Daily Archives: August 2, 2017
Ferrari To Add Utility Vehicle To Boost Income
Luxury sports carmaker Ferrari will soon be adding a roomy four-seat utility vehicle to its lineup to boost its profit by 2022. Ferrari expects that the utility vehicle would double its income and help the manufacturer move along from its supercar niche.
Though there is no confirmation yet from the Italian brand, the people privy to the market said that the current five-year plan under CEO Sergio Marchionne is targeting an increase to the 10,000 units annual deliveries being made. Mr Marchionne will be retiring in 2021.
One of the projects said to be part of the lineup is a four-seat utility vehicle that will be perfect for the whole family. Be careful to see this plan as a way for Ferrari to finally open its doors for an SUV. It still remains adamant that it wants to carve a separate niche from carmakers who have ventured into producing SUVs and crossovers.
The “Ferrari utility vehicle,” as it will be dubbed, will be roomier than the current two-door GTC4Lusso. The segment would target Asian market, particularly car enthusiasts in China. Experts said it could add around 2,000 units of deliveries a year in China alone.
If this will push through, Ferrari is looking at competing with the likes of Maserati, Bentley and Lamborghini, who, like Ferrari, refused to join the fray of SUVs and crossovers in the market.
There is no final word on the model, but Ferrari is working to incorporate its sporty style into this new segment.
More Hybrid Models to Come
The new business plan, which will expectedly fall under stricter environmental regulations, also detailed how Ferrari will build more hybrid cars to improve fuel efficiency and attract more buyers.
Marchionne has been receiving flak for his plan to increase Ferrari’s deliveries each year because the brand will be losing its exclusivity. However, he tames those sentiments by releasing special or limited edition cars like the $2.1-million LaFerrari Aperta convertible.
This business plan came about as the auto industry is grappling with a new world order where electrified cars are slowly becoming the norm.
3 Facts About The Facelifted 2018 Porsche Macan
At the end of this year, the auto industry will welcome Porsche‘s all-new Cayenne, which, along with a coupe-styled Cayenne (said to be still under consideration despite the spy shots), is set to fire things up in the SUV segment.
The latest spy shots, however, revealed something else entirely—that the smaller Porsche Macan will have a facelift for 2018. It’s three years old, after all, and is already due an upgrade.
1. Macan’s Role in Porsche’s Inner Circle
The Macan, which is one of Porsche’s smallest offering on its lineup, was launched back in 2014. Since then, it became a core part of Porsche’s range of vehicles, rapidly rising to become the company’s best-selling car. By 2016, Porsche managed to deliver 237,778 cars globally, 95,642 of which were the Macan.
Rivaling against the likes of Jaguar F Pace and Alfa Romeo Stelvio, the Porsche Macan is pressured to keep itself fresh and up-to-date. The fact that 40 percent of Porsche’s sales come from the Macan is even more reason for the brand to keep itself updated.
2. Lighter Facelift
Don’t get your hopes up too much with the 2018 Macan because the facelift promises to be minimal. The spy shots have a light camouflage compared to others we have seen being tested.
The front of the test mule suggests that there are going to be new headlights and a wider grille. If you have seen the recent spy shots of the next-generation Cayenne, then you have seen a glimpse of what the new Macan will look like. Moving to the rear of the car, it’s clear that Porsche will put on a new single LED strip that runs the width of the tailgate.
This is a design feature first seen on the latest Panamera. It will play a significant role in the brand’s entire portfolio since it’s going to be the newest trademark rear lighting signature.
3. Ready by 2018
Don’t expect the new Macan to come to your dealers as early as this year. It will have to give way first to the Cayenne, whose likely debut will be before the year ends. Porsche will unwrap the new Macan in 2018.
Elon Musk Says Tesla Model 3 Performance Version Will Arrive Next Year
Tesla finally handed over units of its Model 3 to those who had it reserved months ago. Although the production are only in small numbers, more are expected to come as the electric car manufacturer is ready to roll out performance versions of the Model 3 next year.
Tesla is gearing up to boost production of the Model 3 in the Long Range trim because a new version is expected to come out next year. The Model 3 has an estimated EPA of 310 miles range, which will probably increase significantly when the performance variant debuts next year.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk answered questions about the Tesla performance variant on Twitter. It can be recalled that Musk hinted last year that after the production of Model 3 went full swing, a performance version would be in the works.
