Monthly Archives: July 2018
Former FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne On Life Support After Stroke
Sergio Marchionne won’t be returning to his post as CEO of the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles because he is on life support after a surgery on his shoulder put him into a coma with irreversible brain damage, a report from an Italian website said.
Citing anonymous sources, Lettera43 said that the 66-year-old former CEO was diagnosed a long time ago with invasive shoulder sarcoma, a rare type of cancer that develops in the bones and connective tissues. He apparently did not inform Fiat Chrysler Chairman John Elkann about the severity of his illness.
A translation of the report, which was written in Italian, said that Marchionne was having “severe shoulder pain that made arm movements difficult.” A separate report from Automotive News also said that he had a chronic thyroid condition that he had been taking medications to treat. Before his surgery at the University of Zurich, Marchionne shared some doubts about how effective it would be.
During the surgery, which took place in late June, Marchionne suffered from a cerebral embolism that put him into a coma. Doctors have no hope of recovery and they are simply relying on machines to keep him alive.
Representatives from Fiat Chrysler refused to comment on the story.
Last Saturday, Fiat Chrysler’s board of directors met for an emergency session to elect former Jeep brand chief Mike Manley as the new CEO. The company said Marchionne won’t be returning to his post, though he wasn’t expected to retire until next year.
In a statement over the weekend, Elkann said that he is “profoundly saddened to learn of Sergio’s state of health.” The two have worked together for the last 14 years and “lived through successes and difficulties, internal and external crises, but also unique and unrepeatable moments, both personal and professional.”
Update:
In an official statement released by FCA, we sadly inform readers that Marchionne has already passed on. Our sympathies go with his family and others close to him.
Honda HR-V Updated, Now with Starting Price of $21,515
The 2019 Honda HR-V received a slew of new technologies and more refined features that turn this subcompact crossover into a definite all-star. The model will also get a revised CVT, additional sound deadening for a quieter cabin, and an updated all-wheel-drive system. The base model is priced at $21,515, a clean $850 increase from last year’s model.
The six-speed manual was removed from the lineup, so all variants now come with a CVT.
Base LX
The HR-V’s base LX now has halogen projector headlights, LED daytime running lights, and a redesigned cupholder. Other standard features are a 5-inch infotainment screen, LED taillights, steering wheel audio controls, rearview camera, and driver-side seat height adjustment.
Sport Trim
There’s a new trim called the Sport trim that sits right after the base LX. It has a black trim, 8-inch wheels, a black headliner, active noise cancellation, and sport pedals. It also comes standard with a variable gear ratio electric power steering that will enhance the steering feel. Some other goodies are an upgraded infotainment system with a 7-inch screen and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Sport trim will sell for $23,215.
EX
For the first time ever, the HR-V will enjoy the Honda Sensing in the EX trim. This includes collision mitigation braking, adaptive cruise control, road departure mitigation, and lane keeping assist. It also received a moonroof, heated front seats, and fully automatic headlights for $24,715.
EX-L
The EX-L will get leather-trimmed seats, leather steering wheel, leather shift knob, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror for $26,315.
If you want an all-wheel-drive system for any of the trim levels (except for the Touring), you would have to pay an additional $1,400.
Touring
The Touring comes standard with an all-wheel-drive. Aside from that, it also gets an embedded navigation, LED high and low beam headlights, LED foglights, an eight-way power driver seat, HomeLink, exclusive 17-inch wheels, and double-stitched perforated leather upholstery.
The engine is the same 1.8-liter inline-four that produces 141 horsepower and 127 pound-feet of torque. The new color options for the HR-V are Orange Burst Metallic, Midnight Amethyst Metallic, and Platinum White Pearl.
2020 Mini Electric Spy Shots Reveal Exterior and Interior of the Car
The 2020 Mini Electric spy shots revealed that the signature hardtop model will not have exhaust pipes and even a traditional grille. In some of the shots, you would notice that an accent light runs along the width of the grille. There’s also a new wheel pattern that Mini previewed during a teaser shot of the car released earlier this month.
The concept for this car was first previewed at the 2017 Frankfurt auto show and is only one of the 12 electric cars that the BMW Group plans to produce by 2025. For Mini, the first batch would include their signature hardtop model though visually, there are not many features that separate the electric version from the gasoline-powered models.
