Tag Archives: Ford

Junkyard Find: 1976 Ford Maverick Sedan

<img data-attachment-id=”1757676″ data-permalink=”https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan/00-1976-ford-maverick-in-colorado-junkyard-photo-by-murilee-martin/” data-orig-file=”https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/00-1976-Ford-Maverick-in-Colorado-junkyard-photo-by-Murilee-Martin.jpg” data-orig-size=”3000,1688″ data-comments-opened=”1″ data-image-meta=”{“aperture”:”2.4″,”credit”:””,”camera”:”SM-G960U1″,”caption”:””,”created_timestamp”:”1596796330″,”copyright”:””,”focal_length”:”4.3″,”iso”:”50″,”shutter_speed”:”0.00066445182724252″,”title”:””,”orientation”:”1″}” data-image-title=”1976 Ford Maverick sedan in Colorado junkyard, RH front view” data-image-description=”

1976 Ford Maverick sedan in Colorado junkyard, RH front view – ©2021 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars

” data-medium-file=”http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan-8.jpg” data-large-file=”http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan.jpg” class=”aligncenter size-large wp-image-1757676″ src=”http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan.jpg” alt=”1976 Ford Maverick sedan in Colorado junkyard, RH front view – ©2021 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars” width=”610″ height=”343″ srcset=”http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan.jpg 610w, http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan-7.jpg 75w, http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan-8.jpg 450w, http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan-9.jpg 768w, http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan-10.jpg 120w, http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan-11.jpg 800w” sizes=”(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px”>Ford squeezed an amazing amount of value out of the 1960 Falcon‘s chassis design, with everything from the 1964-1973 Mustang to the 1980 Granada rolling Falcon-style. The Falcon itself got replaced here by the Maverick starting in 1970 (with one year of overlap when both were available), but the Maverick still had the 1960 Falcon’s bones under its skin. Millions of Mavericks (and near-identical Mercury Comets) were sold here during the 1970-1977 period, and nearly all of these affordable commutemobiles got crushed decades ago. Still, I run across the occasional Maverick/Comet during my junkyard journeys, and I found this optioned-up ’76 in a Denver-area yard last summer.

<img data-attachment-id=”1757696″ data-permalink=”https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan/22-1976-ford-maverick-in-colorado-junkyard-photo-by-murilee-martin/” data-orig-file=”https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/22-1976-Ford-Maverick-in-Colorado-junkyard-photo-by-Murilee-Martin.jpg” data-orig-size=”3000,1688″ data-comments-opened=”1″ data-image-meta=”{“aperture”:”2.4″,”credit”:””,”camera”:”SM-G960U1″,”caption”:””,”created_timestamp”:”1596796319″,”copyright”:””,”focal_length”:”4.3″,”iso”:”125″,”shutter_speed”:”0.016666666666667″,”title”:””,”orientation”:”1″}” data-image-title=”1976 Ford Maverick sedan in Colorado junkyard, emblem” data-image-description=”

1976 Ford Maverick sedan in Colorado junkyard, emblem – ©2021 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars

” data-medium-file=”http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan-13.jpg” data-large-file=”http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan-1.jpg” class=”aligncenter size-large wp-image-1757696″ src=”http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan-1.jpg” alt=”1976 Ford Maverick sedan in Colorado junkyard, emblem – ©2021 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars” width=”610″ height=”343″ srcset=”http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan-1.jpg 610w, http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan-12.jpg 75w, http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan-13.jpg 450w, http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan-14.jpg 768w, http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan-15.jpg 120w, http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan-16.jpg 800w” sizes=”(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px”>I went to high school during the early 1980s, and the Maverick was one of the most likely cars to be handed down by relatives to my peers back then. No California teenager felt cool driving a stock Maverick (or Comet) during that era, though it could have been worse— you could have been stuck with a Pinto or Vega. I bypassed those image problems by dropping 50 bones on a hooptie 1969 Toyota Corona sedan in not-so-edgy beige and never looked back.

<img data-attachment-id=”1757680″ data-permalink=”https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan/05-1976-ford-maverick-in-colorado-junkyard-photo-by-murilee-martin/” data-orig-file=”https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/05-1976-Ford-Maverick-in-Colorado-junkyard-photo-by-Murilee-Martin.jpg” data-orig-size=”3000,1688″ data-comments-opened=”1″ data-image-meta=”{“aperture”:”2.4″,”credit”:””,”camera”:”SM-G960U1″,”caption”:””,”created_timestamp”:”1596796236″,”copyright”:””,”focal_length”:”4.3″,”iso”:”64″,”shutter_speed”:”0.01″,”title”:””,”orientation”:”1″}” data-image-title=”1976 Ford Maverick sedan in Colorado junkyard, V8 engine” data-image-description=”

1976 Ford Maverick sedan in Colorado junkyard, V8 engine – ©2021 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars

” data-medium-file=”http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan-18.jpg” data-large-file=”http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan-2.jpg” class=”aligncenter size-large wp-image-1757680″ src=”http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan-2.jpg” alt=”1976 Ford Maverick sedan in Colorado junkyard, V8 engine – ©2021 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars” width=”610″ height=”343″ srcset=”http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan-2.jpg 610w, http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan-17.jpg 75w, http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan-18.jpg 450w, http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan-19.jpg 768w, http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan-20.jpg 120w, http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan-21.jpg 800w” sizes=”(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px”>This car was on the semi-hip side, in fact, since it has a V8 engine. If we’re looking at the original engine— nowhere near a certainty, but possible— then this is a 302-cubic-inch (5.0-liter) Winsdor rated at 136 horsepower. Most Mavericks got the straight-six engine because if you could afford the $154 extra for the V8 (about $730 today), you probably felt rich enough to move up to a new Granada or even a Torino.

