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Lyft Sells Self-Driving Business Unit to Toyota for $500 Million

April 27, 2021 admin

Lyft has been using the autonomous prototypes in the Las Vegas market.

Lyft Inc. sold its autonomous vehicle technology unit, Level 5, to Toyota Motor Co. for $550 million, following the lead of its rival, Uber Inc.

The company launched Level 5 in 2017 to build a self-driving system for its network of vehicles. The goal, ultimately, was to eliminate the need for drivers. The company grew to nearly 400 employees, but as Lyft continues to lose money overall, it needed to find ways to end its string of quarterly losses.

Not only will it get $550 million from Toyota, it will also stop funneling multiple millions of dollars into a development project with no finish line in sight for a payoff. Lyft gets $200 million immediately and the remaining $350 million will be paid in installments during the next five years.

Uber finalized a similar deal last fall, selling its autonomous vehicle unit called Advanced Technology Group to Aurora led by former Waymo chief Chris Urmson for $400 million.

Immediate financial relief

Lyft has provided 100,000 self-driving rides as part of its autonomous technology development.

The ride-hailing company said selling its Level 5 subsidiary puts it back on the path to profitability. First and foremost, it cuts $100 million of annualized non-GAAP operating expenses on a net basis, Co-founder and President John Zimmer noted in the announcement.

“Assuming the transaction closes within the expected timeframe and the COVID recovery continues, we are confident that we can achieve Adjusted EBITDA profitability in the third quarter of this year,” Zimmer said in a statement.

The company isn’t getting out of the robotaxi business. It’s already partnered with Motional and Waymo to develop self-driving tech and now it will just rely on that partnership to move toward autonomous vehicles. Working with the pair, Lyft’s already provided more than 100,000 self-driving rides in its vehicles in the last three years.

However, Lyft can now focus on what it can do best with autonomous vehicles by offering services such as routing, consumer interface and managing, and maintaining and cleaning partners’ autonomous vehicle fleets, which could mean added revenue, it said.

Uber made a similar choice

Lyft’s deal is similar to Uber’s move last December to sell its Advanced Technology Group, or ATG, to Aurora, the autonomous vehicle technology company founded by Google and Waymo veteran Chris Urmson. The deal came in at $400 million.

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi noted after the sale of its ATG unit the company’s path to profitability had been shortened.

AVs were a critical component of the path to profitability by Uber, which now relies on part-time drivers or gig workers to ferry passengers, using its celebrated phone app. Uber invested huge sums in its internal AV project; however, was crippled in 2018 when one of its test vehicles struck and killed a pedestrian in Tempe, Arizona. It never really recovered.

Uber also ended up with a 26% ownership interest in Aurora on a fully diluted basis, the company said in a filing.

Aurora and Uber agreed to collaborate to launch self-driving vehicles on its ride-hailing and food delivery network. Uber is also working on building out its freight logistics platform but is not operating its own trucks at present.

The completion of the deal caused Uber’s CEO Dara Khosrowshahi to utter a familiar refrain to Reuters: “This essentially advances our path to profitability.” He said the deal should put the company on track for profitability by the end of this year, largely due to the fact Uber would no longer be investing vast sums of cash into ATG.

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EV Interest on the Rise, But Purchases Coming When Prices Drop, Study Says

April 12, 2021 admin

Interest in electric vehicle ownership continues to grow, but prospective buyers want prices to drop before they commit to buying one.

While EVs have been in the news a lot lately, consumer concerns about the cost of an initial purchase are a real thing.

Those worries came to light as part of a survey by OC&C Strategy Consultants, Reuters reported. Consumers around the world are much more interested in purchasing EVs than ever before, the study showed, but remain wary about the price of battery-powered cars, which are generally more expensive than their internal combustion engine counterparts.

The report shows that more than half of potential new-car buyers in Italy and France are interested in purchasing an EV. Numbers in the U.K. and the U.S. are even higher — 81% and 61%, respectively.

This problem is nothing new. U.S. News & World Report reported last year EVs are frequently more expensive up front than comparable gas-powered vehicles. “Sticker shock” can turn shoppers away from EVs, especially since initial prices are more widely considered than the overall cost to own.

But concerns about initial cost remain a barrier.

Automakers are preparing an overwhelming number of electric vehicles for U.S. consumers.

Of the consumers likely to buy an EV, 69% said they would not pay more than a $500 premium compared to a gasoline-powered car — an unlikely scenario without government subsidies.

