowns were on Highway 10, but as you can see, this route is in Surrey at an intersection and is much more residential than freeway. The fact they’re doing this at 7 pm makes it lethal to more than just the idiots behind the wheels of the two cars.While police aren’t saying at this point if the vehicles were racing or not (they didn’t get far enough off the light before the red Viper handed in his race card) they are saying they will be analyzing the footage taken from a car behind the crash. Just another reminder everything you do is no doubt being recorded, and will be used against you.Take it to the track,
Origin: Street-racing Dodge Vipers in B.C. show off more horsepower than skill

The Honda e dashboard design makes us want it even more

The Honda e Prototype at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show.Harold Cunningham / AFP/Getty Images Hondas beautiful e concept is coming to life, and the more we learn about it, the more we cant wait to get our hands on one.Honda has just released a video detailing the dashboard of the e, and we have to say, it makes us want one even more than we already did.The dashboard consists of two 12.3-inch touch screens in the centre for the infotainment, an 8.8-inch screen right in front of the driver, and two six-inch mirrors on the edges of the dash to show what the external camera mirrors see.The design is downright gorgeous in its simplicity, and when the vehicle is turned off you wouldnt even recognize that the entire fascia of the dash was a touch screen.Its easy to configure too, basically, anybody thats ever been in contact with a smartphone can move around the apps and change the interface to suit their needs. A smartphone can also be used as a key instead of a standard fob and can be configured to set geofencing, preconditioning, and safety alerts.On top of the great dash, the vehicle will respond to Hey Honda commands. The climate change buttons have remained tactile, and so have the buttons on the steering wheel.According to Honda, more than 36,000 people expressed interest in buying the small EV after it was revealed, the UK, Germany, France, and Norway will get first priority, but we hope Honda knows that Canada wants it just as much as the rest of the
Origin: The Honda e dashboard design makes us want it even more

Fresher look, more amenities and new naming strategy usher in 2020 Cadillac XT5

The mid-cycle refresh of the 2020 Cadillac XT5 brings it in line with the smaller XT4 and new XT6 the latter well be getting full details on July 29. Yes, when the XT5 lands this September it will be offered in Luxury, Premium Luxury and Sport models.The last two can be optioned up to the Platinum trim, which includes upgraded leather and advanced safety aids like adaptive cruise control and full-speed auto emergency braking.In all cases, the XT5 has sharper exterior styling with a new mesh-like grille, LED headlights and daytime running lights along with the equipment preferred by luxury crossover buyers: heated leather seats; the next-gen Cadillac User Experience (CUE) system with a large touchscreen; and a 360-degree camera view. The latest CUE system has a new controller that now includes a jog function, which makes it easier to navigate from one facet to another.On the safety front, the XT5s features list includes lane-departure warning with keep-assist; low-speed forward collision avoidance; and auto high-beams.The XT5 Luxury arrives with a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder that produces 237 horsepower and 258 foot-pounds of torque. It drives the front wheels through a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Premium Luxury uses the same engine and transmission, but it drives all four wheels through the companys single-clutch AWD system. This model can also be optioned up to the engine featured in the Sport model a brawny 3.6-litre V6 that makes 310 hp and 271 foot-pounds of torque.The Sport sits out on its own with its powerful engine and nine-speed automatic driving all four wheels through a slick twin-clutch all-wheel-drive system. The plus here is that the two clutches in the rear axle module give it torque vectoring some will argue that it is not real-time, but it is way better than any brake-based system.The clutches in the rear differential send more power to the outside rear wheel in a corner if required the system is capable of sending 100 per cent of the drive to the outside wheel. This action sharpens the turn-in response, reduces understeer and the amount of steering wheel input required. The Sport model also ups the ante with 20-inch wheels, tauter suspension, adaptive damping and a faster steering ratio. Finally, the refreshed XT5 uses Cadillacs new naming strategy. It is loosely based on the torque output of the engine under the hood of the vehicle. There will be a number of designations including the 400 found on the XT5 Sport. The reason for the switch is to accommodate the electric era when it finally comes of age torque will become the dominant number and replace horsepowers importance in the process.In this case, the 400 badge tells the onlooker the engine has roughly 400 Newton-metres of torque on tap. Yes, a new naming system using a unit of measure thats foreign to North America. Regardless, in simple terms, the XT5 Sports V6 pushes 271 pound-feet of torque, or about 367-Nm of torque. Round that number up and you have the 400 designation. If youre confused, you are not alone.Full Canadian specifications and final pricing will be announced closer to the September launch
Origin: Fresher look, more amenities and new naming strategy usher in 2020 Cadillac XT5

Autocar confidential: Seat predicts a rough patch, BMW circles the wagons and more

