Autocar confidential: Mercedes-AMG’s delayed hypercar, Audi plans a special delivery and more

This week, we’ve got the lowdown on the the delay in launching Mercedes-AMG’s hypercar, Infiniti’s next step, Seat’s position in the VW Group, and more.  Affalterbach needs its filter back  Mercedes-AMG’s flagship hypercar, the One, has reportedly been delayed while the company works to fit a particulate filter – to ensure WLTP emissions certification – without dropping the power output below 1000bhp. AMG boss Tobias Moers admitted the problem to Autocar but said there has been “great progress” in implementing a fix. “We’re figuring out when the first customers will get their cars in the next few weeks,” Moers said.  Audi’s new ‘hot’ hatch Audi reckons shared autonomous cars could revolutionise takeaways – by arriving with your food already on board. The firm’s AI:ME urban concept car features a food storage unit and subscribers can request a car and food using an app. The autonomous car stops at the restaurant and is loaded up with the food en route to arriving for use.  Infiniti looks eastwards After announcing it will pull the plug on Europe later this year, Infiniti is betting the farm on China. At the Shanghai motor show, the brand said it will build its first electrified model in China, for China. Its target is to triple sales in China in the next five years with a number of locally made cars. VW Group remains Seated Seat may still be “very much a regional brand”, but a sale has never been on the table because it is so intertwined with the VW Group’s technology, according to group CEO Herbert Deiss. “It also makes sense within the group because it attracts a different kind of customer than anyone else.” That different kind of customer is a younger one – Seat owners are the youngest of any VW Group
Origin: Autocar confidential: Mercedes-AMG’s delayed hypercar, Audi plans a special delivery and more

News Roundup: The proper way to hit a moose, Keanu Reeve’s bike collection and more super Canadian news

Moose on the shores of a river in Alberta.Vince Crichton 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 guide to hitting animals with your car to avoid injury Crash victim Michelle Higgins’ car is seen May 23, 2012, at the local bodyshop in Gander, Newfoundland, following a visit to the crash site where she hit a moose. Doctors told Higgins she went into shock, explaining why she continued to drive to work oblivious of the damage. Victoria Higgins / Supplied In Canada, motorists don’t just share the road with other drivers, but also often with wildlife. Obviously precaution is the best strategy here, but when a collision is inevitable, there are some things you can do to improve your chances of avoiding injury. Considering some 236 Canadians were killed following collisions with moose between 2000 and 2014, it’s probably worth taking the crash course, no pun intended. Tips include limiting speed, avoiding swerving and releasing the brakes at the last second. Can you be a distracted driver if your phone is dead?   This week the Driving staff got into a heated but always civil debate over a recent conviction of a B.C. man who was booked for distracted driving because he had earphones in that were connected to a dead iPhone. Now, it’s not illegal to drive with two earphones in in B.C. like it is in the rest of Canada, but according to the justice deciding the case, the phone was “in a position in which it may be used.” A real puzzler, mainly because, as Lorraine Sommerfeld points out, “Why would anyone have two earbuds in to listen to nothing?” These are Canada’s new federal EV incentives An EV electric vehicle charging parking spot in a parking lot at UBC, Vancouver, February 20 2019. Gerry Kahrmann / Postmedia It’s no secret that the Canadian government wants people to think about the environment when choosing what car to buy. This week, the feds outlined the details of its EV perks plan, including a list of 27 models and trims that qualify for the $2,500 incentive for “shorter-range plug-in hybrid vehicles” or the $5,000 incentive for “battery electric, hydrogen fuel cell, or longer range plug-in hybrid vehicles.” The update comes as the federal government moves toward its goal of having 100 per cent of new vehicle sales to be zero-emission cars by 2040. Ontario’s licence plates get a new look A new look and a new catchphrase! “A Place to Grow.” That’s the slogan that will appear on the new Ontario license plates slated to arrive once existing stock runs out. The plates feature the line from the old Canadian tune written to celebrate Ontario at the ‘67 Expo, with flattened white lettering on a blue background, and the crown in the corner. Commercial vehicle plates will also be updated to read “Open for Business,” a phrase borrowed from the Ford government’s favourites. Why you need to be careful when fuelling up your classic A detailed view of the rear gas cap on a Austin Healey 100M during the 40th Antwerp Classic Salon on March 3, 2017 in Antwerpen, Belgium. Dean Mouhtaropoulos / Getty Images Owning and caring for a vintage vehicle is a big responsibility. Often special care is needed, sometimes even at the pump. Because as Jil McIntosh details, modern fuel can be hard on old vehicles. Potential issues include the presence of the corrosive, rubber-eating chemical ethanol in modern fuel, and the absence of lead, which helped raise octane levels and protected valve seats. Take a read and make sure you’re parking at the right pump next time you’re out with your classic. Chevrolet finally put a date on the mid-engined Corvette Chevrolet has announced that its much anticipated mid-engined C8 Corvette will debut on July 18th and will head for production later this year. We’re still learning more, but the engine that’s to sit in the middle of the new ‘Vette is expected to be a version of the outgoing model’s 6.2-litre V8, tweaked to the tune of about 500 horsepower. Chevy is expected to introduce it in Stingray format and then follow that up with a Z06, ZR1 and some 1,000-horsepower line-topping trim allegedly named Zora. Basically all good news except that there’s no option for a manual transmission. Keanu Reeves give GQ a tour of his bikes At 54 years old, Keanu Reeves is aging like a fine wine. He’s still rocking the same haircut and t-shirt-suit-jacket combo he had in the ’90s, but it somehow looks super-stylish and current on the John Wick-era Keanu, as it did the Bill and Ted-era Keanu. Speaking of stylish, the man owns some seriously sweet bikes, which he showed off to GQ in this recent YouTube video. There’s the Matrix Ducati special, a 1973 Norton Commando 850 MK2A (the second bike he ever owned) and a selection from his own company Arch Motorcycles. Keanu takes
Origin: News Roundup: The proper way to hit a moose, Keanu Reeve’s bike collection and more super Canadian news

