Here in LA-LA land, the Auto Show is and has mostly been all about going green. The exception was the celebration of 50 years of Hemi muscle power and the fossil fuel needed to run a quarter mile. At least that was a genuine celebration and not the lip service paid to a pressing need that many manufacturers spouted — leaving bluer skies for future generations. As Driving does at every auto show, we pick the best and worst on the floor. Here are the team’s picks for the shiners and horrors!Check out all of our latest auto show coverage hereDavid Booth was ready to pick Karma’s new SC2 concept. With 1,100 horsepower and a shape that’s sensual enough to make Ferrari jealous, it seemed like a certainty. Then Toyota announced the 2021 RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid. It has 302 horsepower and scoots to 96 km/h in just 5.8 seconds. Fuel economy and performance are wrapped up in an old-faithful of a package. As Herr Motor Mouth opined, “a Gold star for the boys from Toyota.”Andrew McCredie was of the same mind. “Not only does this all-new plug-in hybrid have a full electric range of just over 60 kilometres, it will be the second-fastest Toyota in the automaker’s lineup when it shows up in Canadian showrooms next summer.” The acceleration and horsepower at play that’s fired through a good all-wheel-drive system leaves but one question. “When can I drive one?” My pick as highlight was going to be the Audi RS Q8. How can you not love a high-riding crossover that can run with the RS 6? Sadly, it was not at the show, so I picked the E-tron Sportback. It takes the frumpy and puts some swagger in the e-tron’s all-electric step. It is not going to set a sales record, but the funky headlights complete with the 1.2-million pixel chips that allow five logos to be flashed on the road along with the cool outer façade and the improved aerodynamics sure worked for me.Our resident video guru, Clayton Seams, picked the Ford Mustang Mach-E as the pick of the show. It is “a solid car, with the right variations to cater to a broad owner base.” With two 75.7-kWh models, the EV will be offered in rear-drive and all-wheel-drive. It is a ride many will aspire to for all the right reasons.Curiously, it was also the miss of the show for Seams. “It is just not a Mustang no matter how hard they try to convince people the styling cues like the rear taillights stay true to the original.” Key is the fact that it is more crossover than sports car and the Fu Manchu moustache (the black trim that drapes around the grille) or, as another opined, a very poorly drawn horseshoe. The consensus was it needs to be rebadged something other than a ’Stang! Ford Mustang Mach-E Nadine Filion David Booth’s miss was the Hyundai Vision T concept. “Not because it was ugly (it isn’t) or that Hyundai won’t sell a boatload of them when it comes to market (and it will), but because its press release had not a single iota of technical detail regarding its electrification. All we learned is that it glows blue when it’s recharging and that its styling is “sensually sporty,” but as to the kilowatt-hours of battery, the net horsepower of gas/electric combination or the fuel economy advantage that combo might engender, there was not a peep. Consumers are eager for practical plug-in SUVs. “They want hard, factual information, not a bunch of fluff that wouldn’t pass muster at an art house tea party.”My sentiments echo David’s — Hyundai Vision T plug-in hybrid concept presser was 20 minutes of my life I will never get back. It was full of blah, blah, blah about how the styling is going to set the world on fire, along with promises of transcendental meditation for the inner soul, or some such guff. Not a peep about how the second coming will save the planet with its plug-in technology. Charging port glows blue. La-di-da. Handout / Hyundai Andrew McCredie picked Bollinger as his miss. This Detroit-based all-electric truck builder has been bringing its dog-and-pony show in the form of its retro-inspired SUV and four-door pickup to auto shows for what feels like a decade. “They’re taking orders and speaking with unbridled enthusiasm about the capabilities of their all-electrics, but mysteriously they keep pushing back their delivery dates. A couple of years ago they promised production models by late 2019.” Here we are at the end of 2019 and now the company is saying early 2021. “Call me skeptical, but I can help but think this company is taking a page from the ‘promise-them-the-world-and-get-bought-up-by-a-big-company’ playbook.” Hey, it worked for EV-pickup-rival Rivian and the half-billion investment it got from Ford, so maybe there’s still hope for Bollinger. Don’t bet on it.So, there you have it, some very cool hits at the 2019 LA Auto Show, but sadly the clangers won the day. LISTEN: What do car dealers think about electric vehicles? Are they keen to have them in their showrooms? We talk to Vancouver GM dealer Blair Upton about this and much more during this week’s
