In retrospect, it seems inevitable: Texas tuning shop Hennessey is planning to build a 2020 Chevrolet Corvette C8 with 1,200 horsepower.As if the vehicle wasnt already hard enough for some good ol boys to adjust to, being mid-engined and all, now that extra horsepower will be sure to send all said boys into other peoples yards even quicker.To make it happen, Hennessey will take the LT2 V8 and bolt on two massive turbochargers. To stop it from becoming tiny shards of engine parts, forged aluminum pistons and forged steel connecting rods will be installed, along with a few other bespoke parts.To send the power to the wheels, Hennessey says it will incorporate an upgraded and fortified factory dual-clutch automatic transmission and a full Brembo brake system. Those Brembos will definitely be getting a stiff workout. The HPE1200, as it will be called, doesnt have a price or a release date yet, but were sure itll be too soon before we see a bunch of these things terrorizing our quiet neighbourhoods.Before the HPE1200 is built, Hennessey will also unveil a line of products for the C8, like a stainless steel exhaust system, a supercharger upgrade good for 700 horsepower, and more once computer tuning becomes available for the new C8 platform.Hennessey has also revealed it has modified over 500 C7s so far, and the next upgrades it will make available for purchase will be decided by online questionnaire. The customers are telling us what they want and big surprise they want more power! says John
Origin: Hennessey plans to build a 1,200-hp Corvette C8 because of course
plans
Alfa Romeo scraps plans for new GTV and 8C models
Alfa Romeo’s future product plans have been slashed, according to the brand’s third-quarter earnings report – with the proposed new GTV and 8C sports cars axed. FCA boss Mike Manley told investors during a conference call that Alfa’s portfolio plan has been “significantly scaled back, with a corresponding reduction in capital spending”. The plan was quietly released in a financial results presentation to investors yesterday (Thursday) and discussed during an earnings call today. It appears to show that the Italian brand’s range has been ‘rationalised’ down to four future models: replacements for the Giulia and Stelvio, the Tonale and a new smaller ‘B-SUV’, which has yet to be detailed. This means the new GTV coupé and 8C replacement, announced in a five-year plan in June 2018, have been shelved or pushed back, alongside a rumoured BMW 5 Series saloon rival to sit above the Giulia. It’s not yet clear if these models have been delayed or shelved entirely, but all signs point to the former for the time being. Last year’s five-year plan was drawn up under the leadership of former FCA boss Sergio Marchionne, who passed away last year. Since taking the reins, Manley has changed tack, responding to significant losses posted by Alfa and FCA’s wider European arm. It’s likely that the decision to cut spending on Alfa Romeo’s future line-up is influenced by the recently announced merger between FCA and the PSA Group, which was confirmed shortly before the financial results were released. The merger creates the fourth-largest car-making group in the world, but PSA CEO Carlos Tavares – who is set to be named CEO of the new merged group – is famed for bringing in wide-ranging cost-cutting measures to increase efficiency and
Origin: Alfa Romeo scraps plans for new GTV and 8C models
Peugeot board approves Fiat Chrysler merger plans, says report
PSA Peugeot Citroen Chief Executive Carlos Tavares delivers a speech during the presentation of the companys 2018 full year results, in Rueil Malmaison, west of Paris, Tuesday, February 26, 2019.Thibault Camus / Getty The board of French carmaker PSA Group has approved a plan to merge with Italian-American rival Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, a combination that would create one of the worlds largest auto manufacturers, according to people familiar with the matter.The new board would be made up of 11 members, with six from the PSA side including Chief Executive Officer Carlos Tavares, who will lead the new company. Fiat Chairman John Elkann would take the same role at the enlarged group.Fiat Chryslers directors are scheduled to meet later Wednesday to discuss the proposal, the people said. The plan authorized by PSAs board calls for negotiations of a binding memorandum of understanding that could last several weeks, said one of the people. A representative for PSA, the maker of Peugeot and Citroen cars, declined to comment. A Fiat spokesman wasnt immediately available to comment.A merger of Fiat Chrysler and PSA, the No. 2 for car sales in Europe, would create a regional powerhouse to rival Volkswagen, with a stock-market value of about US$49 billion comparable to Japans Honda. The tie-up would also bring together two auto-making dynasties, the billionaire Agnelli clan in Italy and the Peugeot family of France.The merger plan comes several months after Fiat Chrysler and PSA explored a partnership on pooling investment to build cars in Europe, and following the collapse in June of negotiations between the Fiat and French competitor Renault SA.Automakers face tremendous pressure to pool their resources for platform development, manufacturing and purchasing as they battle through trade wars, a global slowdown and an expensive shift toward electrification and autonomous driving. Producers face the additional