2019 Renault Captur to get more radical styling update

The second-generation Renault Captur, due later this year, will be a much bigger step in design to its predecessor compared to the new and outgoing Clio, said design boss Laurens van den Acker. The Captur, which when it launched was one of the first in a now-saturated small SUV segment, has remained at the top of the sales chart in Europe despite its age. Van den Acker said the new model will be focused on everything: “technology, interior, exterior”. He continued: “The Captur is in the most dynamic market segment in Europe. The car industry has become so competitive – if your product is not 100% perfect, you are going to have a very tough life.” The Captur will launch with petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid variants. It is the second, following the Clio, in an onslaught of new hybrids in the car maker’s range. It will use an 89bhp petrol engine mated to a 40bhp electric motor and 9,8kWh battery, which promises an electric-only range of 25 to 30 miles. The Nissan Juke and Peugeot 2008 rival is due to arrive in the middle of next year, a few months after its platform-sharing supermini sibling: the fifth-generation Clio. The latest spy shots have given a glimpse of the upcoming crossover’s design, which despite the extensive disguise of the test mule, shows how the Captur will evolve. The familiar curvy front end with an oversized Renault badge is clearly visible, although the high bonnet line takes inspiration from the larger Kadjar SUV. A more steeply rising waistline with a broader shoulderline can be seen behind the camouflage, as can a pinched rear window and sloping roof.  As with the new Clio, Renault will make more extensive changes to the Captur’s interior design than the exterior. A technology upgrade is the brand’s top priority for its B-segment models, and we’re expecting to see a Tesla-style portrait infotainment system adapted from that found in the latest Mégane. A raft of semi-autonomous driver assist features, shared with Nissan’s upcoming ProPilot system, will also ensure it has the high-tech appeal of premium-badged rivals. Both the Captur and Clio will be based on a modified version of the existing CMF-B platform, shared with the latest Nissan Micra. New 1.0-litre and 1.3-litre turbo petrol engines – the latter co-developed with Mercedes and seen in the A-Class – will be drafted in to improve performance and efficiency, while a 1.5-litre diesel unit will also be offered. A 48V mild-hybrid variant of the diesel is in the product plan but won’t be available at launch, while it’s likely a full plug-in hybrid option will appear by 2020. A fully electric variant would fit in with Renault’s desire to launch eight EVs before 2022, although it remains to be seen if the platform can be adapted in a cost-effective way to accommodate such a powertrain. Like many crossovers, sales of Renault’s Captur have been climbing steadily, with more than twice as many sold in 2016 (215,000) than the brand shifted in 2013 (84,000). Only in the past year have sales started to tail off as newer models, such as the Seat Arona, attract buyers. With the new model expected to be on sale by the summer of 2019, it could help the French car maker regain ground in the
Origin: 2019 Renault Captur to get more radical styling update

