2018 Toyota Corolla iMCosta Mouzouris The back seats of taxis and vehicles booked via rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft are, on average, much ickier than your average toilet seat, according to tests conducted by insurance aggregator website Netquote. The tests focused on three areas: the window buttons; door handles; and seatbelt of three randomly chosen taxis, and three randomly chosen rideshare vehicles, Autoblog reports. They also swabbed the seatbelts, steering wheel and gearshift of three rental cars. These spots were chosen because they are the most-touched points in most cars. The grossness of the results of the test is measured in CFU numbers, which stands for colony-forming units. A typical toilet seat has around 171 CFU per square inch. The amount of germs isn’t actually as big a deal as how bad the individual germ can be; however, the more germs, the greater the possibility one of those pretty bad ones is in the mix. On the scale, the tests showed taxis netted an average CFU of 27,000 per square inch, with the worst offender areas being the seatbelts, followed by the door handles and window buttons. Rental cars are much worse for wear, somehow. The steering wheel and gear lever get the worst of it, with over 1 million CFU per square inch, while the seatbelts remain almost unscathed, with only 403 CFU per square inch. You would think the vehicles would be hosed down after some filthy bum has returned it after 1,000 km, but nope. The rental cars aren’t as bad as the rideshare vehicles, however. With people constantly jumping in and out of them from various venues, it really isn’t a surprise that the seatbelts and window controls scored over 5 million CFU per square inch. Somehow, the door handles remained cleaner at 1,810 CFU per square inch. So maybe next time you ride in an Uber, wear a hazmat suit. That’s the only logical thing to
Origin: Report: Rideshare vehicles’ back seats are dirtier than your toilet
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Jaguar Land Rover boss plays down PSA sale report – but doesn’t deny it
Jaguar Land Rover boss Ralf Speth has played down reports the firm could be sold to the PSA Group – but not refuted them outright. Quizzed on rumours linking the firms, with JLR owner Tata Motors reported to be considering an outright or partial shareholding sale, at the FT Future of the Car summit, Speth said: “There are lots of rumours flying around but I can’t confirm any of these discussions.” Asked if he and PSA boss Carlos Tavares had spoken, Speth said: “I have met Carlos Tavares at ACEA (the association of European car makers) meetings but we didn’t discuss anything about ownership”. Autocar first reported talks of a potential deal last month, while last week, the Press Association reported seeing a ‘post-sale integration document’ that has been circulated within JLR, highlighting the benefits of the company being sold by Tata Motors to PSA, which comprises Citroën, DS, Peugeot and Vauxhall/Opel. A source also told the PA that “things are moving quickly behind closed doors.” In reponse to that, Tata Motors re-affirmed a previous statement saying that “there was no truth to rumours that Tata Motors is looking to divest its stake in JLR.” A PSA Group spokesperson told PA that it was in “no hurry” to make any acquisitions, but added it would “consider” any oportunities that came along. Tavares has been open in recent months about his desire to expand the group, either through acquisitions or partnerships with other car firms. Tavares led PSA’s purchase of Vauxhall/Opel from GM in 2017. The Peugeot family, which owns the largest stake in the PSA Group, also recently said it would back future mergers or acquisitions, including with the FCA Group. In an exclusive interview with Autocar India recently, Tavares was asked about the firm’s interest in Jaguar Land Rover. He said that it would be good for PSA to have a luxury brand, and that the company was “considering all opportunities,” adding he would be interested “as long as it’s not a distraction.” Tavares said that there had been no discussions with Tata Motors about Jaguar Land Rover yet. He also said that “we don’t have a specific target but if there are opportunities, of course, we will consider it.” Asked further about adding a luxury brand that would sit about DS, Tavares said: “Why not? Why shouldn’t we discuss it? It depends on what kind of value creation we could generate.” Jaguar Land Rover has struggled in recent months, hit by falling demand for diesels and the decline of the Chinese market. Recent heavy losses, including an asset writedown, also caused the Tata Group to post a quarterly loss. Tavares cited PSA’s success in turning around Vauxhall/Opel, which posted its first profit in 20 years recently, suggesting it could have a similar impact on the strugging British firm: “With Opel, we have demonstrated that we can turn around a company that was in the red for 20 years, in 12 months. So this is something we know how to do.” Tavares said the group’s current focus was on its ‘Push to Pass’ strategic growth strategy to expand the company’s global presence, including expansion into the US, Russian and Indian markets. In a statement to Autocar India following its interview with Tavares, Tata Motors said that Jaguar Land Rover was not for sale. Following Jaguar Land Rover’s 2018 losses, Tata’s boss had previously affirmed its commitment to the
