Daily Archives: May 11, 2017
1917 Mitsubishi Model A Will Get Electric Car Treatment
Mitsubishi Motors, formerly the Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Company, entered the automotive scene when it produced its first passenger vehicle, which is the 1917 Mitsubishi Model A. In celebration of the company’s centennial anniversary, it announced that it will release a plug-in version of the car.
Looking back at the history of the prestigious brand, the Model A was a four-door sedan measuring 103.9 inches in wheelbase, 150.8 inches long, 63.8 inches wide and 81.5 inches high. It has a curb weight of 2,899 lbs. The car carried a 2,765 cc inline-four engine with 35 hp and top speed of up to 97 km/h.
The car was produced from 1917 to 1921 and only 22 of them were made for customers. Due to the expensive production of the vehicle, Mitsubishi halted its production and it was not until 1960 when the company resumed its passenger car production with the Mitsubishi 500.
According to Inside EVs, the 1917 Mitsubishi Model A with plug-in hybrid powertrain is currently being made by West Coast Customs in Burbank, California. It is expected to be launched in summer. The progress of the car specialists will be shown during an episode of Inside West Coast Customs on the Velocity network.
The source said the revived Model A will make use of the automaker’s PHEV platform. Currently, the Mitsubishi Outlander makes use of the platform.
The PHEV platform is an interesting choice for the new Model A as it should be noted that the classic passenger car is actually as big as the common sport utility vehicles of today’s standards. It is worth mentioning that the Outlander is actually 105.1 inches in wheelbase, 184.8 inches long, 71.3 inches wide and 66.1 inches high. The curb weight of the auto is 3,768 lbs.
The integration of the PHEV platform with the 1917 Model A is truly an exciting feat for West Coast Customs as it will highlight both the past and present of the brand in one vehicle.
Toyota Cars are Not Boring
Toyota cars are not boring. Well, that’s what the company’s CEO Akio Toyoda said in his recent speech.
In a report from USA Today, Toyoda admitted that there have been times when Toyota cars were referred to as boring and lacking in character. However, he reminded the audience that their autos have received favorable reviews from customers when it comes to driving dynamics and design. Then again, he stated that there’s still room for improvement in their vehicles.
The statement of Toyoda came as he announced the financial results of the company for the fiscal year that ended on March 31, 2017.
It was during the event where it was revealed that Toyota’s revenue fell. According to the source, the company already relinquished its title as the world’s largest automaker by a slight margin to Volkswagen.
The revenue of the company went down 2.8 percent to $24.2 billion. On the other hand, its operating expenses slumped 30.1 percent to $17.5 billion.
Toyota foresees a 2.5 percent fall in revenue and 18 percent decrease in net income for the current fiscal year, which ends in March 2018. In addition, the Japanese firm projected retail vehicle sales to remain flat at 10.25 million.
Among the factors blamed for the unfortunate performance of Toyota in 2016 were the tough currency rates. The company reflected a 20.8 percent drop in net income to 1.831 trillion yen or $16.1 billion in the present day’s rates.
Toyoda added that they should expect a paradigm shift in the industry too, which is slowly gearing towards self-driving vehicles. The CEO defended the unfavorable financial results of his company by saying it was only a proof that Toyota puts more priority in stabilizing and continuously improving their investments in the future, rather than concentrating on short-term profit.
Toyoda pointed out that to safeguard the future of the company, they have created an internal division called the Toyota Research Institute to work on futuristic technologies.
Opel Insignia Sports Tourer Gets New Livery for German Fire Department
The Opel Insignia Sports Tourer with new livery for the German fire department.
One Opel Insignia Sports Tourer recently got a fresh look for an exhibition. The car was given a new livery to transform it into something that the fire department could really use.
In the photo and details given by CNET’s Road Show, the Opel Insignia Sports Tourer got a new body design and it was fitted with accessories to turn it into a fire department command vehicle. The car came in dirty white paint with a combination of red and yellow strips. It also has “Feuerwehr” emblazoned in it, which is German for “fire defence”.
In addition, the Insignia Sports Tourer was equipped with LED flashers and signalling system to be used in emergency response situations. Then an equipment carrier was installed into the car for radio and fire fighting gear. The other parts of the vehicle remained unchanged.
The personalized auto was showcased at the RETTmobil rescue and mobility exhibition in Fulda Germany.
The Opel Insignia Sports Tourer is available in one diesel-fed and five gasoline-powered models. The lineup is highlighted by the 2.0 Turbo 8AT AWD petrol model that produces up to 260 hp and 400 Nm of torque. The numbers allow the car to accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in just 7.5 seconds and its top speed is electronically limited to 245 km/h. It appears that the customized vehicle pictured here carries the said specifications.
Moreover, the Insignia Sports Tourer has a combined fuel consumption of 8.7 liters/100 km. Its CO2 emission is 199 g/km.
The Insignia Sports Tourer measures 196.3 inches in length, 73.3 inches in width, 59.1 inches high and 111.4 in wheelbase. The unladen weight of the car is 3,710 lbs while its gross weight limit is 5,060 lbs.
The Opel Insignia Sports Tourer will be sold in the U.S. as the Buick Regal TourX.