Ford and VW reveal electric and autonomous plans

Ford and VW reveal electric and autonomous plans Ford will use the VW MEB platform for a new EV Volkswagen and Ford have announced that the two firms will expand their collaboration efforts to include new electric models and advance autonomous driving development. Perhaps the most significant news is that Ford will use the VW Group’s Modular Electric Toolkit (MEB) platform to build a mass-market, high-volume pure-electric model in Europe, starting in 2023. VW has previously said that it is open to working with other comapnies with its MEB architecture, and the announcment will be a real bonus for Ford which, although having EV plans of its own, is a long way behind many rivals in the electric marketplace – the VW Group included. Ford expects to build and deliver more than 600,000 vehicles in Europe, built on the MEB platform over six years, and a second all-new Ford model for the European market is under discussion. The two companies will work with Argo AI’s self-driving system, which will see each manufacturer integrate the platform independently into its purpose-built vehicles to support driverless systems for people and goods from both companies. Argo AI’s focus is on delivering Level 4 self-drive systems, for ride sharing and delivery service in urban areas. Ford and Volkswagen will have an equal stake in Argo AI, combined owning a substantial majority.
Origin: Ford and VW reveal electric and autonomous plans

Autocar confidential: Volkswagen plans wireless updates, Audi gives us the heads-up and more

In this week’s wander through the backstage area of motoring, we find out why Hyundai engineers need to get off the bus, how Audi’s changing cockpit design, and more. VW’s breath of fresh air Volkswagen’s ID range of electric cars have been designed to be upgradable during their lifespan but, while over-the-air remote updates are possible, VW sales boss Jürgen Stackmann says such upgrades will probably be done at a dealer to begin with. “We need to be absolutely sure of (over-the-air upgrades),” he said. “We are not a start-up company, so we can’t take those risks.” The future of Audi’s dash design Audi’s signature Virtual Cockpit will eventually be replaced by an augmented head-up display and voice control, according to design boss Marc Lichte. Hinted at on the Q4 E-tron concept, which will make production in 2021, Lichte said: “Virtual Cockpit will become much smaller and we will have an augmented head-up display. Maybe in 10 years we’ll have less displays because HUD will control everything by voice.” Hyundai-Kia stops the bus “Too many of our engineers come to work on the bus,” says Hyundai and Kia design boss Luc Donckerwolke of his colleagues at the Namyang research and development centre. He says it limits their experience of driving the products they develop. Polestar times it right The shift to electrification has opened a window of opportunity for new brands to establish themselves – but it will only be brief, according to Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath. “There is often a moment between launching too early or too late, but it is only a moment and the way the market is developing I’m more convinced it is right now,” he
Origin: Autocar confidential: Volkswagen plans wireless updates, Audi gives us the heads-up and more

Ionity reveals UK expansion plans

Ionity reveals UK expansion plans New Leeds site will be followed up with seven more stations Ionity has announced the next phase of its roll-out in the UK, with the ultra-rapid network set to open eight new locations later this year, starting with the first station in an Extra services, at the company’s new M1 Leeds Skelton Lake area. There is already an open site at Maidstone, and plans for Gretna have been in the pipeline for a while now. These new sites will bring the number of UK locations to 10, with a total of 40 targeted by the end of 2020. The network will install up to six 350 kW CCS ultra-rapid chargers at each site initially, and Ionity is currently installing 400 stations across Europe, providing up to 2,400 charge points by the end of 2020. After Leeds Skelton Lake, the other Extra umbrella-branded motorway service areas are at Cobham on the M25, Cambridge Services on the A14/M11, M40 Beaconsfield, M5 Cullompton, M65 Blackburn, A1M at Baldock, and A1M at Peterborough. There are no EVs currently available that can charge at up to 350 kW, so the sites are future-proof for some time to come. The first confirmed EV due in the UK with 350 kW ultra-rapid charging capability is the Porsche Taycan, expected next year. Until then, the units will be able to charge the likes of the Audi e-tron (150 kW), Mercedes Benz EQC (110 kW), and Jaguar I-Pace plus Hyundai s Leaf e+ (100 kW) at their maximum rate. A number of new EVs due in the next 12 months all feature at least 100 kW CCS DC charging capabilities. Other companies that Ionity is partnering with include Shell and the MFG (Motor Fuels Group) in the UK. The network is a joint venture between BMW, Daimler, Ford, and the VW Group.
Origin: Ionity reveals UK expansion plans