Origin: Jaguar Land Rover boss plays down PSA sale report – but doesn’t deny it
The 2020 Ford Bronco will come with a hybrid option: report
The Ford Bronco Concept from 2004 promised to be slightly smaller and less expensive that the Escape.Ford The 2020 Ford Bronco could possibly be the most anticipated new vehicle of the year, right behind the Toyota Supra and the mid-engine Corvette C8. Well, now we’re learning the buzz-building off-roader will be made available in a hybrid version, to appeal to a wider range of buyers. Ford CEO Jim Hackett himself confirmed the new Bronco will, indeed, have a hybrid version, at an investor presentation early May, tweeted Michael Martinez, a journalist with Automotive News. The Explorer, Aviator and Escape hybrids were just recently announced, and we expect the Bronco will likely use a version of the same system they will use, which means a proprietary 10-speed automatic and electric motor that doesn’t take up much more space than the standard drivetrain. It’s also possible the Bronco will use a version of the upcoming F-150 hybrid platform, but no details about that have been released yet. Hackett confirms the upcoming Bronco SUV will come in a hybrid variant as Ford focuses on electrifying its lineup. Michael Martinez (@MikeMartinez_AN) May 9, 2019 Ford’s staying mum on details, putting out a statement May 9 confirming only we are on track to electrify our most popular vehicles, including launching the all-new Ford Explorer and Ford Escape hybrids this year along with the new F-150 hybrid in 2020. It promised to reveal more news soon, but in the meantime speculation circulating online may help fill in the gaps. Word is the hybrid won’t differ too much from the gasoline version, which means it will still have a short wheelbase, independent front suspension and possibly a live rear axle with coil springs. The hybrid model will likely be made available shortly after the regular gasoline-powered one debuts, so we expect to see it some time in the middle of 2020. Although the Bronco seems to be debuting a lot of forward-thinking technology for a truck, it’s still going to be playing catch-up-ball to the Wrangler, which already has a coil-sprung rear end and will soon also have its own hybrid version, in
Origin: The 2020 Ford Bronco will come with a hybrid option: report
VW killing EV sports car platform, but may introduce new EV brand: report
The VW I.D. Buzz Cargo ConceptHandout / VW Commercial Volkswagen is planning a lot of changes for the coming years, and they aren’t insignificant ones, either, according to a new report. Within 10 years, the Volkswagen group is planning on ditching a lot of the extra weight it pulls around, including a few vehicle platforms and brands, Automobile Magazine reports. Before it even got off the ground, VW is allegedly killing off Porsche’s proposed SPE electric sports car platform, and instead will work only with the three new architectures it’s already developed, the MEB, PPE and the J1, which underpins the Taycan. Even the upcoming electric Boxster and Cayman will have to adapt and use a converted MMB structure instead of its own new platform. While VW puts itself in a good position to create 70 new electric vehicles (EVs) by 2028, the future doesn’t look so bright for a few of the luxury brands under the company’s umbrella. Bentley will most likely get chopped or sold off, says Automobile, as almost no part of VW’s plans for the future includes massive W-12 luxury cars helmed by execs not keen on EV technology. Bugatti might also be gifted to Ferdinand Piech of Porsche, and Italdesign and Ducati could also be blown off soon, too. Lamborghini is the only brand that might get a second chance, the report says. VW, Audi and Porsche are likely to survive untouched. VW is also willing to take a risk on building a brand-new EV-only brand that would take on Tesla. According to VW boss Herbert Diess, “It would be a mistake not to address the increasingly volatile market with potentially game-changing new offerings. Trouble is, we already have a very full plate, and there is a limit to our spending power.” The plan would be to build EVs the size of the compact Up! with an electric range of up to 160 km for urban drivers, and to build in the ability to spawn up to 10 other body styles inside the brand, to be used as taxis and shuttle vans. So VW is making some big changes, but as Diess says, risks and opportunities live next door to each
Origin: VW killing EV sports car platform, but may introduce new EV brand: report
2019 New York motor show: full report and all the new cars