2020 Subaru Outback is more of the same — and then some

2020 Subaru OutbackHandout / Subaru What is it? Like thunder follows lightning, the Subaru Outback follows the Legacy into 2020 thoroughly redesigned with a new look, revised platform and powertrains, and more safety tech under the skin. Why does it matter? The Outback isn’t Subaru’s sales leader — though it’s certainly up there there — but it’s Subaru’s bread-and-butter vehicle. Stereotypes aside, it’s the quintessential Subaru, carrying on into 2020 as the jacked-up Legacy wagon it’s always been. There’s a reason why so many people love these things, and the sixth-generation model takes a proven formula and makes it even better. For 2020, the big news is the Outback is underpinned by Subaru’s modular Global Platform architecture, currently found across the entire lineup, save for the BRZ, WRX and STI. The new platform translates into more interior space, improved handling, and even better collision performance — Subaru says the 2020 Outback absorbs about 40 per cent more energy in a collision. Like the Legacy, the Outback gains two new powertrains for 2020. A new, direct-injected 2.5-litre Boxer four-cylinder engine with automatic start/stop serves as the base, rated at 182 horsepower and 176 lb.-ft. of torque. But again, like the Legacy, the big news here is the return of the turbo — a 2.4L turbo-four replaces the normally aspirated, 3.6L six-cylinder engine, pumping out 260 horsepower and 277 lb.-ft. of torque. Both engines are hooked up to a continuously variable transmission, and turbocharged Outbacks can tow up to 1,590 kilograms — more than enough to haul a BRZ or a Miata to the track. Naturally, the 2020 Outback is all-wheel-drive — come on, did you really expect anything else? — but it can now send power side-to-side via a new active torque-vectoring system cribbed from the WRX and STI. Other features include Subaru’s X-Mode powertrain mapping system now with Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud modes, a 180-degree camera up front, and two new features added to its EyeSight suite of active safety tech. The first, the DriverFocus Distraction Mitigation System first seen on the 2019 Forester, is essentially a little camera pointed at the driver, monitoring their face for signs of distractions or fatigue. The second is a new lane-centering function built into the existing adaptive cruise control system. Visually, the Outback is precisely what we’d expect — a lifted Legacy wagon with more aggressive styling cues, just under 8.7 inches of ground clearance, and what Subaru calls body cladding reminiscent of a hiking boot. Go figure; the Outback’s always been for the more outdoorsy types. Inside, the Outback boasts improved materials and fit-and-finish, an 11.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system available across most of the lineup, and more connected services, like the ability to be started remotely through an app. All in all, the 2020 Outback promises to be more of the same, but better. When is it coming? Official pricing hasn’t been announced just yet, but expect the Outback in dealers this fall. Should you buy it? The Outback’s always been something of a black sheep among the usual crop of CUVs. Most out there are amorphous blobs, but the Outback tends to err more towards the wagon end of the spectrum. If that sense of distinction isn’t enough to put the Outback on your shortlist the next time you’re looking for a new CUV, then the new platform and powertrains, more advanced safety tech, vastly improved cabin and trademark Subaru capability surely
Origin: 2020 Subaru Outback is more of the same — and then some

Autocar confidential: Morgan’s factory expansion plans, BMW’s hydrogen doubts and more