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

Fiat Chrysler plans merger with Renault in latest auto industry jolt

In this file photo taken on August 21, 2017, a car dealer in Turin, Italy, shows the logos of Jeep, Fiat, Lancia and Alfa Romeo automobile company, brands of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA).Marco Bertorello / Getty Images Fiat Chrysler Automobiles proposed a merger with Renault to create the world’s third-biggest carmaker as manufacturers scramble for scale to tackle an expensive shift to electrification and autonomous driving. The transaction would be structured as a 50-50 ownership through a Dutch holding company, Fiat said Monday. Renault shareholders, including the French government, would get an implied premium of about 10 per cent. In a statement, Renault’s board said it would study what it called a “friendly” proposal. The carmakers are moving ahead without Renault’s 20-year partner, Nissan, and Mitsubishi Motors, the other member of their troubled alliance. Fiat has conditioned the merger talks on Renault agreeing not to pursue a transaction with Nissan in the short term, according to people familiar with the matter. The Japanese company would be welcome to join the merged entity later. The broad strokes of the plan would make Fiat’s founding shareholder, the Agnelli family’s holding company Exor NV, the single largest investor in the combined entity. Fiat chairman John Elkann would likely stay in the role while Renault chairman Jean-Dominique Senard would be chief executive officer, the people familiar with the proposal said. The talks come as automakers worldwide face intense pressure to spend heavily on new technologies and adapt to trends such as car-sharing. Falling sales in the world’s biggest markets – China, the U.S. and Europe – have brought fresh urgency to consolidate. Fiat and Renault expect their joint annual synergies to amount to more than 5 billion euros, coming from areas such as purchasing power. “Fiat and Renault are looking for surer footing by gaining scale, and that’s not a bad idea for mass-market carmakers,” Bankhaus Metzler analyst Juergen Pieper said. “The execution of the deal is a significant hurdle. But on paper, this proposal looks good.” The plan has political backing from the French state, which is Renault’s most powerful shareholder. Italian Deputy Premier Matteo Salvini, who initially threatened to intervene, later gave his blessing—telling Agence France Presse he trusts the deal “will safeguard every job in this country.” Together, Fiat and Renault made about 8.7 million cars last year, which would vault the pair past South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Group and Detroit’s General Motors. That’s still behind the world’s two biggest automakers, Volkswagen and Toyota Motor, who both topped 10 million vehicles last year. But if combined with output of Renault’s existing alliance with Nissan and Mitsubishi, the total would be more than 15 million vehicles a year. Fiat and Renault would have a “broad and complementary brand portfolio” covering markets from luxury to mainstream, the Italian company said in its statement. Premium brands Jeep, Maserati, Alfa Romeo and Infiniti would come under a common umbrella. Fiat would give Renault access to the North American market, while gaining clout in Russia, the French carmaker’s second-biggest market with its Avtovaz
Origin: Fiat Chrysler plans merger with Renault in latest auto industry jolt