Origin: LA Auto Show Hits and Misses
show
2019 LA motor show: full report and pictures
Welcome to Autocar’s extended coverage of the 2019 Los Angeles motor show, one of the last major shows of this year’s automotive calendar. As ever, it is a uniquely Californian show that plays home to a varied mix of SUVs, V8s and electric cars. Manufacturers including Audi, Ford and Volkswagen are all in attendance, with major announcements expected throughout the week. Some brands even jumped the gun, revealing all ahead of the show floor opening to the industry. We were on the ground in LA to bring you all the news as it breaks from the show, as as well as providing insight and comment from industry figures, and first drives of some of the biggest new launches. LA 2019: show report Wheeled vastness, electric vehicles and fast-breeding mid-size SUVs were the most visible exhibits at an LA show marked by the welcome arrival of heavy rain and hail to a parched California. Whether this sudden shift was merely weather or a symptom of climate change, there were certainly signs of fundamental change at the show, where the electric Mustang Mach-E is Ford’s surprisingly potent – and fairly pricey, at £40,000 upwards – Tesla fighter. VW’s ID Space Vizzion concept, the E-Tron Spaceback that makes Audi the first premium player to introduce a second EV, the new-to America electric Mini and numerous plug-in hybrids will all be able to take advantage of the fact that California’s solar and wind power quite regularly generates surplus electricity in need of a home. Yet the industry’s growing battle to introduce affordable electric models was overshadowed, literally, by the bombastic trucks littering much of the Chevrolet stand, a spectacular ultra-high-riding, highly modified Ford F250 pick-up in the main entrance foyer and any number of medium to large SUVs. Not all of them from US manufacturers either, Mercedes unveiling AMG versions of its GLE and GLS, Audi its potent RS Q8, Toyota a new Highlander SUV of a size unremarkable in an American context, Land Rover its Defender and Kia its not-for-Europe Seltos. The almost absurd contradiction in all this can be hard to explain, but to understand the big trucks follow the money – these beasts are highly profitable US best-sellers – while the EU’s CO2 squeeze, China’s commitment to EVs and Tesla’s sales success explains the heavy peppering of battery-powered cars at this show. Which also explains the strange avenues some manufacturers are travelling in an effort to clean up the car and maintain its appeal. Who would have thought that there would one day be a five-door Mustang SUV punching out as much as 459 electric horsepower, or that BMW would have hired a couple of musicians to devise soundtracks for its EVs, or that it would be harvesting methane from a US dairy farm to produce electricity? VW, meanwhile, will plant 1000 trees to compensate for the 1000 miles that its Atlas Cross Sport R will travel in the Baja 1000 off-road race and Subaru, which had turned its stand into a virtual slice of US National Park, would be planting no less than half a million trees to rebuild US forests destroyed by fire. Even the unchanging is changing. There’s a new Mustang Shelby GT 500, but there’s now a Mustang EV. There’s a new Corvette, this the legendary sportscar’s first US show appearance, but its engine lies behind the driver rather than in front. On the other hand, some things really don’t change. Dodge celebrated 50 Challenger years with a very limited limited edition of 490 multi-hued cars, FCA’s policy of starving most of its brands of genuinely new product underlined by the sorry 300C saloon at the back of a Chrysler carpet park of ageing minivans and a modest Fiat stand deprived of its one-time mainstay 500, now deleted. Yet this show was optimistic, as motor shows almost invariably are. Live blog Thursday 21 November, 1000 GMT Last few udates from the show floow. “Big show for Hyundai,” says editor