<img data-attachment-id=”1757692″ data-permalink=”https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan/17-1976-ford-maverick-in-colorado-junkyard-photo-by-murilee-martin/” data-orig-file=”https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/17-1976-Ford-Maverick-in-Colorado-junkyard-photo-by-Murilee-Martin.jpg” data-orig-size=”3000,1688″ data-comments-opened=”1″ data-image-meta=”{“aperture”:”2.4″,”credit”:””,”camera”:”SM-G960U1″,”caption”:””,”created_timestamp”:”1596796304″,”copyright”:””,”focal_length”:”4.3″,”iso”:”80″,”shutter_speed”:”0.0083333333333333″,”title”:””,”orientation”:”1″}” data-image-title=”1976 Ford Maverick sedan in Colorado junkyard, automatic gearshift” data-image-description=”

1976 Ford Maverick sedan in Colorado junkyard, automatic gearshift – ©2021 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars

” data-medium-file=”http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan-23.jpg” data-large-file=”http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan-3.jpg” class=”aligncenter size-large wp-image-1757692″ src=”http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan-3.jpg” alt=”1976 Ford Maverick sedan in Colorado junkyard, automatic gearshift – ©2021 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars” width=”610″ height=”343″ srcset=”http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan-3.jpg 610w, http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan-22.jpg 75w, http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan-23.jpg 450w, http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan-24.jpg 768w, http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan-25.jpg 120w, http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan-26.jpg 800w” sizes=”(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px”>Of course, once you popped your clutch for that extra dough for the engine, why not continue shaking bills out of your wallet and get rid of the clutch in your new car? The three-speed automatic was a $245 option on this car (about $1,160 now), and this car has it. Otherwise, the base transmission for the ’76 Maverick was the three-on-the-tree manual (which disappeared from North American Ford cars after 1977 and from all new cars sold here after 1979).

<img data-attachment-id=”1757684″ data-permalink=”https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan/11-1976-ford-maverick-in-colorado-junkyard-photo-by-murilee-martin/” data-orig-file=”https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/11-1976-Ford-Maverick-in-Colorado-junkyard-photo-by-Murilee-Martin.jpg” data-orig-size=”3000,1688″ data-comments-opened=”1″ data-image-meta=”{“aperture”:”2.4″,”credit”:””,”camera”:”SM-G960U1″,”caption”:””,”created_timestamp”:”1596796285″,”copyright”:””,”focal_length”:”4.3″,”iso”:”50″,”shutter_speed”:”0.0053763440860215″,”title”:””,”orientation”:”1″}” data-image-title=”1976 Ford Maverick sedan in Colorado junkyard, interior” data-image-description=”

1976 Ford Maverick sedan in Colorado junkyard, interior – ©2021 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars

” data-medium-file=”http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan-28.jpg” data-large-file=”http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan-4.jpg” class=”aligncenter size-large wp-image-1757684″ src=”http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan-4.jpg” alt=”1976 Ford Maverick sedan in Colorado junkyard, interior – ©2021 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars” width=”610″ height=”343″ srcset=”http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan-4.jpg 610w, http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan-27.jpg 75w, http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan-28.jpg 450w, http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan-29.jpg 768w, http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan-30.jpg 120w, http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan-31.jpg 800w” sizes=”(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px”>I’m not sure what this cloth/vinyl bench-seat upholstery was called by Dearborn in 1976, but it’s a step up from the slippery all-vinyl base interior.

<img data-attachment-id=”1757686″ data-permalink=”https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan/13-1976-ford-maverick-in-colorado-junkyard-photo-by-murilee-martin/” data-orig-file=”https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/13-1976-Ford-Maverick-in-Colorado-junkyard-photo-by-Murilee-Martin.jpg” data-orig-size=”3000,1688″ data-comments-opened=”1″ data-image-meta=”{“aperture”:”2.4″,”credit”:””,”camera”:”SM-G960U1″,”caption”:””,”created_timestamp”:”1596796291″,”copyright”:””,”focal_length”:”4.3″,”iso”:”250″,”shutter_speed”:”0.032258064516129″,”title”:””,”orientation”:”1″}” data-image-title=”1976 Ford Maverick sedan in Colorado junkyard, Panasonic radio” data-image-description=”

1976 Ford Maverick sedan in Colorado junkyard, Panasonic radio – ©2021 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars

” data-medium-file=”http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan-33.jpg” data-large-file=”http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan-5.jpg” class=”aligncenter size-large wp-image-1757686″ src=”http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan-5.jpg” alt=”1976 Ford Maverick sedan in Colorado junkyard, Panasonic radio – ©2021 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars” width=”610″ height=”343″ srcset=”http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan-5.jpg 610w, http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan-32.jpg 75w, http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan-33.jpg 450w, http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan-34.jpg 768w, http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan-35.jpg 120w, http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan-36.jpg 800w” sizes=”(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px”>This aftermarket Panasonic AM/FM radio managed to avoid being stolen during this car’s career, which is something of an accomplishment.

<img data-attachment-id=”1757708″ data-permalink=”https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan/38-1976-ford-maverick-in-colorado-junkyard-photo-by-murilee-martin/” data-orig-file=”https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/38-1976-Ford-Maverick-in-Colorado-junkyard-photo-by-Murilee-Martin.jpg” data-orig-size=”3000,1688″ data-comments-opened=”1″ data-image-meta=”{“aperture”:”2.4″,”credit”:””,”camera”:”SM-G960U1″,”caption”:””,”created_timestamp”:”1596796371″,”copyright”:””,”focal_length”:”4.3″,”iso”:”50″,”shutter_speed”:”0.0020120724346076″,”title”:””,”orientation”:”1″}” data-image-title=”1976 Ford Maverick sedan in Colorado junkyard, taillight” data-image-description=”

1976 Ford Maverick sedan in Colorado junkyard, taillight – ©2021 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars

” data-medium-file=”http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan-38.jpg” data-large-file=”http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan-6.jpg” class=”aligncenter size-large wp-image-1757708″ src=”http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan-6.jpg” alt=”1976 Ford Maverick sedan in Colorado junkyard, taillight – ©2021 Murilee Martin – The Truth About Cars” width=”610″ height=”343″ srcset=”http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan-6.jpg 610w, http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan-37.jpg 75w, http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan-38.jpg 450w, http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan-39.jpg 768w, http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan-40.jpg 120w, http://automotivezen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/junkyard-find-1976-ford-maverick-sedan-41.jpg 800w” sizes=”(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px”>These simple taillights were quite popular on kit cars during the 1970s, along with the round lights from Opel Mantas.

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Cheaper than a new Volaré and with most of the same features!

For links to 2,100+ additional Junkyard Finds, Junkyard Gems, and Junkyard Treasures, visit the Junkyard Home of the Murilee Martin Lifestyle Brand™.

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Rare Rides: The 1994 Ford Thunderbird Super Coupe, Fast Personal Luxury

We’ve been talking about Thunderbird often lately, whether it’s in a Buy/Drive/Burn, or a recent Rare Rides on the 007 Edition Thunderbird of 2003.