Toyota plans to turn out reproduction parts for the Mk3 and Mk4 Supra

Toyota Supra Twin TurboHandout Toyota announced mid-May it will be remanufacturing parts for the Mk3 and Mk4 Supra as part of its GR Heritage Parts Project. The announcement was made May 17 at the launch event of the 2020 Supra, which took place at the Toyota Megaweb showroom in Odaiba, Japan. Shigeki Tomoyama, head of Gazoo Racing, made the announcement; he personally has a Mk4 A80 Supra, which was on stage with him at the time of the announcement. Thanks to Japanese Nostalgic Car, the important parts of the speech were translated into English so we could excitedly tell you all about it. Tomoyama also spoke about the tectonic shift the car industry is moving towards in regards to electric vehicles, and stated there would always be a place for race cars. “All horses that were once a means of transportation have been replaced by cars, but racehorses remain. There are people all over the world who love horses,” he suggested. The challenge of Toyota Gazoo Racing is to make cars thoroughly interesting in the next 100 years.” He did not speculate about what parts would be available but suggested that enthusiasts will be satisfied. “We can not answer about specific parts at this time, but we will make every effort to meet the expectations of owners,” Tomoyama said. Toyota joins the ranks of Japanese automakers that have decided to offer spare parts for their most popular models, including Nissan, Mazda and Honda. Nissan has been making parts for the R32, R33 and R34 Skyline, while Honda has been offering parts for the NSX for quite some time. Mazda is also the only one to confirm its parts for the NA Miata will make it to the
Origin: Toyota plans to turn out reproduction parts for the Mk3 and Mk4 Supra

Honda plans to slash trims, launch a new global platform

2018 Honda HR-VNick Tragianis One key piece of the profitability puzzle for many auto manufacturers is the use of a global platform across many different models. Volkswagen does this to great effect on the shared modular design of its MQB platform; Toyota does the same with its TNGA architecture. Now we can count Honda among the companies waking up to the benefits of this sort of cost-saving measure. While announcing its not-so-creatively-named e electric city car (yeah, just ‘e’) earlier today, head honcho Takahiro Hachigo outlined a few other steps for Honda’s future, ones which include the introduction of a new global platform. It’ll be called – wait for it – Honda Architecture. The company said that, by 2025, it will reduce the total number of variations at the trim and option level for its global models to one-third of what is currently available. That’s a huge decrease. In addition, it stated its intention to increase efficiency by eliminating and consolidating some “similar regional models” into models shared across multiple regions. The first model being developed with this new method will be a global model Honda promises it is launching next year. All this global talk is well and good, but what does it mean for Honda shoppers in this country? Less choice, essentially. According to company spox, the North American market will see a reduced number of variations at the trim and option level. No specifics were given but it doesn’t take a rocket surgeon to figure out what that statement could portend: the amalgamation of some top-tier trims and the cleaving of certain powertrain combinations with low take rates, such as the manual transmission Accord. The statement went on to say the company will also simplify the production model allocation at each plant. Buried in the release was the statement the company will expand the application of its two-motor hybrid system to the entire lineup of Honda vehicles, including a more compact system suitable for small-sized vehicles. The first car to adopt this system is the new Fit, which is planned as a world premiere at the Tokyo Motor Show this
Origin: Honda plans to slash trims, launch a new global platform

Mercedes-AMG plans to build cars in China for the first time

Having caught on that the Chinese performance and luxury car market isn’t going anywhere but up anytime soon, Daimler has announced that, for the first time ever, it will be moving production of some of its Mercedes-AMG products to Beijing. The hope is Chinese buyers looking for a performance vehicle will be enticed over to the AMG nameplate by the new, closer production location. The first made-in-China AMG car will be the 2020 A 35 L 4MATIC long-wheelbase sedan, a China-market-exclusive that was formerly imported from Germany but will be produced in the brand’s Beijing site by the end of the year. The decision to move manufacturing of the A 35 AMG to the destination market was made easy by the fact that the long-wheelbase A-Class sedan currently on roads in China is already manufactured in the factory near Beijing, adjacent to the nation’s first AMG-exclusive dealer. Daimler is hoping the AMG A 35 L strikes the same chord with buyers that the A 45 hatchback did. As the entry-level option in China, the spunky compact A 45 has been Mercedes-AMG’s best-selling import to date. Despite the heavily congested roads, Chinese drivers are still opting for vehicles that offer an exciting driving experience, like AMG’s do. To support the push to win some of that performance market, AMG is also investing in a new experience centre at the Zhejiang Circuit in Shaoxing, where AMG fans can test the vehicles out of gridlock traffic.
Origin: Mercedes-AMG plans to build cars in China for the first time

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