Tisshaw. “Not only is it previewing its new design language with the Vision T SUV concept, but also its plans for its first mid-engined car with the RM19 prototype. Think of that for a second: a mid-engined Hyundai. That’s remarkable progress from the company in such a short space of time.” The sun always shines in LA, right? Not today: heavy rain and thunderstorms are rattling the convention centre, and each executive giving a speech has made pretty much the same gag about the weather at the start of their presentations. Kia has a new SUV at the show, but it’s not for the UK. The Seltos is sized between the Stonic and Sportage in European terms, a gap Kia has just filled with the XCeed in Europe. The Seltos will instead be offered in the US, Korea, India and the Middle East. Thursday 21 November, 0900 GMT Jaguar stole a march on its big German rivals with the I-Pace, but Mercedes-Benz and Audi have caught up with launches in their own. And now in the case of Audi, it’s gone past Jaguar with the launch of its second electric car, the E-Tron
Origin: 2019 LA motor show: full report and pictures
2019 LA motor show: live coverage
Welcome to Autocar’s extended coverage of the 2019 Los Angeles motor show, one of the last major shows of this year’s automotive calendar. As ever, it is a uniquely Californian show that plays home to a varied mix of SUVs, V8s and electric cars. Manufacturers including Audi, Ford and Volkswagen are all in attendance, with major announcements expected throughout the week. Some brands even jumped the gun, revealing all ahead of the show floor opening to the industry. We’re on the ground in LA to bring you all the news as it breaks from the show, as as well as providing insight and comment from industry figures, and first drives of some of the biggest new launches. LA motor show: What’s on display There are plenty of big names revealing new metal at this year’s show. While we’ve focused on the models most likely to go on sale in other markets as well as the US, there’s still lots to see. Aston Martin DBX Although Aston Martin chose China for the official reveal of its first ever SUV, it also made sure to bring one to Los Angeles. The £158,000 SUV promises the kind of sporting pedigree Aston is famed for, with a 4.0-litre V8 delivering 542bhp. A luxury interior and capable off-road credentials should make it a threat to the likes of Bentley’s Bentayga and the Porsche Cayenne Turbo. Audi E-tron sportback The rakishly styled Sportback variant of Audi’s E-tron electric SUV carries over the standard car’s 402bhp twin-motor powertrain, but the Sportback sees major efficiency gains that help boost range to 278 miles – a significant step up over the E-tron. Visual changes are largely limited to the reshaped roofline and a subtly restyled rear end, which includes an LED brake light bar similar to that of the A8 luxury saloon. BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé The largest model in BMW’s 2 Series line-up will make its public debut at LA, following a reveal in October. The firm’s first small four-door coupe sits atop the same front-wheel-drive platform as the smaller 1 Series, and shares that model’s range of petrol and diesel powerplants. The range-topping M235i xDrive, however, gains all-wheel drive and will take on the Mercedes-AMG CLA 35, with a 2.0-litre twin-turbo petrol unit pumping out 302bhp and 332lb ft. M8 Gran Coupe At the other end of BMW’s performance saloon range is this, the fearsome M8 Gran Coupe. Going up against the Porsche Panamera with up to 616bhp from its 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8, the five-door version of the firm’s new M8 is priced from £120,935, with deliveries due to take place at the start of next year. Bollinger B1 and B2 Newly established American firm Bollinger will showcase prototype versions of its B1 and B2 electric SUVs. The rugged-looking off-roaders sit atop a skateboard-style chassis and have been engineered to meet road-legal requirements around the world. In spite of their aerodynamically unfriendly design and imposing size, the boxy models will hit 60mph from rest in just 4.5 seconds, thanks to a pair of electric motors that combine to produce 614bhp. Ford Mustang Mach-E Ford kickstarted its electrification strategy with the sleek SUV inspired by the Mustang sports car, showing the model for the first time at LA ahead of the main show. Due to go on sale in 2020 as a rival to Tesla’s new Model Y, the Mustang Mach-E will