In this week’s summary of motoring meetings, we hear about Porsche’s plans to develop new electric vehicle infrastructure, Ssangyong’s difficulties as a low-volume value car maker, and more. Porsche is Taycan EV infrastructure up a notch Porsche will offer branded fast-charging points at destinations such as hotels when the Taycan EV is launched, according to Porsche UK boss Marcus Eckermann. The chargers will be open to users of other makes of EV and Porsche will also tap into the Ionity network, part-funded by the Volkswagen Group. Seat’s glass is half full The pressure to cut emissions and switch to EVs will prove tough not just for Seat but also the industry as a whole, according to CEO Luca de Meo: “It will be a hard proving ground before a new era of automotive can blossom again. The next two or three years will be challenging, but the next 10 will probably be fantastic, for the whole industry.” Europe’s getting in estate The BMW 3 Series is best known as a saloon, but buyers in Germany – where more than a third of 3 Series are sold – prefer estates. The firm says 67% of the models sold in Germany to date have been Touring versions. Italian buyers are most keen on the estate, with 73% choosing it over the saloon. By contrast, 73% of UK buyers opt for the saloon. The cost of compliance The growing need for advanced safety systems means it’s not credible for smaller brands to be entirely focused on value, according to Ssangyong UK managing director Nick Laird. “Small brands can’t also be cheap brands, unless you under-invest in the long term,” he said. “That’s going to require niche brands to go more upmarket. Ssangyong has always been SUV-focused – which more brands are becoming – but we need to work hard to be different to the
Origin: Autocar confidential: Seat predicts a rough patch, BMW circles the wagons and more

Mercedes-AMG gives the 2020 GLC 43 a new grille to make it look more AMG

Mercedes-AMG is giving the 2020 GLC 43 some AMG touches to make it more recognizable as the brands entry-level performance AMG SUV. Both the SUV and the four-door fastback (which they call a coupe) have been given the treatment.Thanks to the AMG-specific radiator grille with its vertical chrome-plated fins, it is very quickly clear: these GLCs come from Affalterbach, reads the press release, but theres more to the update than that. The bumper is also new, as well as the rear exhaust tips, of which there are now two; the headlights have also been updated to LED, and remind us of the AMG GT.The interior of the GLC 43 has been given the AMG treatment as well; it now features digital AMG-specific gauges, a flat-bottom steering wheel and a few red trim accents. There are even Chevrolet bowties on the steering wheel as a nod to the mid-engined Corvette! Oh, wait, those are controls for the infotainmentour bad. The latest edition of MBUX is also present, to go along with the updates 12.3-inch instrument cluster and 10.3-inch touchscreen. For the actual added performance, AMG has given the GLC 23 more horsepower, for a total of 385; thats matched by 384 lb.-ft. of torque from the 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6.Although Mercedes claims this is an entry-level performance vehicle, well guess that it still isnt cheap, but will have to wait until actual pricing and availability is released near the end of the year to find out for
Origin: Mercedes-AMG gives the 2020 GLC 43 a new grille to make it look more AMG

Autocar confidential: BMW’s secret window, Ssangyong’s pleasant surprises, and more

This week, as we hold an inverted glass up to the motoring industry’s staff room door, we hear about Hyundai’s most in-demand model, why Volvo won’t shun the showroom, and more. Amping up EV sales New Hyundai UK boss Ashley Andrew says securing more production allocation of the Kona Electric is one of his priorities. “The Kona Electric was our dealer network’s most in-demand model – when you’ve got demand exceeding supply, I think you’ll always have that,” said Andrew. He proposes offering customers stuck on the long waiting list the “interim solution” of a flexible lease on an Ioniq EV. And a rear opening window, to boot The engineers of the new BMW 3 Series Touring had to fight to retain the model’s separately opening rear window, because not enough owners know about it, according to product manager Stefan Horn. Urging Autocar to write about the feature, he said: “It’s a bit of a hidden thing. We argued we should keep it – but we need customers to know about it, or it will die.” Shock tactics The word new Ssangyong customers use the most? ‘Surprising’, according to new UK boss Nick Laird: “When I joined, they bought Ssangyong for highly rational reasons – it was excellent value for money. Now when people get in the car, they’re going: ‘I wasn’t expecting that. This is a lot nicer, a lot more modern and contemporary.’” Dealer or no dealer “People outside the retail world don’t understand just what a good job dealers do,” said Volvo UK operations director David Baddeley, following the brand’s recent online sales model roll-out. “We put them at the centre of it; it’s a retailer-based model. We are absolutely convinced the future is very strong for
Origin: Autocar confidential: BMW’s secret window, Ssangyong’s pleasant surprises, and more

News Roundup: A US$4-mil ‘67 Corvette heads to auction, a gender reveal burnout ends in flames and more top stories

