Daily Archives: August 10, 2016
Mercedes-Benz Is Planning A Sub-Brand For Electric Models
Recent reports have indicated that known luxury car maker Mercedes-Benz is gearing up to build an entire sub-brand for electric vehicles, following the success of Tesla’s luxury EVs. It seems the German automaker wants to cash in to what was once perceived to be merely a hype tech geeks, engineers and moguls have created.
Last June, Dieter Zetsche, CEO of Mercedes-Benz’s parent company Daimler, said that the automaker plans to introduce its first EV at the Paris Motor Show in October. According to reports, the model would be a direct competition to the Tesla Model S, and will have a 310-mile range either to meet or exceed what the Tesla model can deliver.
Expected to be built in Germany, Merc’s new EV will carry whatever moniker the automaker conceives to challenge BMW’s i label.
Tesla’s Model 3 currently has 373,000 reservations, so it’s fairly obvious this is not merely a trend. Mercedes wants to capitalize on that interest, and the timing now is just about right.
But to get to that point, the company has to invest extensively in research and development toward EVs. This is in part of the German automaker’s larger plan to boost its R&D spending from $6.3 billion in 2014 and $7.3 billion in 2015.
Passenger cars are not the only vehicles Daimler is looking to turn into electric-based. The Urban e-Truck prototype has proven that electric distribution is already a must in deliveries within the city.
Mercedes-Benz is not exactly oblivious of what Tesla has been doing. Its parent company Daimler has invested heavily in Tesla, and in fact earns a 10-percent stake in Tesla Motors in 2010, though its remaining 4 percent was sold in 2014.
It has even purchased Tesla batteries for the B-Class Electric and Tesla was the one that developed the whole propulsion system for the early version of Smart Electric Drive.
Ford Focus RS Gets Power Upgrade
Tuning company Mountune took it upon themselves to heap the Ford Focus RS with more power than ever before. Though its 345bhp does not exactly equate to being under-endowed, the guys over at Mountune thought the Focus RS would look better with 370bhp. It will also drop to going 0-62mph in just 4.5 seconds.
The new power upgrade package for the 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine was developed together with Ford’s Performance division. While it raises horsepower production to 370bhp, it also boosted peak torque to 376 lb. ft., which is a 30 lb. ft. increase over the standard car.
The tuned Ford’s ability to go 0 to 62 mph in just 4.5 seconds is largely thanks to the Focus RS’ four-wheel drive system. That is a 0.2-second improvement, so it now stands only 0.2 seconds below of what the Audi RS3 can accomplish. The Audi RS3 has a fancy twin-clutch auto while the Focus RS stays with the six-speed manual.
The Mountune upgrade for the Ford Focus comes with an ECU flash too, as well as an uprated turbo recirculation valve and Mountune’s RS induction kit with an alloy crossover duct and high quality silicone hoses. These features improve engine breathing by 11 percent as compared to factory fit pipes. In terms of styling and design, you can expect the Mountune badge, warning other drivers that your car can suddenly and violently accelerate.
If you want the kit, any Mountune-approved Ford dealer can install it in your car in just 90 minutes. It costs approximately $1,174, and won’t invalidate your Ford manufacturer’s warranty.
Aside from that, you also have the option of a 19-inch OZ Leggera HLT wheels that are lighter and even half an inch wider than the standard rims. Then, there’s also the Quaife differential. You can get the OZ Leggera HLT wheels for $496 per corner while the Quaife is for $948.
2016 Nissan Titan XD Marks Major Update For The Pickup
Nissan has finally updated its Titan pickup, which was first introduced back in 2004. The second generation full-size pickup truck will bridge the gap between the half-ton Titan and the heavy-duty contenders from Ford, GM and Ram.
Based on a report, the Nissan Titan XD has an all-new reinforced and strengthened body plus the highly coveted 5.0-liter Cummins V-8 turbodiesel that can produce 310 horsepower at 3,200 rpm and 555 pound-feet of torque at 1,600 rpm. It can lug around 12,640 pounds on the integrated gooseneck hitch, plus the weight of the truck and the passengers in Single Cab form.
The engine is paired with a heavy-duty six-speed Aisin automatic transmission with manual shift controls.
The Cummins diesel is 20 percent better in terms of fuel economy than a gasoline-powered V-8 with full loads. It has a rating of 15.8 mpg city, 20.8 mpg highway, and 17.7 mpg combined.
The Titan XD is also offering a revised, 5.6-liter Endurance V-8. It produces 390 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 401 pound-feet of torque at 4,000 rpm. It comes with a new, seven-speed automatic transmission with Adaptive Shift Control and Downshift Rev Matching.
The standard Titan, on the other hand, will be offered in either a V-6 or V-8 gasoline engine. There are no details yet about the V-6 engine.
In terms of exterior, Nissan completely diverted from the 2016 Titan XD since only the corporate grille and the side mirrors have been brought to this new truck.
The 2017 Titan XD has a bolder and wider stance, thanks largely to its sculpted fenders at the front and rear. There’s also the equally huge front fascia that sports a chrome mesh grille with the name “TITAN” embossed across the top.
Wheels are optional in 17, 18 and 20 inches, but all are wrapped in LT-series tires. To make it easier to step up into the bed, Nissan also incorporated the side running boards to extend past the cab.
New Nissan BladeGlider Edges Close To Production
We had a sighting of the new Nissan BladeGlider, which, contrary to how we met it before in its concept form, is a little close to being production legible. Notice how the form is a little neutered? It’s still not anywhere near a production car, but it looks like Nissan is proving its promise to bring the BladeGlider to showrooms.
Originally introduced during the 2013 Tokyo show concept, the car was so out-of-this-world that we deem it impossible to see a production version anytime soon. For now, it’s dubbed as the BladeGlider v2, an “advanced prototype.”
The differences between the original concept and this one made us think it’s possible to see these with licensed plates soon. After all, Nissan made sure the front and rear widths are less disparate, though still at “odds” with each other. The widths are, of course, inspired by DeltaWing badge.
The BladeGlider is being described by a source as an electric car for car lovers, with specs that definitely prove such claims. It’s a rear-wheel-only drive, each one having its own 130kW motor. The total system output is 264 bhp and 521 lb. ft. Not bad at all for an electric car.
It weighs around 1,300 kg, which is a lot in terms of racing car specs. Remember, though, that the BladeGlider also packs batteries. In terms of sizing, the BladeGlider should compete with the likes of Ford Focus (in terms of length, width and wheelbase) or the Nissan electric Leaf.
The car is powered with a mixture of two motors via torque vectoring. It has three modes—off, agile and drift. There are no details yet regarding powersliding, though we can only imagine how that would feel with the BladeGlider.
Britain’s Williams Advanced Engineering will provide the powertrain, which has a top speed of 118mph, and takes 0 to 60 mph in less than five seconds.
Two of the BladeGliders are on their way to Rio de Janeiro for the Olympics. Let’s see how the reactions will turn this advanced concept into a production version.