offer a range of 370 miles on the WLTP cycle in extended battery form. At launch, a range-topping First Edition version will produce 332bhp, with a GT model set to make around 459bhp shortly after. Lexus LC500 Convertible The long-teased Lexus halo model was finally shown off in production form at this year’s LA show. Previously revealed as a concept, the soft-top LC will arrive first in ‘500’ form with a 5.0-litre V8 engine. A V6 hybrid is expected to follow later. Mercedes Maybach GLS Conceived as a rival to the Range Rover SVAutobiography, Bentley Bentayga and Rolls-Royce Cullinan, the Maybach GLS is an ultra-luxurious reworking of Mercedes’ GLS flagship SUV. The standard model’s silhouette is retained, but spy shots show that the Maybach version will feature bespoke design elements inspired by 2016’s Maybach 6 coupe concept. There are suggestions that the top-of-the-line GLS could also offer improved rear legroom, courtesy of an extended wheelbase. Mini John Cooper Works GP Mini’s fastest model yet, the 300bhp JCW GP, has been teetering on the edge of an unveiling for a while, with prototypes making public appearances at high-profile events like the Nurburgring 24 Hours and Goodwood Festival of Speed, but now the wraps have finally come off. The 302bhp hot hatch will have a £34,995 starting price and be limited to 3000 units worldwide. Porsche 911 manual Not a new car, but almost as exciting, is the news that Porsche is adding a seven-speed manual option to its 911 sports car. The option is rolling out at no extra cost to buyers in the US, with a UK launch expected in the new
Origin: 2019 LA motor show: live coverage
Updated: 2019 Los Angeles motor show preview
This year’s motor show calendar is in full swing, with Frankfurt’s IAA event bringing us pivotal new models from countless mainstream manufacturers, and last month’s Tokyo motor show demonstrating that, for many firms, creativity is key in today’s challenging market environment. Now though, it’s time to look ahead to the Los Angeles Auto Show, at which we’re expecting a huge variety of important US and Europe-focussed models to appear in the metal for the first time. Last year’s edition saw the debut of Porsche’s acclaimed 992-generation 911, the striking Audi E-tron GT concept and Mazda’s reinvented 3 hatchback to mention but a few, and 2019 is already shaping up to be just as significant. Take a look at everything we’re expecting to see here: Audi E-tron sportback Shown in camouflaged prototype form at March’s Geneva motor show, the rakishly styled Sportback variant of Audi’s E-tron electric SUV has since lost its disguise in the run-up to its LA reveal. The standard E-tron’s 402bhp twin-motor powertrain is carried over unmodified, meaning the Sportback will be capable of 0-60mph in 5.5 seconds, a range of around 248 miles and 150kW rapid charging. Changes look to be limited to the reshaped roofline and a subtly restyled rear end, which includes an LED brake light bar similar to that of the A8 luxury saloon. BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé The largest model in BMW’s 2 Series line-up will make its public debut at LA, following a reveal in October. The firm’s first small four-door coupe sits atop the same front-wheel-drive platform as the smaller 1 Series, and shares that model’s range of petrol and diesel powerplants. The range-topping M235i xDrive, however, gains all-wheel drive and will take on the Mercedes-AMG CLA 35, with a 2.0-litre twin-turbo petrol unit pumping out 302bhp and 332lb ft. M8 Gran Coupe At the other end of BMW’s performance saloon range is this, the fearsome M8 Gran Coupe. Going up against the Porsche Panamera with up to 616bhp from its 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8, the five-door version of the firm’s new M8 is priced from £120,935, with deliveries due to take place at the start of next year. Bollinger B1 and B2 Newly established American firm Bollinger will showcase prototype versions of its B1 and B2 electric SUVs. The rugged-looking off-roaders sit atop a skateboard-style chassis and have been engineered to meet road-legal requirements around the world. In spite of their aerodynamically unfriendly design and imposing size, the boxy models will hit 60mph from rest in just 4.5 seconds, thanks to a pair of electric motors that combine to produce 614bhp. Ford ‘Mach E’ electric SUV Ford will kickstart its electrification strategy with a sleek SUV-shaped model inspired by the Mustang sports