burden in Europe of new rules on emissions.Against this backdrop, the pace of dealmaking has picked up. Volkswagen in July said it will work with Ford on electric and self-driving car technology, while Toyota is strengthening ties with partners such as Subaru and Chinas BYD. The Indian conglomerate that owns Jaguar Land Rover has said its open to finding partners for the British automaker but isnt planning on selling the embattled unit.Tavares has sought to re-establish Peugeots foothold in the U.S., a market it exited in 1991. He set plans earlier this year for a return, with shipments starting from Europe or China in 2026.Fiat Chrysler is seen as a laggard in new technologies such as electrification and autonomy, which are expected to cost automakers billions of dollars over the next decade.The company has sought to secure its future with a larger partner for several years, dating back to late CEO Sergio Marchionnes failed courtship of General Motors. After being rebuffed by GM in 2015, rumors of talks with other automakers have swirled with varying
Origin: Peugeot board approves Fiat Chrysler merger plans, says report
BREAKING: PSA Group and Fiat Chrysler confirm merger plans
The PSA Group and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles have confirmed plans to merge on a 50/50 basis, firming up yesterday’s news that the two companies were in discussions regarding such a move. Both firms said today that the discussions would be finalised “in the coming weeks” to reach a binding Memorandum of Understanding, which will create one of the world’s largest automotive groups. They added that the “combined entity would leverage its strong global RD footprint and ecosystem to foster innovation and meet these challenges with speed and capital efficiency”. The likely merger will create a car giant worth around £40 billion and encompass some of the world’s biggest car brands. FCA owns Fiat, Jeep, Alfa Romeo, Maserati, Ram, Lancia and Chrysler, while the PSA stable includes Peugeot, Citroën, DS and Vauxhall-Opel. The deal would create the fourth largest car manufacturer globally in terms of annual sales, at 8.7m vehicles, behind Volkswagen Group, Toyota and the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance, as well as revenues of €170bn (£147bn) and recurring operating profit of over €11bn (£9.5bn). Today’s announcement also stated there are estimated synergies of €3.7bn (£3.14bn) synergies annually “without any plant closures resulting from the transaction”. This would come from a more efficient allocation of resources for major investments in vehicle platforms, powertrain and technology as well as purchasing power. The two firms projected that 80% of the synergies would be achieved after four years. The shareholders of FCA and PSA will each take a 50 per cent stake in a new Dutch parent company, under the proposals, with the governance structure balanced between the two firms. There would be 11 board members, with five nominated by FCA and five by PSA. Current FCA chairman John Elkann will become the chairman of the new firm, while PSA group boss Carlos Tavares would become the CEO, standing on an initial five-year term. PSA Group chief Carlos Tavares is famous for cutting costs – for example, turning Vauxhall into profit in under 12 months of taking ownership – and PSA and FCA claimed the merger would make “among the highest margins in the markets where it would operate,” based on FCA’s strength in the Americas and PSA Group’s in Europe. As well as broadening the global reach of both firms, the merger will also mean the new entity will comprehensively cover all areas of the market including luxury, premium, volume, trucks and light commercial vehicles. PSA Group boss Carlos Tavares said: “This convergence brings significant value to all the stakeholders and opens a bright future for the combined entity. I’m pleased with the work already done with Mike and will be very happy to work with him to build a great company together.” FCA chief Mike Manley said: “I’m delighted by the opportunity to work with Carlos and his team on this potentially industry-changing combination. We have a long history of successful cooperation with Groupe PSA and I am convinced that together with our great people we can create a world class global mobility company.” FCA has already been in the news this year regarding mergers. It held extended talks with Group Renault over a possible partnership but those talks broke down after the two firms could not reach an agreement, thought to be hampered by Renault’s alliance with Nissan and the French government. Tavares led the purchase of Vauxhall-Opel and has been keen to expand the firm for some time, either through partnership or further acquisition. PSA is understood to have previously looked at buying Jaguar Land
Origin: BREAKING: PSA Group and Fiat Chrysler confirm merger plans
Mazda MX-30 spearheads electrification plans for maker