And earlier today the Internets served up a random ad for a teal 10th-generation T-bird in fantastic condition. Seems like a perfect opportunity to add it to our coverage of the long-lived personal luxury nameplate.

The ninth-generation Thunderbird, or “Aero Bird” as it was commonly called, was a relative revelation in the T-bird timeline. Coming from the downsized Fox-body version of 1980-1982, the new (still Fox-based) ’83 Thunderbird was larger, more modern, more powerful, and even spawned the exciting Turbo Coupe variant. Thunderbird was saved.

But by the late Eighties, the ninth-gen was looking a little aged, and Ford saw it was time to step away from the Fox platform with regards to personal luxury. An all-new 10th-generation debuted for the model year 1989, on the exciting new MN12 platform. Ford started development of the new platform in 1984, when it made an internal declaration that the next Thunderbird and Mercury Cougar be sophisticated enough to compete with European marques like BMW. To that end, the MN12 coupes (and later the FN Lincoln Mark VIII) were given an independent rear suspension amongst their other technical upgrades. They were the only domestic rear-drive cars with that feature outside the Corvette. Ford aimed high and wanted the edge in handling and performance over the front-drive offerings from GM.

For the new cars’ design, Ford relied once more on the VP of design at Ford from 1980 to 1997, Jack Telnack. He’d designed the ninth generation T-bird and Cougar as well. The new MN12 cars were sleeker and more rounded than the Aero Bird, and though they were shorter overall, had a nine-inch growth in wheelbase over the outgoing model. Less overhang, more performance.

Four different engines were on offer depending on the year, and at base was a 3.8-liter Essex V6 in naturally aspirated and supercharged variants (for the Super Coupe). Later, the 4.9-liter Windsor V8 was available (’91-’93), as well as the 4.6-liter Modular V8 (’94-’97). Transmissions were mostly automatic and included two versions of the four-speed AOD and a five-speed manual from Mazda. Shifting yourself was allowed only on the Super Coupe from 1989 to 1995.

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The Super Coupe was popular at its debut and garnered a Motor Trend COTY award in 1989. The supercharged Essex engine had 12psi of boost at 5,600 RPM, which meant 210 horses and 315 lb-ft of torque. Aside from the engine, the Thunderbird “SC” featured different exterior cladding, fog lamps, electrically adjustable shocks, larger wheels, a limited-slip differential, and ABS brakes as standard that were discs at all wheels. Inside, there was an SC airbag cover, and leather-cloth mix sport bucket seats with serious adjustable side bolsters.

The Thunderbird was updated in 1994 and got a little longer at 200.3 inches overall. It also grew in width to 73.2 inches and got a bit heavier. Along with the visual updates for ’94, the Super Coupe had a number of engine changes which improved horsepower to 230. Ford management had already criticized the MN12 team at ’89 introduction for missing both weight and cost targets on the project and caused the project head to take early retirement.

Super Coupe went away after 1995, as the Thunderbird (and personal luxury coupes in general) were not long for the world. By 1996 Thunderbird was offered only as an LX trim. The last one rolled off the assembly line in September 1997 at the plant in Lorain, Ohio.

Today’s Rare Ride is a suitably teal Super Coupe from 1994. With its excellent condition, the 147,000 mileage figure comes as a surprise. Yours in Indiana for $6,500.

[Images: Ford]

For GREAT deals on a new or used Toyota check out Claremont Toyota TODAY!

These Automakers Now Plan an All-Electric Future

The debate about whether or not automakers will shift to electric vehicles has seemingly changed to when the change will occur.

The age of the internal combustion engine is coming to a close — or so you might think considering the latest headlines.

A growing number of countries and regions have laid out plans to ban gas and diesel engines, Great Britain recently moving its ban up to 2030. California wants to ban internal combustion engine sales by 2035.

While automakers have traditional resisted regulatory requirements, the industry is actually taking the lead, in many cases. At least 10 have laid out plans to fully electrify their product lines. Some, including General Motors, intend to switch to 100% zero-emission vehicles — which can include battery-electric, as well as hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles. Others plan a mix of BEVs and hybrids.

Here’s a look at where things stand today — though you can expect to see even more news in the next year or two, other manufacturers hinting they may follow.

General Motors

The GMC HUMMER EV is designed to be an off-road beast, with all-new features developed to conquer virtually any obstacle or terrain.

The world’s fifth-largest automaker by sales — demoted one spot after the recent formation of Stellantis — is the largest manufacturer laying out plans to go 100% battery electric. The company has been accelerating plans and now expects to have 30 BEVs in global showrooms by 2025, while banning ICE power entirely a decade later. The rollout is just gaining momentum but the Hong Guang Mini EV GM is building with Chinese partners Wuling and SAIC is now the world’s best-selling BEV. Significantly, the flagship Cadillac brand will be first to go 100% electric by 2030, officials revealed.

Volkswagen

The story here is a complicated one. The German giant clearly is spending more than any competitor on electrification — more than $80 billion to bring out more than 50 BEVs by mid-decade. But its plans vary by brand. The flagship VW marque launched its first long-range all-electric model, the ID.3, in Europe last year, with the ID.4 SUV reaching U.S. showrooms in a matter of weeks. And there are plenty more coming, including the ID.Buzz microbus. But the company has not yet indicated if or when it would give up gas and diesel power with its anchor brand.

Audi

Audi RS e-tron GT - debut high angle

The new Audi RS e-tron GT is just the latest EV coming from the world’s automakers.

VW’s largest luxury division is another marque aggressively migrating to electric propulsion, just last month revealing the new e-tron GT sports car. There’s been no formal plan for eliminating gas or diesel but Audi officials have broadly hinted that could come within the next 10 to 15 years.

Bentley

Meeting future emissions and fuel-economy mandates will be difficult for luxury brands, especially ultra-premium marques known for large, high-performance products like Bentley. In a major move that caught almost everyone off guard, Bentley announced last December that it will offer only plug-based models by 2026, going entirely BEV by 2030.

Nissan

The 2021 Nissan Ariya is about the size of a Rogue SUV – but features the interior space of the bigger Murano.

As part of the broader Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, the Japanese marque battles it out for industry dominance for VW and Toyota. It was an early EV pioneer with the original Nissan Leaf. Now, after a decade delay, it is finally moving to electrify more of its line-up, the all-electric Ariya SUV launching for 2022. In January, Nissan said all products in “key markets” will use some form of electric propulsion by the “early 2030s.” This will include not only BEVs like Leaf and Ariya but also vehicles using the new e-Power range-extending hybrid system.