car, showing the model for the first time at LA. Due to go on sale in 2020 as a rival to Tesla’s new Model Y, the model has been confirmed to offer a range of 370 miles on the WLTP cycle, but the company is withholding additional details pertaining to the model’s performance, pricing and design until its unveiling. Hyundai PHEV concept Hyundai’s ‘ground-breaking’ new SUV concept takes inspiration from 2018’s Le Fil Rouge show car, and looks to preview a futuristic plug-in hybrid production model to sit below the Santa Fe seven-seater. Technical details remain scarce, but a preview image shows off a sleek, rakish roofline, squared-off wheel arches and a bespoke grille design with integrated cooling flaps. Mercedes Maybach GLS Conceived as a rival to the Range Rover SVAutobiography, Bentley Bentayga and Rolls-Royce Cullinan, the Maybach GLS is an ultra-luxurious reworking of Mercedes’ GLS flagship SUV. The standard model’s silhouette is retained, but spy shots show that the Maybach version will feature bespoke design elements inspired by 2016’s Maybach 6 coupe concept. There are suggestions that the top-of-the-line GLS could also offer improved rear legroom, courtesy of an extended wheelbase. Mini John Cooper Works GP Mini’s fastest model yet, the 300bhp JCW GP, has been teetering on the edge of an unveiling for a while, with prototypes making public appearances at high-profile events like the Nurburgring 24 Hours and Goodwood Festival of Speed, but now the wraps are finally coming off. Confirmed details include a £34,995 starting price and sub-eight minute Nordschleife laptime, but we’ll have to wait to see just how Oxford’s answer to the Mercedes-AMG A35 will differentiate itself style-wise from the standard Cooper JCW. Porsche 911 manual Not a new car, but almost as exciting, is the news that Porsche is adding a seven-speed manual option to its 911 sports car. The option is rolling out at no extra cost to buyers in the US, with a UK launch expected in the new year. It’s likely that Porsche will show the manual 911 at LA. Taycan 4S Launched as the entry point into Porsche’s new Taycan electric super-saloon range,
Origin: Updated: 2019 Los Angeles motor show preview
2019 Los Angeles motor show preview
This year’s motor show calendar is in full swing, with Frankfurt’s IAA event bringing us pivotal new models from countless mainstream manufacturers, and last week’s Tokyo motor show demonstrating that, for many firms, creativity is key in today’s challenging market environment. Now though, it’s time to look ahead to the Los Angeles Auto Show, at which we’re expecting a huge variety of important US and Europe-focussed models to appear in the metal for the first time. Last year’s edition saw the debut of Porsche’s acclaimed 992-generation 911, the striking Audi E-tron GT concept and Mazda’s reinvented 3 hatchback to mention but a few, and 2019 is already shaping up to be just as significant. Take a look at everything we’re expecting to see here: Audi E-tron sportback Shown in camouflaged prototype form at March’s Geneva motor show, the rakishly styled Sportback variant of Audi’s E-tron electric SUV has since lost its disguise in the run-up to its LA reveal. The standard E-tron’s 402bhp twin-motor powertrain is carried over unmodified, meaning the Sportback will be capable of 0-60mph in 5.5 seconds, a range of around 248 miles and 150kW rapid charging. Changes look to be limited to the reshaped roofline and a subtly restyled rear end, which includes an LED brake light bar similar to that of the A8 luxury saloon. BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé The largest model in BMW’s 2 Series line-up will make its public debut at LA, following a reveal in October. The firm’s first small four-door coupe sits atop the same front-wheel-drive platform as the smaller 1 Series, and shares that model’s range of petrol and diesel powerplants. The range-topping M235i xDrive, however, gains all-wheel drive and will take on the Mercedes-AMG CLA 35 with a 2.0-litre twin-turbo petrol unit pumping out 302bhp and 332lb ft. M8 Gran Coupe At the other end of BMW’s performance saloon range is this, the fearsome M8 Gran Coupe. Going up against the Porsche Panamera with up to 616bhp from its 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8, the five-door version of the firm’s new M8 is priced from £120,935, with deliveries due to take place at the start of next year. Bollinger B1 and B2 Newly established American firm Bollinger will