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.What might be the most expensive Corvette ever is going up for saleWhen it comes to Corvettes, none is more coveted than the L88. So when this, the first 1967 Corvette L88 to ever be produced according to Hagerty, goes up for sale at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale, it’s expected to break sales records. The rare V8-powered car comes with a pedigree including a few SCCA race wins with Tony DeLorenzo behind the wheel, and is expected to fetch upwards of US$4 million at the classic car auction. Rear-end photos of the next-gen Corvette leak days before official revealIt’s mere days before GM is set to officially reveal the new Chevrolet Corvette, but just like a spoiled 9-year-old one day before his birthday party, we just can’t help sneaking a peek through the wrapping paper. An image posted on corvetteforum.com and reposted to Instagram appears to show the back side of the mid-engined Chevy, revealing tail lights that remind some of the Camaro. Take a look-see if you’re into spoilers, or hold off just a few more days until July 18.Hyundai says the Santa Cruz-inspired pickup truck is coming very soonHyundai is hoping to generate a “whole new class of buyers” with its first pickup truck, which it says should be on the way shortly. Details and specs haven’t been revealed just yet, so we’re still imagining something close to the five-seat crossover-style Santa Cruz concept truck Hyundai revealed over four years ago. The South Korean brand will likely build the trucks in the U.S. to avoid the 25-per-cent tariff on imports. We get behind the wheel of the 2020 Toyota GR Supra for the first timeIt’s been 21 years since the last Supra was produced, so when Toyota decided to bring it back for a 2020 model year, it only made sense to make it the brand’s sportiest production car ever. And the sportiest Toyota it is. Our experts can confirm it, having recently taken the car out for a first drive on Quebec’s Circuit Mont Tremblant. Sharing a platform with the BMW Z4, the Supra isn’t just a Bimmer dressed by Toyota. As Costa Mouzouris puts it, “the Supra looks and feels completely different, and returns a driving experience that is more visceral and more intense.”Gender reveal burnout goes wrong—congratulations, it’s an explosion!And just like that, with the ignition and explosion of an Australian muscle car, we’ve reached Peak Gender Reveal. Because instead of opting to cut into a blue or pink cake cloaked in white icing, or open a box full of pink or blue balloons, one Australian dad decided to announce the sex of his new child using the spinning rear tires of a V8 Holden Special Vehicles Senator. But before the blue smoke had stopped swirling, a fire broke out, resulting in an explosion and the destruction of the Australian muscle car. Nobody was hurt, but the driver was fined and the video of the incident is now being used as an educational tool by Australian police. Five reasons we can’t wait to drive the 2020 Shelby GT500People deal with excitement in various ways. Driving’s expert Alex Reid, for one, makes lists. This week, with the anticipation of the new 2020 Shelby GT500 becoming simply too much to bear, the auto journalist began documenting and organizing the reasons he’s excited to drive Ford’s new pony. First, at the heart of the matter is what the brand calls “the world’s most torque-dense V8,” making 760 horsepower and 625 lb.-ft. of torque. And then there’s the history, which dates back to Texas in 1965. Read the rest of the list to further benefit from our writer’s fastidious nervous twitch. GM recalls 500,000 trucks due to “hard” brakes and defrosters that could start firesA probe into faulty power braking systems in some GM trucks and SUVS has escalated into a full-blown recall of around 300,000 new GM trucks and SUVs across Canada. The fault lies in a deteriorating vacuum that assists the power brakes, which can lead to a hard brake pedal and less effective braking. A second recall is targeting nearly 160,000 trucks with potentially glitchy rear window defrosters that could overheat and possibly start a fire. Click the link above to see if you’re GM truck or SUV might be affected.
Origin: News Roundup: A US$4-mil ‘67 Corvette heads to auction, a gender reveal burnout ends in flames and more top stories

Porsche sells no more than two duplicate sports cars per year

2019 Porsche 911 GT3 RS A point of pride for most gearheads is the ability to claim their car is unique to another example of the same make and model. This helps to explain why we gravitate towards the aftermarket catalog after hauling home a new ride.After all, why should a person who only knows where the gas goes drive the same exact same machine as someone who knows the firing order?Porsche, king of raking in option-sheet profits, seems to realize this. In an interview with U.K. outlet Autocar, the automakers Zuffenhausen plant manager said the brand sells no more than a pair of identical 911 or 718 models annually. This is great news for gearhead fans of the brand, especially the anoraks who memorize VINs and option codes.Here in Canada, the company offers a spellcheck-vexing program called Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur. It offers buyers a wide range of options for customization, starting with a consultation with a panel of design eggheads. Contrasting seat colours, detailed trim packages, even decorative stitching is on tap. Feel free to click that link to check it out, but know that your productivity will suffer for the rest of the day. All this is, of course, in addition to the minefield of mechanical options one can fit to a 911 or 718. Sure, the guy down the road might also have one in Guards Red, too, but did he select the rear wiper? Of course not. His doesnt have the Sport Chrono Package either, an unforgivable omission. Toss in other interior and exterior frou-frou (leather-trimmed vents and painted washer nozzles, for example) and one begins to understand how Porsche can make this claim.With Porsches level of customization, theres little chance youll see yourself at the next
Origin: Porsche sells no more than two duplicate sports cars per year

Autocar confidential: Porsche eyes more diverse line-up, Shelby introduces limited-run sports car and more

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