Tag Archives: production
New Aston Martin SUV To Start Production Next Year
Aston Martin confirmed that its first SUV will enter production in late 2019 after the completion of its new St. Athan plant in South Wales in the United Kingdom. The British automaker, however, has not released any specifications for the new car.
The company’s board of directors already held a meeting at the new plant, which includes three converted former-Ministry of Defense hangars. The facility will be completed before the production of the SUV in 2019.
Media reports said that the brand’s first SUV will be called Varekai. The SUV will be based on the DBX concept that was presented in Pebble Beach, California in 2015.
Aston Martin is expected to fit the gasoline version of the SUV with its V12 engine, though upgrades might be made since the company plans to compete with the 650-horsepower Lamborghini Urus via a hybrid powertrain.
To do that, the brand will use a Mercedes-AMG four-liter V8 twin-turbo engine that pairs with an electric motor of 200 horsepower. The engines will combine for a total of 700 horsepower. If this happens, the “Varekai” will be the world’s most powerful SUV.
Aston Martin must have tricks up its sleeves if it wants to compete in the high-end SUV market. Competition is increasingly fierce in the industry as Bentley Bentayga, Lamborghini Uris, and the Rolls-Royce Cullinan have already made their mark in the segment. Ferrari, of course, is another one to watch out for as it plans to roll out its first SUV soon.
This is not the only SUV that Aston Martin plans to produce. Another one is in the pipeline; this time, for its premium Lagonda brand. The Lagonda SUV is expected by 2021 at the earliest. Based on the Lagonda Vision Concept shown at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2018, the SUV will be a semi-autonomous vehicle.
BMW Starts Production Of 8 Series
The range-topping, two-door BMW 8 Series has finally entered production, and the German automaker revealed the prices for the coupe. The car will be manufactured in the car’s Dingolfing, Germany plant, which BMW spent hundreds of millions of Euros to update.
The plant is spruced up to include more automated processes to make the production of the cars more efficient. It installed autonomous tugger trains that can carry door assembly parts to the line while robots check for gaps and misalignments on the finish line.
The new 2019 BMW 8 Series coupe is fitted with a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8 engine that makes 523 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque. This engine is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and an all-wheel-drive system that has a rear-wheel bias. The German automaker said it can go from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds. It has a top speed of 155 mph.
The total curb weight of the coupe is 4,478 pounds and this is made possible by a number of lightweight materials, including steel, plastic, aluminum, and carbon fiber. These are used throughout the body while the roof, doors, front firewall, and supporting structures are made of aluminum. Owners can also opt for the roof to be made of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic, which is a first in a series-production BMW model.
Standard to the new 8 Series will be full LED headlights with laser light technology, special leather upholstery, a 16-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, Adaptive M Suspension with active-roll stabilization, M Sport brakes, and park assist. Owners, however, will be able to opt for the following: an upgraded Bowers & Wilkins Diamond surround sound system and glass controls for the gear selector.
The BMW 8 Series will enter the production stage with the 5 Series and the 7 Series. When it launches, it will be available in the M850i xDrive trim. Prices for the model will have a starting price tag of $112,895.