showcase prototype versions of its B1 and B2 electric SUVs. The rugged-looking off-roaders sit atop a skateboard-style chassis, and have been engineered to meet road-legal requirements around the world. In spite of their aerodynamically unfriendly design and imposing size, the boxy models will hit 60mph from rest in just 4.5 seconds, thanks to a pair of electric motors producing a combined 614bhp. Ford ‘Mach E’ electric SUV Ford will kickstart its electrification strategy with a sleek SUV-shaped model inspired by the Mustang sports car, showing the model for the first time at LA. Due to go on sale in 2020 as a rival to Tesla’s new Model Y, the model has been confirmed to offer a range of 370 miles on the WLTP cycle, but the company is withholding additional details pertaining to the model’s performance, pricing and design until its unveiling. Mercedes Maybach GLS Conceived as a rival to the Range Rover SVAutobiography, Bentley Bentayga and Rolls-Royce Cullinan, the Maybach GLS is an ultra-luxurious reworking of Mercedes’ GLS flagship SUV. The standard model’s silhouette is retained, but spy shots show the Maybach version will feature bespoke design elements inspired by 2016’s Maybach 6 coupe concept. There are suggestions the top-of-the-line GLS could also offer improved rear legroom courtesy of an extended wheelbase. Mini John Cooper Works GP Mini’s fastest model yet, the 300bhp JCW GP, has been teetering on the edge of an unveiling for a while, with prototypes making public appearances at high-profile events like the Nurburgring 24 Hours and Goodwood Festival of Speed, but now the wraps are finally coming off. Confirmed details include a £34,995 starting price and sub-eight minute Nordschleife laptime, but we’ll have to wait to see just how Oxford’s answer to the Mercedes-AMG A35 will differentiate itself style-wise from the standard Cooper JCW. Porsche 911 manual Not a new car, but almost as exciting, is the news that Porsche is adding a seven-speed manual option to its 911 sports car. The option is rolling out at no extra cost to buyers in the US, with a UK launch expected in the new year. It’s likely that Porsche will show the manual 911 at LA. Taycan 4S Launched as the entry point into Porsche’s new Taycan electric super-saloon range, the 4S offers considerably less power than the top-run Turbo and Turbo S models, but is also much more affordable, with prices starting at £83,000. Range is a still-respectable 252 miles in standard guise, with an optional Performance Battery Plus pack bringing that up to 287 miles. Toyota RAV4 PHEV Toyota will follow up its future-looking Tokyo motor show display with the unveiling of a new hybrid version of
Origin: 2019 Los Angeles motor show preview
Lexus to reveal first production EV at Chinese show
Lexus will reveal its first series production electric car, which Autocar understands will be an electric version of the UX crossover, at the Guangzhou motor show in China later this month. The Japanese firm hasn’t given any firm details of the machine ahead of the 22 November reveal, but says it is “specifically crafted to suit the needs of audiences in China and in Europe.” But the machine will be based on the electric Toyota C-HR, a sister crossover to the UX, that is currently offered in the Chinese market. The machine will likely be named the UX Electric. Lexus and parent firm Toyota are due to launch three electric models by the end of 2021. Lexus showcased a dramatic EV concept called the LF-30 at the Tokyo motor show recently, which was intended to preview the general style of its future battery electric cars. The LF-30, which is similar in size to the Jaguar I-Pace, uses a new EV architecture being developed by Lexus and Toyota, which is planned to be introduced from
Origin: Lexus to reveal first production EV at Chinese show
Plugged In: YouTube show celebrates EV facts, not fiction
Ken Bokors EV Revolution Show on YouTube is required viewing for those interested in electric vehicles, battery technology and public policy surrounding the implementation of an EV network in CanadaHis show offers current and prospective EV owners not only excellent, and up-to-date information on new and coming soon vehicles, but honest reporting on the technology.Fake news abounds not only in the electric vehicle space but in most every aspect of society today so voices like Kens need not only be listened to, but celebrated.Plugged In is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Podcasts.