Toyota

This company, proud of its leadership in hybrid technology, has long been skeptical of pure electric propulsion. For now, it is committed to offering hybrid and plug-in versions of all its product lines by around mid-decade. Facing increased competition, as well as regulatory pressures, Toyota is readying a modest number of BEVs but could move fast, officials have hinted, if it sees EVs as inevitable. It has hinted this could happen by 2040. Significantly, it is investing heavily in next-generation solid-state batteries. It also wants to be a leader in hydrogen fuel-cell technology.

Hyundai Motor Group

The Hyundai Ioniq 5

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is the company’s new all-electric sub-brand with a new design language.

The automaker is reserving space for internal combustion engines though, even here, it is moving towards hybrids and plug-ins. The Korean carmaker, which includes the Hyundai, Kia and Genesis brands, expects to have 23 all-electric models in global showrooms by 2025. A number of them will be sold through the new, battery-car sub-brand, Ioniq. It soon could announce a move entirely to Zero-Emission Vehicles. But, like Toyota, that would include both BEVs and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles.

Ford

An early pioneer in electrification, Ford announced last month that it will offer only plug-in hybrids and pure battery-electric vehicles in Europe by mid-2026. It has yet to lay out plans for the U.S., China and other key markets but Ford is ramping up spending on battery programs and will launch some significant products over the next several years, including an all-electric version of the F-150 pickup. It’s off to a good start, the Mustang Mach-E winning honors as North American Car of the Year for 2021, while generating significant sales.

Volvo

Volvo C40 Recharge front

Volvo’s rolled out its second battery-electric model, the C40 Recharge.

The Swedish automaker and its Chinese parent Geely are making hefty investments in electrification. It launched its first long-range BEV, the XC40 Recharge, for 2021, and this month unveiled a second all-electric model, the S40 Recharge. Volvo had been planning on a mix of BEVs and plug-in hybrids but, by the end of the decade it will abandon those PHEVs and only sell BEVs.

Daimler/Mercedes-Benz

The leading global luxury brand is another brand moving aggressively into electrification while not quite ready to lock down a hard date to ban ICE technology. At the moment, that appears likely to happen before 2040. Mercedes already is moving in that direction with the launch of its EQ line-up. That sub-brand will cover a broad spectrum of sedans, SUVs and other body styles with products like the EQB and EQS coming out during the next several years. A significant development came with news that the high-performance AMG arm also will begin electrifying.

Smart

smart EQ fortwo

Smart was the first company to make the switch to an all-electric line-up with its fortwo.

Daimler’s city car brand became the world’s first to formally commit to switching from gas and diesel to all-electric propulsion back in 2018. The move is seen as a logical choice for the sort of buyers targeted by products like the little fortwo. The shift was already underway by the time the German parent decided to pull Smart out of the American market.

Stellantis

The merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and France Groupe PSA instantly created the industry’s fourth-largest automaker. It left many questions lingering about what the newly created Stellantis might be planning for electrification. Brands like Peugeot and Citroen were adding BEVs and hybrids and are looking to accelerate the shift. The big uncertainty is on the old FCA side. That said, the Fiat brand is set to have 60% of its offerings either hybrid or fully-electric by the end of this year, and may push even further.

Maserati

Then there’s Maserati. The high-performance arm of the old Fiat Chrysler said last November the new Ghibli Hybrid is just the start of its electrification program. Last November, CEO Davide Grasso declared, “All our line-up will be electrified in the next five years.”

BMW Chairman Oliver Zipse with iX and i4

BMW Chairman Oliver Zipse revealed the new i4 alongside the iX — three months early.

BMW

Another early pioneer, with products like the i3 BEV and i8 plug-in sports car, BMW appeared to be debating strategy for a few years before launching two long-range all-electric models, the new iX and i4. And there are plenty more in the pipeline. But the near to mid-term strategy calls for a mix of hybrids and BEVs, which will generate 50% of BMW’s global sales by 2030, Chairman Oliver Zipse said last week.

Mini

The British-based Mini brand is a different story. Here, parent BMW isn’t wavering. This month it confirmed that Mini will become an all-electric brand by 2030 “in every region of the world.” That’s a fast changeover considering that the very first Mini BEV, the SE, just came to market this past year. Significantly, the next-generation Mini Countryman will be produced both in gas and all-electric versions when it comes to market shortly.

Jaguar Land Rover

The Jaguar I-Pace hastened the brand’s shift in to the “Reimagine” program.

The Jaguar side of the British carmaker got a jump on competitors like BMW and Mercedes with its I-Pace model. A second all-electric SUV is now in the works. And CEO Thierry Bollore last month said that JLR’s “Reimagine” program will see the Jaguar side go 100% BEV by 2025, well ahead of key competitors. Surprisingly, though, the BEV version of the flagship Jaguar XJ sedan has been scrapped. As for the Land Rover side, the company plans to retain a mix of electrified powertrains, though it believes battery-only models will deliver 60% of total sales volumes by 2030.

Plenty of startups

We’ve focused on mainstream U.S., European, Japanese and South Korean brands. Expect to see a number of Chinese marques to lay out all-electric strategies, as well. That will include market leaders like Volvo parent Geely. It also will include a long list of Chinese start-ups. According to analyst Michael Dunne, more than 100 potential EV entrants hope to get licensed by the Beijing government, alongside other recent startups. There are plenty of other EV wannabes in the U.S. and Europe, such as Rivian, Lucid, Bollinger and Lordstown Motors.

Then there’s the EV market’s 800-pound gorilla. Tesla continues to dominate the market, though it has begun losing ground to a few competitors. The Ford Mustang Mach-E took 12 points of market share away from Tesla in the U.S. in recent months. The Wuling microvan is outselling all Tesla models combined.

The real question is whether consumers will back all the investments in electrification. All battery-based models combined still account for barely 6% of global new vehicle sales, BEVs roughly 2%. But industry forecasters see big jumps coming, especially if regulators continue to lay out plans banning internal combustion engines.

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NHRA Eyes Expansion of EV Drag Racing

Ford Cobra Jet

Ford electrified the dragstrip last year with its battery-powered Mustang Cobra Jet.

Talk drag racing and you’ll likely to think of flame-spitting funny cars and supercharged muscle cars flying down the quarter-mile. But, if the NHRA has its way, the sport will soon see an “expansion of electric vehicle racing.”