In terms of powertrains, Mini remains mum on specific features because the technology is rapidly evolving and there might be new ones available by next year. That being said, experts still expect to see a single electric motor at the front axle and batteries located beneath the rear seat. The range should be somewhere in the 200-mile figure or higher, depending on the EPA rating.
The engines will be manufactured from the same factories in Germany that produces the hardware for the BMW i3. The car, however, will be assembled at the Mini plants in the United Kingdom and China. For the production in China, Mini will tie up with local automaker Great Wall.
This is Mini’s turn to launch a production and volume EV. Thought the company was a pioneer of electric vehicles (it leased a hardtop-based Mini E electric car on a trial basis late last decade), its efforts have been overshadowed by the likes of Tesla Model 3.
After the launch of the electric hardtop version next year, the BMW Group should also unveil an iX3 SUV in 2020 and the iNext in 2021.
Check out the new spy shots of the Mini Electric from Motor Authority in the gallery below:
2020 Kia Soul Gets Funkier, Thanks To A New Unilight Feature
The third iteration of the Kia Soul will get a lot funkier as seen in the major changes brought about by its next-generation model. Since going on sale nearly a decade ago, this tiny box became a staple in Kia’s model lineup. In fact, a redesign back in 2014 infused additional features into the hatchback, paving the way for the Kia Soul Turbo in 2017.
Sure, the Soul was part of many “Best Trucks and SUVs” list back in 2017 and 2018 but the competition is getting tough in this segment and it’s time for Kia to bring out the big guns.
Aside from the roofline of the 2020 soul that still looks similar to the current generation, everything else has been altered to create an eccentric new look for the car.
Up front, Kia decided to let go of today’s traditional large headlamps and went instead for a pair of low-mounted units that could almost be mistaken for fog lights. The combination turn signals and LED daytime running lamps (the “unilight”) sit above the grille.
At the back, the D-pillar-mounted taillights now have a three-dimensional appearance and are merged into the liftgate. This just made the Kia Soul more identifiable on the road as it is before without necessarily losing its unique character.
The Soul will offer the same powertrains and platform as the Kona. The entry-level model would have a 2.0-liter inline-four that produces 147 horses. An upgrade would be a turbocharged 1.6-liter, though the output remains shady for now. We’re pretty sure it would exceed the Kona’s 175 horsepower and would instead stand closer to the Soul Turbo’s 201 horsepower.
The base model will be paired either with a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic gearbox. The Soul Turbo will use exclusively the brand’s seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic. The Turbo would also have distinct features such as the mesh-style grille and center-mounted exhaust outlets.
Photo Source: CarAndDriver
2019 BMW 8 Series Convertible Images Leaked
The new 2019 BMW 8 Series Convertible isn’t due for a reveal until the middle of next year, but we’re lucky enough to see its spy shots. The car was without its camouflage and was being driven around Loch Assynt in Scotland. Clearly, this was a secret photoshoot that would be used for marketing purposes later.
Regardless, we love to see the BMW 8 Series Convertible in all its glory. The drop-top version has a large kidney grille, chiseled front bumper, and slim LED headlamps similar with the coupe version revealed at the Le Mans 24 Hours endurance race last month. At the back, the wide taillights and gaping chrome exhausts also remain. All these point out to one thing: the model we see here is the range-topping M850i.
The model will be using a fabric roof to save on weight, which is essential because of the extra weight that comes from strengthening the flanks to make up for the “reduced structural integrity” due to the loss of the fixed roof. Overall, this drop-top version will weigh around 2,000kg.
The engine lineup will be similar with the coupe. The base model BMW 8 Series Convertible would be a 3.0-liter six-cylinder diesel motor that can make 320 horsepower. The range-topping M850i variants will get a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 engine that produces 530 horsepower and can go 0 to 62mph in 4 seconds. That is slightly higher than the coupe’s 3.7 seconds because the convertible is on the heavier side.
All of the models will use BMW’s xDrive four-wheel-drive system, as well as an eight-speed automatic transmission. The M850i will also have an active rear-wheel steering, a sports exhaust, and a limited-slip differential on the rear axle.