Origin: Plugged In: YouTube show celebrates EV facts, not fiction
Hits and misses from the 46th Tokyo Motor Show
At every auto show, the Driving team is tasked with scouring the show floor to pinpoint the highlights and lowlights. This years 2019 Tokyo Motor Show was no different. While quieter than it has been in past years with the likes of the Volkswagen Group and Ferrari conspicuously absent among others, the 46th edition of the Show still managed to produce a few gems and some real clangers. Here are our choices for the brilliant and the busts.Motor Mouth, aka David Booth, and Andrew McCredie both picked Mazda and the MX-30 as the show highlight. It is an all-electric crossover with a 33.5-kWh lithium-ion battery in the floor. It delivers a driving range of around 200 kilometres. Now, before the handwringing about the limited all-electric range begins, the MX-30 has an ace up its sleeve: a rotary engine range-extender yes, as in the little engine that made the RX-7 one of the greats along for the ride. It runs on gasoline, but could use hydrogen down the road. The effect would be a clean ride that can be refueled quickly while leaving nothing but water in its wake. It is a future all of us at Driving can get behind!Check out all our latest Auto Show coverageFor me, the highlight and lowlight of the Tokyo Motor Show were one in the same car. The highlight is the Lexus LF 30 Concepts powertrain. Heres a harbinger of what the company that redefined luxury expectations with the launch of the LS 400 in 1989 will do to electrify its portfolio in coming years. The key is found the four in-wheel electric motors that twist out 536 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque from rev-one the instant-on acceleration brings a run to 100 km/h in just 3.8 seconds and a realistic 500-kilometre electric-only range from the large 110-kilowatt/hour lithium-ion battery. The layout of the motors and the operating logic behind them brings front-drive, rear-drive and all-wheel-drive depending upon the need. And, with the ultimate in individual wheel control, it delivers the very best in real-time torque vectoring. The thought of an all-electric LFA-like ride is a mouth-watering proposition and a potential ambassador for the electric movement if it makes it to market. 2020 Mazda MX-30 EV Handout / Mazda The LF 30s style was the lowlight. Back in 2011, Lexus revealed the then-new GS sport sedan at the Pebble Beach Concours dElegance. It was roundly panned as boring. The criticism spurred the company on to reinvent itself and re-imagine the now-familiar spindle grille. With the LF 30 Concept Lexus has not only found yet another new grille expression, it has invented the spindle car! Sometimes too much of anything is not such a good thing after all.David Booths lowlight was the general malaise and lack of excitement found on the show floor. The fact Toyota did not show the rumored replacement for the GT 86 illustrated the fact. Tokyo, of all shows, is where you expect the hype around future technologies to abound. It could be found, but it required a lot of effort. Andrew McCredie took Nissan and Toyota to task for talking the talk, but failing to walk the electric walk. Yes, Nissan makes the Leaf, but it is aging and is in need of a replacement and the Ariya Concept on display at the Show is just that a concept that wont likely see production. Ditto Toyota. It has plug-ins and hybrids galore, but the promise of an all-electric ride remains just that, a promise. Yes, there is the Mirai fuel cell, but its availability is limited. There is a new all-electric vehicle ride being announced in November that will be based on a current Lexus crossover, but it is not coming to
Origin: Hits and misses from the 46th Tokyo Motor Show
News Roundup: An EV crate engine, brands skipping Montreal’s auto show, a luxury car tax and more
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.Upcoming electric crate engines promise plug-and-play installationIt’s been some time coming, but it seems automotive DIY-ers may finally be getting some viable options for electric crate engines. The V8-shaped single- and dual-motor EV conversion kits on the way from the California-based startup Electric GT (EGT) will make 140 horsepower and 240 lb.-ft., and 240 horsepower and 340 lb.