The electric Mazda MX-30 spearheads a new electrification strategy for the Japanese car maker. This will include plug-in hybrids and hybrid variants of existing models plus more EVs, the latter developed as a result of its EV tie-up with Toyota and Denso. Mazda has not yet confirmed when we’ll see the next electrified model in its line-up, but we expect a plug-in hybrid to arrive in the next 18 months. This is likely to be based on a high-volume model such as the Mazda 3 in order to help achieve new European emissions targets coming in 2021. While the Mazda MX-30 is a standalone electric vehicle, there are no definitive plans to create a separate range of EVs. Talking at Tokyo motor show, Ikuo Maeda, design and brand boss, said: “Some manufacturers are creating a separate brand for EVs, but we are not doing that. We want to establish EVs in our existing Mazda portfolio.” Mazda also wants its EVs to have the same styling as existing models. Talking about the MX-30, Maeda said: “We wanted to maintain a high quality of design. Instead of just pursuing something new simply because its EV, we want to make sure it fitted with our Kodo design language.” However, he added that the model is intended to trial a slightly different take on Mazda design. “If we don’t trial different things, design would not evolve, but the fact we did this with the MX-30 is unrelated to it being an
Origin: Mazda MX-30 spearheads electrification plans for maker
Yamaha axes all car development plans
Yamaha has confirmed it has suspended all car projects indefinitely, having concluded that it would struggle to deliver a unique selling point for any of the vehicles it developed in collaboration with Gordon Murray Design. The firm showed two car concepts at Tokyo motor shows in 2013 and 2015, the Motiv and the Sports Ride Concept, both based around Murray’s iStream manufacturing system. The latter car stood out in particular for using carbonfibre in its construction, promising huge rigidity and an impressive power-to-weight ration for the car. Although exact details were not revealed, it was rumoured to have weighed less than 900kg. Although McLaren F1 designer Murray had said the iStream system could be employed profitably for production volumes of between 1000 and 350,000 cars, Yamaha spokesman Naoto Horie confirmed at this year’s Tokyo motor show that the projects would not proceed, with the firm preferring to focus on smaller, more bike-like mobility concepts if it strayed from its core motorcycle projects. “Cars do not feature in our long-term plans any more,” said Horie. “That is a decision taken by President Hidaka for the foreseeable future, as we could not see a way to develop either car to make it stand out from the competition, which is very strong. “The sports car in particular had great appeal for us as enthusiasts, but the marketplace is particularly difficult. We now see other
Origin: Yamaha axes all car development plans
UK government plans green number plates for EVs
The UK government has begun an official consultation on introducing green numbers plates to electric and zero emissions cars. The scheme, which was originally proposed last year, aims to raise awareness of electric and hydrogen vehicles, as well as ease the introduction and policing of low emission zones, vehicle lanes and parking spaces. It would see the UK join a growing number of countries that identify zero emissions cars separately from combustion-powered ones, including Norway, Canada and China. The consultation will be used to determine which vehicles would be eligible for the number plate, its design, and how such a scheme would be rolled out to existing EV and hydrogen car owners. Early design proposals include a fully green number plate with black lettering, the addition of a green flash on the plate, or the addition of a green dot or symbol. “The UK is in the driving seat of global efforts to tackle vehicle emissions and climate change and improve air quality, but we want to accelerate our progress,” Transport secretary Grant Shapps said of the announcement. “Green number plates are a really positive and exciting way to help everyone recognise the increasing number of electric vehicles on our roads.” It is the latest stage in the government’s Road to Zero strategy, a £1.5bn investment aimed at helping the UK reach net zero emissions by 2050. According to the department of transport, the UK has seen record numbers of zero emissions vehicles registered since its introduction last
Origin: UK government plans green number plates for EVs
GM plans ‘temporary layoffs’ at Ontario plant late September
Production of the General Motors CAMI Automotive facility in Ingersoll, Ontario, is shown in this Thursday, Dec. 21, 2006 file photo.Dave Chidley / Canadian Press General Motors Ingersoll, Ontario production facility, known as CAMI Assembly, will go through a temporary layoffs for the week starting September 30, and may see several more layoff weeks through the end of the year, the automaker told Automotive News.The shut-down will allow GM to re-adjust production targets for the Chevrolet Equinox crossover built there, to re-align manufacturing with market demand.While sales of the Equinox were up slightly in the U.S., reports the outlet, they were down significantly in Canada in the first half of this year; a generally softening North American new-car market will see the other facility that builds the Equinox, GMs San Luis Potos plant in Mexico, permanently cut one of its three shifts, starting this month.The head of the union representing the CAMI plants 2,500-plus workers, Unifor Local 88 President Joe Graves, said GM cutting a shift at its Mexican plant instead of at Ingersoll is a sign that GM does recognize our quality, even if labor costs at the San Luis Potos are
Origin: GM plans ‘temporary layoffs’ at Ontario plant late September
Jaguar Land Rover and BMW to extend alliance plans