He told Twitter user Ryan McCaffrey (@DMC_Ryan) that a performance variant will probably debut by the middle of next year. “Focus now is on getting out of Model 3 production hell. More version = deeper in hell,” Musk said.
The problem is that while Tesla is in the middle of producing the Model 3 according to the demands of the market, more pressure will be put on it once more variations of the car come out. For now, it’s the Long Range Model 3 that is available to the market. The base model of Tesla’s most affordable electric vehicle will be available this fall.
The base model is priced at an affordable tag of $35,000, and it has an EPA-estimated 220-mile range.
Tesla was the first company to prove to the auto industry that electric cars can be fun, too. Its Tesla Model S was the one who introduced dual-motor configuration, which led to the P100D. The performance variant of Model 3 will likely use a similar motor design, though it might not be as powerful as the P100D.
4 Things You Have To Know About The 2019 Audi RS9 Coupe
Three decades ago, Audi couldn’t even be uttered in the same breath as Mercedes-Benz and BMW. But in the 1990s and 2000s, the Ingolstadt-based company produced premium cars such as the A4, A6, A8, and Q7. But even though it has upgraded its lineup, Audi couldn’t even compete with the likes of Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe. Thankfully, that’s about to change now with the 2019 Audi RS9 Coupe.
1. Exterior
The A9 will be based on the A8’s design and since we’ve already seen what that looks like, we have a pretty comfortable simulation of how “muscular” the A9 will be. Expect to see the same massive grille, muscular engine hood, angular headlamps, and big vents on each corner of the bumper.
Because it’s an RS model, the intakes are larger and will occupy almost the entire area under the headlamps as seen in the rendering of TopSpeed above. An RS9 badge will be on a more aggressive nose. In terms of exterior, the upcoming RS9 should have a similar elegant design to the Mercedes-AMG S63 and the BMW M8.
2. Interior
The interior will be based heavily on the standard A9, which means it is similar to the A8 with the addition of a sportier design such as a carbon-fiber trim and a flat-bottom steering wheel. The interior of the RS9 will most likely have the same horizontal lines as the A8, which means a wide look and smooth, clean surfaces.
The legroom will be similar to the sedan but since this is a coupe, the shoulder room and the headroom will decrease because of the roofline. The tech package will include the latest infotainment system such as the Apple CarPlay, the Android Auto, and the new AI traffic jam pilot.
3. Drivetrain
There is no word on what the RS9 will have under its hood, but we can expect it to have either a 4.0-liter V-8 engine or a bigger 6.0-liter W-12. The W-12 produces 600 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque. But if it wants to give Mercedes-AMG S63 and the BMW M8 some real competition, it should aim for 610 horses at the minimum.
4. Prices
We are just guessing here, but the Audi RS9 will probably retail with a price tag of $200,000 and above.
INKAS Inks Partnership Agreement With Kore Design Studio
INKAS Group of Companies inked an exclusive $18-million deal with Kore Design Studio to produce its “unique line of carbon fiber products.” Under the agreement, INKAS Group will act as the exclusive manufacturer of Kore Design tuning kits and interior feature upgrades.
Kore Design Studio is an expert in aftermarket visual tuning packages for a wide range of brands, models, and makes. Toyota, for example, is a client of Kore Design, and was often responsible for providing the Japanese automaker a one-of-a-kind look and performance upgrade.
David Khazanski, president of INKAS Group, said in a statement that his company is honored to be a partner of Kore Design in the production and manufacturing of luxury vehicles. He believed that the partnership will widen INKAS Group’s portfolio of products and services, as well as allow it to create fresh opportunities for Canadians and support the Canadian economy.
INKAS Group is an international corporation with headquarters in Toronto, Canada. In the last two decades, the group has accumulated “extensive experience” in the design, engineering, and manufacturing of customized vehicles for VIP clients. Among its most notable clients are politicians, celebrities, and high-profile individuals.
“As a provider of exclusive solutions for the automotive segment, we stand behind the quality of our products, and it was vitally important for us to find a reliable partner willing to support our enormously high standards of engineering and manufacturing,” Martin Lorrenzini, chief designer officer of Kore Design Studio, said.
INKAS Group, he added, is the “ideal choice” because they are committed to quality like Kore Design Studio. Mr Lorrenzini also lauded INKAS’ extensive industry experience and modern fully-equipped production facility.
As part of the agreement, INKAS Group upgraded its manufacturing facility with 3D scanners, five axis milling machines, and Autoclaves. Production of the new carbon fiber products will begin in January 2018.