The New York International Auto Show is home to some of the biggest US-market unveilings, as well as a chance to see some recently revealed European models in the flesh for the first time. Held in one of the world’s most vibrant cities, the event always features some interesting new launches, and some outlandish concepts. We were on the ground to see everything first-hand: New York 2019: Full show report If chatter at this year’s New York motor show is anything to go by, the US vehicle market is holding strong, seemingly less affected by global headwinds than European brands. US vehicle sales are predicted to fall this year – they were down 2.5% in the first quarter, but still won’t fall much below the 17 million mark. America’s all-time record sales year was 2016 when 17.55m vehicles were sold. By most accounts, the US market is in rude health. Where saloons (or ‘sedans’ if you’re American) used to reign supreme, the US has fallen victim to SUVs as much as the rest of the world. Around 70% of auto sales are now SUVs or trucks. No surprise then that the show’s truck hall was full to the brim with monstrous trucks, while there were far more SUVs than saloons on manufacturer stands. Stand-out cars? The Kia HabaNiro concept, hinting at the next Niro due in 2021, got plenty of attention thanks to its butterfly wing doors and funky looks. Alongside it was a bright orange Stinger GTS. It’s a special edition, limited to 800 units, for the US only. It wouldn’t be that interesting if it weren’t for its new drift mode, a feature which we expect to see on an updated Stinger for Europe in a couple of years… Those might have been the new reveals for Kia, but it’s still pushing its Telluride large SUV hard as it endeavours to establish itself as a credible SUV brand. The Korean maker is best known for its sedans in the US such as the Forte and Optima. US COO Michael says: “We have a stronger reputation as sedan brand but we’re repositioning ourselves as an SUV brand. Telluride is where we see a real opportunity. We need to build a capable SUV reputation and we’ve made a great start with Telluride which is exceeding expectations.” Another popular car, based on stand footfall, was the Genesis Mint Concept. Refreshingly not an SUV, the premium city car could make production in the next three to four years, reckons brand boss Manfred Fitzgerald. He said: “I believe that there is a white spot on the map (for a car like this) that nobody is really catering to and it’s something we should really take a stab at.” Genesis, which only established itself as a standalone brand from Hyundai in 2015, sees New York as a “second home”, having just opened a dealership and brand centre in the city. There’s also word the brand is planning to launch in Europe next year. There’s potential there, but it’ll need to nail a tricky market far better than rival Infiniti, which recently pulled out of the region… Back to better-known brands. Mercedes chose this week’s Shanghai motor show to reveal its GLB, which should quickly become a big seller. But there was still plenty of new metal saved for New York including the updated GLC63 plus the all-new CLA 35. The big reveal was the new GLS. It only accounts for one per cent of Mercedes sales in the UK, but in the US it’s a different story. It’s the segment leader here. Merc RD boss Andreas Zygan said the car’s focus was even more comfort and luxury for rear passengers than its predecessor, and said a Maybach version could be on the cards. Another reveal fitting for New York was the 911 Speedster. The original 356 Speedster, which remains the inspiration for all Speedsters since, was created at the request of New York dealer Max Hoffman – the sole importer for Porsche in the US at the time – who wanted a ‘stripped-down’ version of the 356 to sell on the West Coast. The new machines uses the same 4.0-litre flat six as the current 911 GT3 but is heavily modified with revised exhaust, fuel and injection systems. GT division boss Andreas Preuninger told us we’d see the engine elsewhere: “We’ve invested in the future with this engine. “Our philosophy in GT cars is to stay naturally aspirated. We want to keep that engine for the future and that’s why we’ve made such a tremendous effort to get the engine right without taking emotion and performance away from the customer.” Hyundai’s premium brand is showcasing the Genesis Mint, a quirky electric car with a range of around 200 miles. It’s designed to show how luxury transport might work in cities in the future, and hint at the future design direction of Genesis – a brand that is set to be introduced into the UK. Hyundai Sonata The 2020 Sonata, Hyundai’s answer to the Toyota Camry, is making its public debut in New York. The mid-sized saloon is due in US dealerships later this year, with a raft of new interior technology and bold new styling. The Sonata is the first model to sit atop Hyundai’s new N3
Origin: 2019 New York motor show: full report and all the new cars
2019 Shanghai motor show: full report and all the new cars