Battery technology is expected to revolutionize the automotive market during the next 10 to 15 years, so it should be no surprise it’s starting to transform the world of motorsports, as well. There are already a number of electric race series, including Formula A. Several manufacturers have developed high-performance drag racers like the Ford Mustang Cobra Jet. While they might not make the ground tremble like a classic funny car, electric dragsters soon could become a common sight.

“It’s certainly no secret that electric vehicles are becoming more and more popular with consumers, and the technology associated with them continues to move forward at a rapid pace. At NHRA, we are eager to keep pace with the latest developments in EV technology,” said Ned Walliser, the National Hot Rod Association’s vice president-competition.

“Big Daddy” sets a record

Swamp Rat 38

“Big Daddy” Don Garlits set a record of over 189 mph in his Swamp Rat 38 battery dragster in 2019.

It’s not like battery-powered racers haven’t shown up at the drag strip before. There are a growing number of drivers rolling up to the “Christmas tree,” the light pole used to start a race, in something battery powered. And they’ve had some of the most famous NHRA drivers behind the wheel.

“Big Daddy” Don Garlits, one of the most famous drag racers ever, set a record run of 7.235 seconds, passing through the quarter-mile traps in at 189.04 mph in his Swamp Rat 38 on July 20, 2019. Last year, Steve Huff not only took the crown away but managed to become the first to charge through the 200 mph barrier at the Tucson Dragway. His Current Technology 2.0 managed to hit 201.07 mph in the quarter-mile, with an elapsed time of 7.52 seconds on May 14, 2020.

Huff’s racer used two customized motors making 2,400 horsepower, drawing power from specially built 800-volt lithium-polymer batteries.

Automakers join the (drag) race

Chevrolet eCOPO

Chevrolet also weighed in with its all-electric e-COPO Camaro in 2019.

While those record setters were produced by private teams, automakers have been moving into motorsports more aggressively each year. Formula E now features teams sponsored by some of the world’s most prestigious manufacturers. And some are pushing out onto the dragstrip, as well.

The 2019 Winternationals at the Lucas Oil dragstrip in Indianapolis got what NHRA at the time described as “a glimpse of drag racing’s future. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the original COPO Camaro project, Chevrolet rolled out the one-off e-COPO. The modified muscle car replaced its V-8 with a twin-motor drivetrain punching out 760 hp and 651 lb.-ft. of torque and drawing power from an 800-volt battery pack.

Ford tried to one up its longtime rival with the debut last April of the 1,400-hp Mustang Cobra Jet.

“Ford has always used motorsport to demonstrate innovation,” Dave Pericak, Global director, Ford Icons, said at the debut of the Cobra Jet. “Electric powertrains give us a completely new kind of performance and the all-electric Cobra Jet 1400 is one example of pushing new technology to the absolute limit. We’re excited to showcase what’s possible in an exciting year when we also have the all-electric Mustang Mach-E joining the Mustang family.”

NHRA wants to be “a leader, not a follower”

The NHRA is setting up a series of meetings to discuss electric drag racing opportunities, reaching out to automakers, race car companies and others. The first is set to take place at the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway, March 12-14.

The NHRA has ‘no intentions of abandoning” the sort of petrol- and alcohol-powered drag racers that have built up its loyal fan base, Walliser said, adding, “When it comes to drag racing electric vehicles, we want NHRA to be the leader, not a follower.”

It will need to move fast considering that electrified vehicles – in all their various forms – are showing up in numerous traditional race series, like Formula One, and on legendary track like Le Mans. NASCAR will debut hybrid power in 2022. And the list of dedicated, all-electric race series is growing. Formula E launches a companion series, Extreme E, this year.

“I think (all auto racing series) will have to go electric or they will have no relevance,” Formula E organizer Alejandro Agag said during an interview with TheDetroitBureau.com.


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A Week With: 2021 Ford F-150 Limited SuperCrew

2021 Ford F-150 Limited front

The 2021 Ford F-150 Limited SuperCrew is the best iteration of the truck thus far.

Gawwwwddd I miss my truck.

Actually, I’ve had two in my lifetime a 1992 Ford Ranger “powered” by an anemic 4-cylinder engine that I bought not long after graduating from college and a 2004 Ford F-150 XLT motivated by the 5.4-liter V-8 engine that so many associate with the company’s full-size pickups.

My F-150 was a slight better than middle of the road model. It was an extended cab with shift-on-the-fly 4-wheel drive, power windows and locks, air conditioning and a bench set just big enough to haul my three children, who were then a teenager, a four-year-old and a toddler.

No leather. No satellite radio. No wi-fi. Just room for five to be comfortable inside and enough room to haul my son’s invisible motorcycle in the bed. Now that I’m old, er, older. I’ve gained an appreciation for things like … leather recliners, vehicles that are easy to get in and out of and technology that both entertains and makes my life easier.

Enter the 2021 Ford F-150 Limited SuperCrew.

2021 Ford F-150 Limited side

The new F-150 is the most aerodynamic version of the truck ever offered.

Overview

The newest generation of Ford full-size truck is undoubtedly the best yet, especially from my perspective. It offers all of the functionality and capability that young me loved about my 2004 F-150 while catering to old, uh, older me and my admiration for a comfortable leather chair and impressive technology.

Exterior

The exterior of the 2021 F-150 is clearly an evolution from the one that rests fondly in my memory – but bigger. The new truck with its massive grille and boxy fenders and cab looks like it could take on a tank and win. Instead its taking on the Chevy Silverado and Ram 1500 and, in my mind, it wins that battle too – although the Ram should make Ford designers sweat a little.

The F-150 Limited provides capability and utility with three different size beds.

Despite its brick-on-wheel shape, it’s the most aerodynamic offering ever. The truck employs active grille shutters and automatic air dam to help reduce drag and improve fuel economy. More importantly, it’s big and brawny without looking over the top or gaudy – think Superman instead of Batman.

Interior

Climbing inside the new F-150 is easy and it’s almost like entering a different world. While today’s pickups are larger and more fuel efficient that the generations that precede them, it’s the interior cabin where the biggest difference is, and Ford may be the best of the group … and not just for trucks.

Since the first thing you touch when you get in the vehicle is likely the seat, let’s start there. The two-town leather is supple and comfortable. The front seats are both heated and cooled, while the back seats are just heated – talk about a first-world problem. Additionally, they recline nearly flat, in case you need to pull over for a nap. During an extended drive, I found them to be supportive without making you want to, well, pull over for a nap.