Before the 8 Series Convertible makes it full debut, however, the German automaker will first unleash the all-new 3 Series Saloon, the Z4 roadster, and the X7 SUV.
Photos by: Iain Pollo via AutoExpress
2019 Audi A8 Reveals Starting Price Of $84,795
The last time we have seen the 2019 Audi A8 flagship luxury sedan was more than a year ago, so we’re excited to get our hands on it this year. Audi revealed that the sedan will go on sale this fall with a starting price of $84,795.
To put it into perspective, that’s $150 more than the base rear-drive BMW 7 Series and about $3,000 less than the all-wheel-drive version. It’s also $6,000 less than the base rear-drive Mercedes S-Class.
If you think about it, the Audi A8 has quite a lot of value in terms of price. Its competitions from other countries are priced lower than it but once the taxes are measured and added, the amount could be staggering. The Lexus LS starts at under $80,000 while every version of the Cadillac CT6 is priced less than the Audi except for the CT6 Platinum, which is $85,290.
This base price refers to just one body style—the long wheelbase model. It is powered by a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 that makes 335 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. This is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission and an all-wheel-drive system. This is the only available engine for the A8 for now. If you want more power, a V8 version is coming next year.
The American version of the A8 will have a number of high-tech optional features, particularly a suspension that can raise and lower each wheel preemptively to better handle bumps, four-wheel steering, and an adaptive cruise control that can handle acceleration, braking, and steering at low speeds.
The adaptive cruise control is a hands-on system. This is not the same as the Level 3 semi-autonomous technology that the company used when it previewed the car. Because of legal issues, Audi is not yet ready to offer that system in the US.
3 Things We Learned From Seeing The Spy Shots Of 2019 Hyundai i40
Spy shots of the Hyundai i40 were taken and we’ve got the lowdown on what we can expect from the South Korean automaker’s midsized, Europe-facing sedan.
Exterior
When we said there were spy shots, it means that Hyundai did a very thorough job at covering the new i40. The images from TopSpeed show the car wrapped in heavy camouflage, so there’s no way to tell the tiny little details that make the reveals of car exciting. We can see the body style, of course, and we know it’s going to be a sedan with some fastback hints to it. A part of the front grille was revealed, too, featuring thin horizontal bars, though we’re pretty sure these are just placeholders for now.
The headlights gave us a little peek, but it doesn’t look like it’s similar to past models. This could be a completely new set of lights as it doesn’t even resemble the pair we saw on the i40 wagon spotted testing last month.
Interior
We could not see the i40’s interior, but we believe that there won’t be any dramatic changes from the cabin we saw in the i30. We know they came from completely different segments, but there are enough similarities to justify their cabins looking the same.
If there will be a change, it’s going to be the layout since the vertical layout from the latest model is outdated. The i40 should have the same horizontal layout as the i30 with the center console touchscreen located high on the dashboard. The infotainment controls should surround the screen, making it look sleeker and slimmer.
Seating configuration would probably be the same, though we hope that Hyundai fits the i40 with new seats—preferably, something more premium and comfortable than the old one.
Drivetrain
The new i40 won’t be a next-generation model, so it will have the same lineup of engines. It should have quite a number of different engine options. Currently, it offers a 1.6-liter four-cylinder gas engine that produces 133 horsepower, a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that makes either 164 horsepower or 150 horsepower, and a high-spec 2.0-liter gas engine that can churn out 176 horsepower or 162 horsepower.
For the diesel, the i40 should have the same 1.7-liter four-cylinder engine with three different power outputs: 113 horsepower, 137 horsepower, and 139 horsepower.
Nissan Leaf Nismo Sport Version Will Go On Sale This Month
The Nissan Leaf Nismo is finally going on sale this month. The Japanese automaker said the Nismo version will be available by the end of this month in Japan. There’s no news yet on an international rollout, though we expect the dates to be announced soon.
Nissan and Nismo, the automaker’s motorsports and in-house tuning division, have been teasing us with the prospect of making a new Leaf for a while. They made true to their promise and has announced the debut date of the Nissan Leaf Nismo.
The Leaf got a much-needed design refresh from the release last year. It still didn’t make it attractive for some but to be fair, Nissan’s electric vehicle has come a long way from how it looked during the company’s first few versions.