At the Shanghai motor show, some of the biggest manufacturers you’ve never heard of displayed their newest models alongside familiar Western brands keen to crack the world’s most lucrative automotive market. Long gone are the days when Shanghai was an exhibition of the most blatant copycat cars, and the impressive quality of new Chinese creations is beginning to pose a very real threat to more established manufacturers. The 2019 edition was especially significant, with an increasing number of Chinese models being prepared for European launches and global manufacturers such as Volkswagen adding to their range of models adapted specifically for sale in China. Shanghai 2019: Full show report China’s car sales fell for the tenth consecutive month in March, pitching the country’s growing ranks of car makers face-first into an unprecedented headwind whipped up, in part, by on-going trade frictions with the US and a continued slowing of the global economy, stymying their dramatic growth of the past two decades and threatening new model plans along the way. But if there were concerns for the long-term health of the Chinese car industry in what has been described as its biggest crisis yet, it certainly wasn’t showing as the 2019 Shanghai motor show opened its doors. With business confidence in the world’s largest car market showing heartening signs of a rebound, owing to a timely reduction in sales tax ordered by the Chinese central government effective from the beginning of April, the mood within the vast halls of the international convention centre, where the country’s biggest motor show takes place every two years, was cautiously upbeat. While China’s car sales have fallen for the good part of the past year, they continue to far outstrip those of any other country. The overall figure for March, at 2.52 million, showed the smallest decrease year-on-year in over seven months, at 5.2 per cent. With many car makers reducing prices to boost sales in light of the tax break, expectations are total car sales for 2019 will be roughly in line with those of 2018 at around 22.5 million. Predictably given the importance now placed on Shanghai motor show as an automotive showcase with international reach, every key Chinese car maker, including the five state-owned heavyweights SAIC, FAW, BAIC, Dongfeng and Changan, all presented new or improved production models this year. They were kept honest by an ever more competitive list of private own rivals headed by the likes of Geely, GAC, Great Wall Motors and BYD as well as key introductions by joint venture operations such as those operated by Volkswagen, BMW, Toyota and Honda. It was the concept cars from established western car makers, including the clever new Audi AI:ME, versatile Volkswagen Roomzz and rugged looking Mercedes-Benz Concept GLB, that grabbed the headlines in the days leading up to Shanghai motor show. However, it was China’s growing number of increasingly well funded electric vehicle start-ups that stole the limelight once the veils went up. With China’s electric car sales showing no sign of a slow down despite a recent reduction in government subsidies, the competition for the attention of buyers is now intense. Zero local emission compatibility and other key technology solutions play a big part in the attraction of new cars for Chinese buyers and it was being laid on thick by the likes of Nio, XPeng, Weltmeister, Singulato, Byton, Aiways, Bordrin Motor and Leap Motors, along with many other newly-created electric vehicle start-ups, several of which are based in and around the sprawling metropolis of Shanghai itself. With promises of ranges of up to 373 miles and charging times of less than 15 minutes, China’s latest electric cars have, it seems, now breached the point where they can compete head to head with those from Tesla and perhaps, more importantly, more traditional combustion engine rivals. From advanced 5G connectivity solutions to smart holographic augmented reality head-up displays, the latest in autonomous driving functions and new hydrogen-fuelled power units, this year’s Shanghai motor show proved without any doubt that China has once and for all arrived as an automotive force – and not only for domestic consumption but with truly global credentials. As one seasoned automotive industry official opined as BYD’s design boss, Wolfgang Egger, presented the stylish electric-powered e-SEED GT: “Shanghai, it’s the new Detroit”. One solid theme evident in Shanghai this year was a surprise swing away from SUVs towards contemporary new sedans, the most notable of which, the Nio ET, Enovate ME-S, Xpeng P7 and Qoros Mile II, all boasted newly developed platforms with pure electric drive systems in a direct Aware at the threat China’s electric vehicle start-ups pose to their business, many of the country’s established car makers have also begun to create their own electric vehicle sub-brands to attract new customers, as
Origin: 2019 Shanghai motor show: full report and all the new cars
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