In this week’s report from the motoring grapevine, we hear why BMW isn’t prioritising hydrogen technology development, how Morgan will use some of the funds from its recent cash injection and more. No solid plans Solid-state battery technology remains several years away from production reality, according to new Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius. Speaking to Autocar, he claimed that none of the suppliers developing it “are currently at the stage where we can go out and say ‘please sell me these’”. Källenius reckons we won’t see a solid-state production EV before 2025.  Citi limits The Skoda e-Citigo, launching this year as the Czech firm’s first electric model, will feature a range of around 186 miles. That will make the city car, based on the Volkswagen e-Up, “more than competitive in its class”, according to Skoda boss Bernhard Maier.  New plot for old plot Morgan has built on only half of the 10-acre site where its Malvern factory is located. This means there’s plenty of room for the new museum, visitor centre, design studio and production increase (from 750 to 1500 units) it has proposed. The plans have received council backing.  Not cooking on gas While Audi is ramping up its hydrogen programme, BMW’s product management boss Peter Henrich doesn’t see fuel cells “lifting off in the near future”, pointing out that infrastructure challenges with hydrogen remain. Any success fuel cells have is “very much dependent” on the speed of battery development, he
Origin: Autocar confidential: Morgan’s factory expansion plans, BMW’s hydrogen doubts and more

News Roundup: Ford entry-level Mustang coming, new Brubaker Box in the works and more

2018 Ford Mustang GTNick Tragianis / Driving 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. Ford announces an ‘entry-level’ Mustang 2018 Ford Mustang Graeme Fletcher / Driving The new Ford Mustang’s base model is slated to have a V8 engine under the hood, but now it seems the car will be presented with a more approachable power plant as well. A promised ‘entry-level’ Mustang may put the 2.3-litre EcoBoost four-cylinder in the current model to use—that engine makes 350 horsepower in the Focus RS, so it’s tune-able enough. The other potential power source is the 3.7-litre V6 EcoBoost, which the brand hasn’t fit into its Mustang since 2015. Expect more details on the entry-level all-American sports car later this month. Woman leads police on high-speed chase because she’s ‘late for work’ There really aren’t that many legitimate reasons for engaging authorities in a high-speed vehicular chase. A passenger bleeding out in the back seat or a bomb-on-bus Speed type scenario may be the only two that will actually get you out of trouble. The excuse one woman recently gave Ohio highway patrol officers after leading them on a dangerous, life-threatening pursuit was less compelling. The pursuit began when they tried to pull her over for having tinted windows and ended only when her vehicle was sandwiched between a cruiser and a pole. When the vehicle finally stopped moving, the driver told authorities she hadn’t pulled over because she didn’t want to be late for work. How’s that for employee dedication? Cali company plans to bring back the Brubaker Box A Brubaker Box fibreglass kit car Brubaker Box Fans The Brubaker Box was created in the 1970s to give surfers something to take their boards to the beach in, and maybe a place to get changed out of their wetsuits afterward. Unfortunately, due to liability issues expressed by VW, which was providing the chassis, the chunky minivan-esque vehicle was never fully realized, though it was sold in kit form. Now, however, a duo of Cali-based entrepreneurs are lining up the Box’s comeback, with its original creator onboard and planning to recreate the vehicles from the ground up, complete with the sole sliding door and removable roof panel. Here’s hoping that comeback is swift and glorious. Future Toyota Tundra and Tacoma to share platform Toyota’s Tacoma and Tundra TRD Pro Derek McNaughton / Driving Word on the street is that Toyota is planning to underpin its two popular pickup products, the Tacoma and Tundra, with the same modular global platform. Despite the difference in stature between full-sized Tundra and mid-sized Tacoma, the so-called “F1” platform will allegedly be at the base of both. Toyota still has it in the workshop, but it’s expected to be used in the 2021 Tundra, so we’ll likely see it in some form later this year. Mercedes-Benz unveils the 2020 AMG CLA 35 The 2020 Mercedes-AMG CLA 35 4MATIC Handout / Mercedes-Benz Following hot on the heels of the announcement of the new Mercedes-AMG A 35, Mercedes-Benz has confirmed the impending arrival of a similar beast, the 2020 AMG CLA 35.  Changes have been made to the car’s performance as well as its appearance. The new AMG-class CLA 35 will be powered by a 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder making 302 horsepower and 295 lb.-ft. of torque, shooting the sedan to 96 km/h in 4.6 seconds. The front end, meanwhile, gets a modified grille with chrome trim and a pair of horizontal bars connecting to the brand logo in the centre, while the rear gets a diffuser and round exhaust outlets. The AMG CLA 35 will debut in full on April 16 in New
Origin: News Roundup: Ford entry-level Mustang coming, new Brubaker Box in the works and more