“… it’s big and brawny without looking over the top or gaudy – think Superman instead of Batman …”

The F-150 Limited’s driver cockpit is well designed with controls that are easily accessed and read.

Once seated, the next order of business is the dashboard, which features large gauges that are manipulated using steering wheel-mounted controls that are simple and intuitive. The eye catcher is the 12-inch touchscreen on the center console. It’s bright and clear, making it very usable without feeling like you need to put on a pair of sunglasses to cut down on the glare. The truck comes with Sync 4 and while I’d like to tell you all about it, it also comes with Apple CarPlay and I use it exclusively. That sald it paired nicely and worked as expected.

It also features a massive center console that not only offers cupholders and plenty of storage, it also offers wireless charging. I use an iPhone 12 Pro Max and it charged without problem. It’s not as fast as plugging it in, but it was pretty good.

However, Ford recognizes that while trucks are oftentimes the family vehicle, they are also at the same time someone’s work vehicle. The Limited makes it awfully convenient to get some work done in the vehicle. The center console folds flat while the gear-shift lever folds down flat as well giving the user a space big enough to hold a 15-inch laptop – or fast food for two.

Powertrain

The interior is comfortable and upscale without being gaudy. Perfect for a high-end pickup.

For the 2021 model year, the F-150 can be ordered with one of six engine offerings. The Limited comes with the 3.5-liter two-turbocharged EcoBoost V-6. It puts out 400 horsepower and 500 pound-feet of torque. Towing a boat? No problem. Need to merge with traffic? No problem. Need to merge with traffic while towing a boat? No problem.

Fuel economy isn’t bad considering it’s a nearly 5,000-pound vehicle with a powerful engine that encourages a bit of lead-footed driving. It gets 18 mpg city, 23 highway which is good for a combined 20 mpg. I found that to be a pretty accurate representation for my week in the truck. Overall, it’s pretty good for a full-size pickup and if you can afford to buy or lease an F-150 Limited, you’re likely not counting the change in the cupholder to put gas in it.

Technology and Safety


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Ford Bagged Again by NHTSA

airbag

In a fight with NHTSA regulators, Ford came out on the short end again, as more Takata airbags were at issue. This time, it will cost the automaker $610 million, of which they will have to carry the cost in its entirety.

air bag

Takata, the Japanese company whose name is now synonymous with airbag failures and bankruptcy, was at the center of the largest recall in automotive history. That a single supplier was able to put their airbag on so many different vehicles around the world says volumes for globalization and the cost-cutting measures that would lead OEMs to Takata. According to a CNN.com story, Takata airbag recalls began in 2014, and prior to this week’s announcement, had reached 67 million airbags in more than 40 million vehicles in the U.S. alone.

Previously in Japan, leaders of companies like Takata would publicly declare their guilt, ask all who were affected for their forgiveness, and to clear the names of their families, would commit seppuku. If that term is unfamiliar, it’s also known as hari-kiri, to publicly disembowel yourself to rid yourself and your family of shame. Sadly, to the best of my knowledge, none of the corporate heads of Takata had the decency to observe this tradition, and it should continue to hang over the heads of not only Takata’s directors but their families, too (Ed. note — this is a joke and meant to be taken as such). Three Takata executives, Shinichi Tanaka, Hideo Nakajima, and Tsuneo Chikaraishi, were indicted by a grand jury in Japan. All three had worked for Takata in the U.S. and Japan until around 2015 when it was first noted that there were problems with their airbags.

Ford argued unsuccessfully that the Takata airbags used in the models and years affected by this recall are different than those involved in the previous recalls. NHTSA safety regulators said they still pose a risk and rejected Ford’s assertion. Models covered by the recall include the 2007-11 Ford Ranger, the 2006-12 Fusion, the 2007-10 Edge, the 2006-12 Lincoln Zephyr, and the 2007-10 MKX. You will receive a notification if your vehicle is included in the recall, you can enter the VIN number on Ford’s website, or check with your local Ford dealer. Ford will repair the airbags free of charge, and your local dealer may provide a loaner car if you ask nicely.

[Images: Ford]

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Jim Farley is Allowed to Race, and The Detroit Free Press is Allowed to Write About It

Jim Farley. Image: Ford

Car Twitter is a weird, wonderful online “place”, but sometimes bad takes bubble up. And there’s a double-whammy of bad takery floating around this afternoon.

Take number one: Ford CEO Jim Farley is taking an unnecessary risk by racing cars that could hurt Ford should an accident leave him dead or too injured to work/lead the company, according to some experts interviewed by the Detroit Free Press for a story by Jamie LaReau.

Take number two: The Freep and/or Jamie are dumb for publishing/writing this article.

I do agree with the logic behind the arguments in favor of Farley racing, but that doesn’t make the Freep or LaReau dumb. It’s a reporter writing about what experts think. More on that in a sec.

The logic is this: Farley should be allowed to race because he’s a car guy and enthusiast and it’s arguably better to have a car enthusiast running a car company because a car enthusiast is more likely to understand a unique industry in which many purchase decisions are driven by emotion and/or if Ford is run by a car guy it means there will always be a place for performance cars in the company’s model lineup. Besides, the risk is low.

As I said above, in general, I agree with that, even though it’s not a given that a car guy will do a better job running a car company and/or keep performance cars alive. Just that it’s more likely. And racing today, even in vintage cars, is generally safe, although the risk of death and injury still does exist.

But to castigate the Freep for writing this story is a bit ridiculous.

There’s a “kill the messenger” critique of journalism that has existed for the past five years (and probably before that, but it’s been more noticeable since you-know-who and some of his partisan enablers took up arms against media that was fair and honest but critical). It’s not just relegated to politics — Elon Musk has rallied Tesla fanboys against media the same way, too.

In brief, this critique usually presents itself in one of two circumstances. Circumstance one: The subject of critical reporting deflects by accusing the outlet/journalist of bias and/or incompetence instead of addressing the criticism. Circumstance two: Journalist/outlet interviews a person/expert or multiple persons/experts, the reader doesn’t like what the interviewee(s) say, and instead of critiquing those who were interviewed and their claims, the reader moans that the outlet shouldn’t have published a story that dares to present an argument they don’t agree with — even if the outlet isn’t the one making the argument.

This is an example of the latter. What’s frustrating to me is that some of the annoyed Twitterati aren’t just car enthusiasts — they’re automotive journalists or people who work in the automotive media in some capacity.

In other words, people who should know better.