-ft., respectively. Swindon Powertrain in the U.K., meanwhile, is putting out another electric crate option that makes 110 horsepower and is small enough to fit in a Mini. You just have to find someplace to put the batteries. Volvo, Audi and Mercedes-Benz won’t be attending the Montreal auto showEven with the Detroit auto show officially moving its time slot from January to June, Montreal’s appeal is not strong enough for some European automakers to justify the winter journey to the City of Saints.Following the lead of Mercedes-Benz – which is abstaining from all North American auto shows this year – Volvo and Audi are also pulling out of appearances at 2020’s LeSalon International de Montréal. Volvo is also allegedly pulling the chute for Toronto’s CIAS 2020. Tesla’s hideaway handles blamed in fiery fatal crash“Inaccessible door handles” and “no other ways to open the doors” are what’s being blamed in the death of a Florida resident and Tesla Model S owner. The 48-year-old man allegedly died of smoke inhalation when his vehicle caught fire following an accident, leaving him trapped inside. According to Consumer Reports, door handles are among the most commonly reported issues from Model S owners. Liberal’s proposed luxury car tax stresses B.C. dealersThe recently re-elected Liberal government is proposing a new 10-per-cent luxury tax on vehicles, boats and aircraft priced over $100,000. The little-on-the-top will add yet another line to the price tag of luxury vehicles in British Columbia, which are already subject to a 15-per-cent provincial sales tax on vehicles from $125,000 to $149,999; and a 20-per-cent tax on those over $150,000. Blair Qualey, head of the New Car Dealers Association of B.C., told Automotive News Canada the luxury tax is “very concerning” and the burden on buyers getting “pretty difficult.” Mazda’s first EV gets a touch of RX-8 throwbackThe first electric mass-production Mazda, the MX-30, has arrived, with a smaller battery than most (likely good for about 200 km of range) and a gasoline-powered rotary range-extender – similar to that last found in the RX-8 – for trips beyond city limits. Inside, it’s some of Mazda’s best work yet, with a clean dash and touchscreens for everything that could possibly use one. Look for the Mazda MX-30 in the second half of 2020, and look for the other hot debuts from this year’s Tokyo auto show right
Origin: News Roundup: An EV crate engine, brands skipping Montreal’s auto show, a luxury car tax and more
Fisker to show electric SUV prototype in January 2020
American start-up company Fisker will show a ‘production-intent prototype’ of its upcoming electric SUV in January 2020, according to a tweet by the firm’s founder Henrik Fisker. The American-Danish entrepeneur also confirmed that the new model’s name will be officially revealed later this week, and that the production variant will only be available via a ‘flexible lease’ plan, with no long-term contract necessary. Next week. Announcement: name of the sustainable luxury electric Fisker SUV , together with other info.#Fisker #Sustainable #ClimateChange #ElectricCar #Automotive #cleanenergy #CleanUp #cool #technews @FiskerInc pic.twitter.com/OGVUHFWBwD — Henrik Fisker (@henrikfisker) October 27, 2019 Preview images shows that the Tesla Model Y rival will ride high and feature modern, utilitarian styling. Flared arches hint at the EV’s performance potential, while narrow headlights and chrome detailing are a nod to the brand’s 2018 Emotion concept. Like the Model Y, the as-yet-unnamed Fisker will be priced from less than $40,000 (£30,200) in the US. It features what the firm calls “captivating design touches that have been traditionally reserved for supercars in the past”. Confirmed styling details include a front-mounted radar in place of a grille, a large front air intake, flared wheel arches and a futuristic headlight design. Performance details haven’t been revealed, but an 80kWh lithium ion battery pack is claimed to provide of a range of nearly 300 miles. The car will be available in four-wheel-drive form with an electric motor mounted on each axle. Fisker hints at the presence of a targa-style removable roof section, stating that “with the touch of a button, an extended open-air atmosphere will be made possible without compromising the rugged and safe structural integrity of an SUV”. It also claims the interior will offer class-leading space and feature a large head-up display and an intelligent user interface. Henrik Fisker previously said the new model will take the form of “a desirable, luxuriously rugged and green vehicle that’s accessible to people across the US and the world”. It’s not yet confirmed where the new model will be produced, but Fisker said prototype testing will begin before the end of this year. The company is also at work on developing solid-state battery technology, which it says would allow its vehicles to gain 500 miles worth of charge in as little as one minute. Fisker Inc. was formed in 2016, succeeding the bankrupted Fisker Automotive company that launched the Karma range-extender electric luxury saloon – now re-engineered and on sale as the Karma Revero – in
Origin: Fisker to show electric SUV prototype in January 2020
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