The recently agreed alliance between Jaguar Land Rover and BMW is set to be extended to include internal combustion engines, a source with knowledge of recent high-level discussions between the two car makers has told Autocar. The two firms initially agreed to work together on the development of electrified powertrains, but according to sources they have now agreed terms on what is described as a “more far-reaching deal involving petrol, diesel and hybridised drivelines” for a wide range of models. According to Autocar’s sources, BMW is to supply Jaguar Land Rover with internal combustion engines, including in-line four- and six-cylinder units “both with and without electrically-assisted hybrid functions”. The move is said to be aimed at allowing Jaguar Land Rover to reduce its on-going investment in petrol, diesel and hybrid drivelines and instead focus its research and development spending on the electric drivelines in partnership with BMW. For BMW the deal safeguards existing research and development, procurement and production operations by adding volume beyond its own brands, BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce. News of the internal combustion engine deal being forged by Jaguar Land Rover and BMW comes at a time when regulatory authorities in key global markets are raising emission standards with particular focus on CO2 and NOx levels to combat air pollution. Thus raising the level of spending required to engineer petrol, diesel and hybrid drivelines. By joining forces on both electric and internal combustion engine drivelines, Jaguar Land Rover and BMW hope to reap the rewards of increased economies of scale while sharing development costs to remain competitive. Last month the two companies announced they would jointly invest in research and development, engineering and procurement of drivelines for volume production electric
Origin: Jaguar Land Rover and BMW to extend alliance plans
Lotus CEO Phil Popham on the Evija hypercar, future plans and Brexit
Lotus has just revealed the 1973bhp Evija, the all-electric hypercar it claims will be “the most powerful production car in the world”. Talking to Autocar at the reveal event, CEO Phil Popham explains the thinking behind the Evija and the next steps for the iconic sports car brand. Why have you chosen to build a car like this — so exclusive and expensive? Popham: “We believe that if you want to make ripples, you have to made a splash. If you want to be on the map, you have to make a mark. This car shows what our future can be like. It shows what we can do, and it paves the way for future visionary Lotus models.” Does it mean you’re planning a succession of hyper-expensive models? “First of all, our 10-year plan, which we call Vision 80, contains a commitment to be ‘for the driver’, first, last and always. Lotus models will always be at the heart of driver involvement and enjoyment. But the range of cars we have now runs from the mid £50,000s to well over £100,000 and we see our core future models, apart from our new Hypercar, as continuing to be in the that range. Having said that, we do believe the Lotus brand has the equity to go beyond where it is. But that’s not our immediate strategy.” What is your immediate strategy? “After we’ve built our 130 hypercars we’ll concentrate on rebuilding our core sports car range. We will have a combustion-powered sports car to show you towards the end of next year, for sale after that. Beyond that car, every Lotus, in whatever segment, will have a full electric version.” There’s been a suggestion that in your journey towards electrification you might skip hybrids all together… “That is certainly an option.” How much will you grow under the 10-year plan? “Let’s start from the beginning. We made 1700 cars last year, but as it currently stands Hethel make over 5000 on a single shift. That means over 10,000 on a double shift — and I believe we’ll outgrow Hethel in its current guise. After all, we have an ambitious plan to move into new segments.” What will you do when you’ve outgrown Hethel? “We can either do something radical at Hethel, or we can move somewhere else as well. But it’s important to say that making cars in different locations wouldn’t change the DNA of the company. We won’t build anything unless it’s a) profitable, and b) can be called a true Lotus. And we’d never made the same car in multiple locations.” Isn’t your ‘For the driver’ strap-line rather time-limited? Surely we’re moving closer to full autonomy? “I don’t believe it will become time expired. Progress with other, much bigger manufacturers tends to focus on mobility and ownership models, which are leading to cars becoming commoditised. But a Lotus will always be a car to use and enjoy in your leisure time. But we’ll certainly harness some of the great technology of the future.” How do you believe Brexit is affecting Lotus? “Our message to the government over the past three years hasn’t changed: we just need to get this deal done. And it now looks like that’s what will happen. Even if we exit without a deal, we believe other deals will be done; we have hundreds of years of history as a trading nation to help us through. Meanwhile at Lotus we’re taking short-term contingency steps. We’re planning for some disruption. But nothing about Brexit will change our core
Origin: Lotus CEO Phil Popham on the Evija hypercar, future plans and Brexit
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