It would be one thing if LaReau was writing an opinion piece and got flayed for having a take that most people disagreed with. It’s an occupational hazard of writing op-eds. Y’all have flayed me a few times and that’s fine. You write an opinion column, you risk blowback.

But this is a feature story, not arguing either side. At least, LaReau doesn’t appear to be arguing either side — she quotes those who defend Farley’s racing, as well as those who think it’s not a good idea.

There’s also nothing in the piece that isn’t really true. Racing is risky, though far less so than it used to be. And none of the arguments from either side are way off-base. Regardless if you think Farley should race or not, all the arguments are valid.

To be clear, I am not defending LaReau for any personal reason — as small as this industry can be, I am not sure I’ve ever met her. I’d disclose if I knew her, or recuse myself from writing about this.

Has the discourse fallen this far? It’s bad enough that we flame each other, and cherry-pick facts, and fall for mis/disinformation, and that we’re often too tribal. Too often, people care more about “owning” and “destroying” someone in a discussion/debate to worry about being intellectually honest and reasonable.

All that makes for terrible discourse. And now we’re attacking writers and outlets for merely presenting an argument we mildly disagree with? Instead of attacking the argument itself?

This isn’t some free speech/First Amendment/cancel culture rant. The First Amendment doesn’t apply here, and there are some takes that do deserve to be shamed and scorned, and some takes that don’t deserve a platform (Holocaust denial comes to mind). I also think people are far too quick to scream “cancel culture” when someone gets deserved blowback for writing something truly terrible, especially if it’s bigoted in some way.

Obviously, tweeting out that the Freep shouldn’t have published this piece doesn’t rise to the level of screaming at some comic who said something transphobic or racist. But it’s still odd!

Why is so hard to argue that Farley should be allowed to race without suggesting the Freep shouldn’t publish a relatively harmless examination of how big companies insure CEOs who indulge in risky hobbies during their free time?

It’s actually an interesting dive into a part of the business I’ve never given much thought to before.

If you think some insurance experts (who, may I remind you, work for companies with a vested interest in NOT seeing their clients hurt pursuing risky fun during their off hours) are ninnies because they think it’s a bad idea for Farley to race, that’s fine.

Just don’t argue that the Freep can’t give those ninnies an interview because you’re such a ninny yourself that the mere suggestion that Farley hang up the Pilotis gives you the willies.

Yeah, that’s right. Don’t be a ninny.

[Image: Ford]

First Look: 2021 Nissan Ariya

The 2021 Nissan Ariya is about the size of a Rogue SUV – but features the interior space of the bigger Murano.

Nissan is singing a new tune. With the arrival of the 2021 Ariya, Japan’s second-largest carmaker hopes to rebuild its once-lofty position as an innovator in the emerging market for battery-electric vehicles.

The automaker was, in fact, the first to mass market a BEV, but a decade after the launch of the original Leaf model, Nissan has not only been eclipsed by Tesla, but is being challenged by more conventional competitors, such as Volkswagen, Ford and General Motors,  each rolling out waves of new long-range battery-cars.

The 2021 Nissan Ariya is the long-overdue battery-SUV meant to keep Nissan in the game. It’s a ground-up offering, not just a redesigned Leaf, with a brand-new platform and electric drive system that is more powerful and able to deliver longer range. Ariya also debuts Nissan’s first hands-free driving system.

(A week with the 2020 Nissan Leaf SL Plus.)

The Nissan Ariya will be offered in either front- or all-wheel-drive configurations.

The new model “is the spearhead, showing our vision of the future,” said Ivan Espinosa, the carmaker’s senior vice president of global product planning, during a media roundtable ahead of the battery car’s Wednesday debut. “Ariya is not just an EV,” he emphasized. “It is showing the technical prowess of Nissan…what Nissan stands for.”

Pronounced like the song an opera diva sings, a concept version of the Ariya made its first appearance at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show last autumn, followed by a U.S. debut at January’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Though there were some design details unique to exotic concepts, like the oversized wheels, the show car will go into production with only minor changes.

The 2021 Ariya rides on a flexible new architecture, Espinosa explained during the online meeting. It eventually will be used for a variety of battery-cars to be produced not only by Nissan but also by its two alliance partners, Japan’s Mitsubishi and France’s Renault.

(Nissan lifts the covers on the next-gen Rogue.)

Features like the grille-less nose help reduce aero drag.

“The beauty of this platform is it’s modular (which) allows us to accommodate different possibilities,” he said, adding that the three partners have “a lot of questions about what new areas of the market we can explore.”

As with key competitors like Tesla, Ford, GM and VW, the platform positions its batteries, motors and other key components below the load floor. That reduces the size of the traditional engine compartment, allowing significantly more freedom, said Nissan’s global styling chief Alfonso Albaisa. And the development team found other breakthrough strategies. Rather than mounting the climate control, or HVAC, system within the instrument panel, it was moved into the modest space left where an engine would normal go, freeing up more space for the passenger compartment.

“You get inside and you’re really shocked,” suggested Albaisa, pointing out that the exterior footprint of the Nissan Ariya is about as big as the subcompact Rogue SUV, but the cabin has the roominess of the much larger Murano.

(Nissan among automakers taking big sales hit in Q2.))

The interior borrows heavily from the Ariya concept.

From an exterior design perspective, the Ariya is far less geeky than the Leaf which was designed during an era when green machines were expected to look like something from a sci-fi flick. That said, there are some obvious cues that tell you it’s a BEV, starting with absence of a conventional grille – electric vehicles needing far less disruptive airflow under the hood. Slit headlamps each feature four distinct LED bulbs. From the side, the crossover adapts a curvaceous, coupe-like shape, with plenty of subtle details designed to cheat the range-stealing wind – including twin rear spoilers.

Inside, Albaisa’s team adopted a minimalist approach, with a floating, horizontally oriented instrument panel featuring side-by-side video screens, each measuring 12.3 inches. One of the neat tricks is the ability to swipe across the infotainment display and move elements to the primary gauge display. The lack of a center tunnel creates a flat floor that makes it possible to sit five inside with reasonable comfort.

The new modular architecture is, fundamentally, front-wheel-drive, though buyers also will have the option of ordering an all-wheel-drive, twin-motor package. Nissan started all but from scratch, developing a new electric drive system it has dubbed e-4ORCE. The system has been described as the “spiritual offspring” of the automaker’s GT-R sports car, and that underscores a fundamental shift in thinking. No longer does Nissan believe BEV buyers will sacrifice that fun-to-drive quality just to go green.