Exterior
The Nismo sport version is giving the Leaf an upgrade in terms of the exterior. It now has a more aggressive and sportier design. It features the layered double wings that are the character of the Nismo road car series. It will improve downforce without compromising the drag coefficient, according to a statement from Nissan. There’s also a set of custom 18-inch aluminum wheels that minimize air resistance.
There are nine body colors available, including the Nismo series’ custom Brilliant Silver/Super Black two-tone and Dark Metal Grey/Super Black two-tone. Both come with a metallic finish.
Interior
The cabin has a sporty appearance as it uses Nismo’s custom red accents, including the three-spoke steering wheel with a red center mark. The instrument panel has a custom carbon-like finish while the electronic shift has a gunmetal chrome finish.
The Leaf Nismo’s 18-inch high-grip tires and custom suspension system assures a comfortable ride and stable handling. The custom-tuned electric power steering and Intelligent Trace Control for cornering stabilization system provide high stability and lane-tracing abilities.
New Nissan Leaf Gets Larger Battery With 200HP Capacity
If you want a more powerful engine for your EV, you will be happy to know that the 2019 Nissan Leaf will get a new long-range version. Called the Leaf E-Plus, this model will have a larger battery that enables a more powerful motor with 200 horsepower.
Brian Maragano, Nissan’s head of EV marketing and sales strategy, didn’t mention the battery’s capacity. Previous rumors and slip-ups from Nissan in 2016 and by a Swiss charging station builder indicated that the new battery will be a 60-kWh pack. That’s a pretty huge step up from the 40 kWh battery that is in the current model.
With 200 horsepower, the new Nissan Leaf will be 53 horses more powerful than the standard 2018 Nissan Leaf.
But that’s not all. Owners will also get to enjoy a longer range. Though Maragano did not give specific figures, we’re expecting that the new 60-kWh battery pack can do beyond 200 miles on a single charge. If the figure is correct, that’s a 74-mile jump from the current model’s 151-mile range. During the My Nissan Leaf forum, posters have somehow hinted that the new long-range Leaf can have a 225-horsepower engine.
Once these numbers have been confirmed, it means that the new Nissan Leaf E-Plus will compete directly with the entry-level Tesla Model 3 and the Chevrolet Bolt. The Model 3 packs a 50-kWh battery that produces 197 horsepower and has a 220-mile range. The Bolt, on the other hand, has a decent rap sheet—60-kWh battery, 200 horsepower, and a 238-mile range.
Nissan decided to skip this year’s Paris Motor Show, so we’ll probably see the Leaf E-Plus during the LA Auto Show in November. The standard 2019 Leaf will be the first one to be introduced, followed by the E-Plus probably in early 2019.
Lexus F Models May Get A Bespoke F Hybrid GT
Over the years, Lexus has introduced a number of electrified vehicles— the NX, RX, ES, GS, LS, and LC. The company’s F models surprisingly did not introduce an electric version, though will change sooner rather than later.
In a report from Auto Express, Lexus’ Yoshihiro Sawa admitted that there is a strong possibility that a hybrid variant will be made available for the F model. There might even be a standalone GT model. He said in the report that “one solution” to address the lack of EV variants in the F lineup is a “pure GT car.” It could be a hybrid with an electric motor and a strong engine that will give “a different drive feel.”
The F models are fitted with twin-turbocharged engines, which is either a V8 or a V10, but Sawa said they could not stick with the same engines for the hybrid model if they want it to stand out. The F sub-brand, he added, needs to use a variety of powertrain options in the future.
He believes that the auto industry is merely in a “transitional period,” where EVs are trendy. “… but three years later, who knows? People like the sound, the dynamics [of combustion engines]. I think we cannot stick to the one solution when it comes to providing emotion.”
The Lexus UX small crossover is the model that’s a natural fit for a pure EV, Sawa said. The model will arrive later this year and the company already confirmed there will be a hybrid version that offers more power than the gas powertrain. Pretty neat, right?
The F models are not only being built to be trendy in the inside. Lexus wants it to attract new customers as well with its new take on the exterior such as the controversial spindle grille. As much as there are polarizing opinions about the grille, it has created quite an interest among potential buyers.