Ariya will offer a standard battery or a 300-mile option.

The front-drive system delivers 160 kilowatts, or about 214 horsepower, and 221 pound-feet of torque. The twin-motor AWD system bumps that up to 290 kW, or 389 hp, and 443 lb-ft. The e-4ORCE system can direct power to individual wheels, using torque to assist driver input, among other things, when tracking through a corner.

That also pays off when using the next-generation ProPilot Assist 2.0, Nissan’s semi-autonomous driving system. The original version could help center the vehicle in its lane, among other things, but required drivers to keep hands on the wheel at all times. The new system, Nissan explained, allows “attentive drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel under certain conditions.”

Specific details have yet to be released but it appears to follow the format of GM’s Super Cruise and Ford’s new version of CoPilot 360, operating on limited-access roads mapped in high-resolution. A monitoring system makes sure a driver remains alert and ready to take control in an emergency.

In terms of batteries, Nissan has continued tinkering with the chemistry of its lithium-ion cells and has both cut their cost and increased their energy density, storing more power in less space. The base 2021 Ariya stores 63 kilowatt-hours. That’s within a kWh of the current, longest-range version of the gen-2 Nissan Leaf Plus. The Ariya offers an extended-range 87 kWh battery expected to get around 300 miles per charge, according to the EPA.

Ariya’s 2nd row folds to create a flat load floor.

As for charging, Nissan officials weren’t ready to offer details beyond noting Ariya can handle up to 137 kilowatts of power, a big jump up from the roughly 50 kW limit for Leaf. That would suggest an 80% recharge for the smaller pack in perhaps a bit over an hour at a CCS charger.

And that signals another big shift by the automaker which had been the only key player in the U.S. market committed to the older, slower CHAdeMO system. Nissan’s policy “is to have happy customers,” said Espinosa,” and with more – and faster — CCS chargers now available, the switch was overdue, according to EV analysts.

As for pricing, the base version of the 2021 Nissan Ariya will start at $40,000, said Espinosa. It is set to go on sale in Japan in the coming weeks, with U.S. dealers beginning deliveries “later in 2021.”

For the first half of the past decade, Nissan dominated EV sales charts. It has lost its lead to Tesla and is facing plenty of other competition going forward. Whether it can come close to being a significant player with Ariya is far from certain. But Nissan officials are betting that the new BEV has enough going for it to make Ariya a serious contender.

(Ford’s Bronco is back…and it’s now part of a new family of SUVs.)

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background: none !important; text-decoration: none !important; width: auto !important; height: auto !important; display: block !important; line-height: 32px !important; padding: 0 !important; -moz-box-shadow: none !important; -webkit-box-shadow: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; } #gJSomKNtPm .mo-optin-form-container .mo-optin-form-wrapper .mo-optin-success-msg { font-size: 21px; font-family: “HelveticaNeue – Light”, “Helvetica Neue Light”, “Helvetica Neue”, Helvetica, Arial, “Lucida Grande”, sans-serif; color: #282828 !important; font-weight: 300; text-align: center; margin: 0 auto; width: 100%; position: absolute !important; left: 50%; top: 50%; -webkit-transform: translate(-50%, -50%); -moz-transform: translate(-50%, -50%); -o-transform: translate(-50%, -50%); -ms-transform: translate(-50%, -50%); transform: translate(-50%, -50%); } #gJSomKNtPm .mo-optin-form-container .mo-optin-form-wrapper .mo-optin-success-msg a { color: #0000EE; text-decoration: underline; }div#gJSomKNtPm div#gJSomKNtPm_inpost .mo-optin-form-headline, div#gJSomKNtPm div.mo-optin-form-container h2, div#gJSomKNtPm div.mo-optin-form-container h1 { font-size: 32px !important; }div#gJSomKNtPm div#gJSomKNtPm_inpost .mo-optin-form-description, div#gJSomKNtPm div.mo-optin-form-container div#gJSomKNtPm_inpost p { font-size: 18px !important; }div#gJSomKNtPm div#gJSomKNtPm_inpost .mo-optin-form-note { font-size: 14px !important; }@media screen and (max-width: 768px) { div#gJSomKNtPm div#gJSomKNtPm_inpost .mo-optin-form-headline, div#gJSomKNtPm div.mo-optin-form-container div#gJSomKNtPm_inpost h2, div#gJSomKNtPm div.mo-optin-form-container div#gJSomKNtPm_inpost h1 { font-size: 30px !important; } div#gJSomKNtPm div#gJSomKNtPm_inpost .mo-optin-form-description, div#gJSomKNtPm div.mo-optin-form-container div#gJSomKNtPm_inpost p { font-size: 18px !important; } div#gJSomKNtPm div#gJSomKNtPm_inpost .mo-optin-form-note { font-size: 14px !important; } }@media screen and (max-width: 480px) { div#gJSomKNtPm div#gJSomKNtPm_inpost .mo-optin-form-headline, div#gJSomKNtPm div.mo-optin-form-container div#gJSomKNtPm_inpost h2, div#gJSomKNtPm div.mo-optin-form-container div#gJSomKNtPm_inpost h1 { font-size: 25px !important; } div#gJSomKNtPm div#gJSomKNtPm_inpost .mo-optin-form-description, div#gJSomKNtPm div.mo-optin-form-container div#gJSomKNtPm_inpost p { font-size: 16px !important; } div#gJSomKNtPm div#gJSomKNtPm_inpost .mo-optin-form-note, div#gJSomKNtPm div#gJSomKNtPm_inpost .mo-optin-form-note * { font-size: 12px !important; } }div#gJSomKNtPm .mo-mailchimp-interest-container { margin: 0 10px 2px; } div#gJSomKNtPm .mo-mailchimp-interest-label { font-size: 16px; margin: 5px 0 2px; } div#gJSomKNtPm input.mo-mailchimp-interest-choice { line-height: normal; border: 0; margin: 0 5px; } div#gJSomKNtPm span.mo-mailchimp-choice-label { vertical-align: middle; font-size: 14px; } div#gJSomKNtPm .mo-mailchimp-interest-choice-container { margin: 5px 0; }div#gJSomKNtPm .mo-mailchimp-interest-label { display:inline-block!important; } div#gJSomKNtPm span.mo-mailchimp-choice-label { vertical-align:baseline!important; } div#gJSomKNtPm .mo-mailchimp-interest-container { padding:18px 0 6px 0; } div#gJSomKNtPm .mo-mailchimp-choice-label { font-size:16px!important; }

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