Countries with purchase incentives have seen a faster uptick in EV sales and European countries have introduced several generous incentives.

Help might be on the way in the U.S.

President Joe Biden recently unveiled a $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan for the country. Included is a proposed $174 billion to promote U.S. EV manufacturing, sales and the development of infrastructure.

Part of the sales promotion part is to give EV buyers “point of sale” rebates and tax incentives to buy American-made EVs. This reflects the reality that consumers are still worrying about purchase costs.

And OEMs are also aware of the cost problem. One solution is to reduce the cost of EVs, and some are moving in that direction. GM spokesman Phil Lienert said that GM sees a lot of promising technological improvements that will really help reduce EV costs to the consumer.

GM showed of its third-generation global electric vehicle platform with its Ultium battery technology.

“Our third-generation EVs will use the Ultium platform,” Lienert said. “This is about 40% less expensive than the Bolt EV platform. We are working to get that number closer to 60% less expensive.”

And as production of EVs ramp up, economies of scale kick in, further reducing EV prices. But despite the dropping costs of batteries and EVs, it is believed that consumers still need incentives to buy more expensive electric cars.

To help with that, Biden plans to extend the current $7,500 federal tax credit, an amount that diminishes for vehicles built by automakers including Tesla and General Motors that already have sold more than 200,000 electric vehicles. Biden could eliminate that 200,000 ceiling as well as enhance incentives for EV buyers in disadvantaged communities.

Incentives matter

“EV buyers love their cars, even there are challenges along the way,” said Joel Levin, executive director of Plug In America, an EV owners advocacy group in February.

Already the top seller of EVs in the world, Tesla would definitely benefit from the reinstatement of the $7,500 tax credit for buying a battery-powered car.

The phase out of federal tax credits, said Levin. Both Tesla and General Motors no longer can offer the $7,500 incentives after hitting a Congressionally mandated sales threshold. Nissan and Ford are approaching the phase-out point, as well.

“It certainly hurts the market, especially for those who want to buy American,” said Levin.

While the upfront cost of purchasing an EV might be higher than an ICE car, there are other cost factors to consider.

Throughout a vehicle’s lifetime, the cost maintaining the typical vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine will add up to around 6.1 cents per mile, according to research by Consumer Reports. By comparison, BEV owners can expect to spend about 3.1 cents per mile. Surprisingly, the study found that maintaining a plug-in hybrid, such as the Toyota Prius Prime, can be even slightly less expensive, at 3 cents per mile.

“Electric vehicle owners don’t need a coupon to get half-off typical maintenance and repair costs from their dealer, it comes standard,” said Senior Transportation Policy Analyst Chris Harto, author of the study which is based on real-world data from Consumer Reports. “These savings are going a long way to offset the upfront costs for consumers.”

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E Premium is part of the wave of new EVs coming available.

Sell the concept, not individual concerns

GM spokesman Stuart Fowle said the company’s goal is to reach beyond early adaptors and tech nerds. To do that GM plans to launch 30 new EV models by 2025.

“I have two children,” Fowle said. “I need a car bigger than a Bolt but I don’t need one as big as a Hummer. Once you get a line-up that matches consumer needs, you can sell EVs.”

But selling EVs is not about going line by line and saying they are cheaper in the long run or easier to maintain or improving range, Fowle said. It’s about getting the public comfortable with the tech.

As more consumers see friends and neighbors drive EVs, a tipping point will be reached where people will feel left out if they don’t buy an EV.

“That day is coming sooner than many people think,” Fowle said.

Krafcik Leaves Waymo After Five Years as CEO

April 2, 2021 admin

Waymo CEO John Krafcik is way gone, announcing his departure and the company’s plans to move the current COO and CTO into the role of co-CEO.

Add “former” to the title of Waymo CEO John Krafcik, who announced today he’s left the company.

The former Hyundai Motor America chief spent five years heading up the autonomous vehicle subsidiary of Google, which, according to his farewell on LinkedIn, “was called ‘Chauffeur’ internally.”

Tekedra Mawakana and Dmitri Dolgov, of whom Krafcik said “having seen their brilliance, vision, and commitment in play for years — I assure you they are very well suited for this,” take over as co-CEOs of the Mountain View, Calif.-based AI-focused company. As is often the case with senior executives, Krafcik will stay on in an advisory capacity.

“So now, with the fully autonomous Waymo One ride-hailing service open to all in our launch area of Metro Phoenix, and with the fifth generation of the Waymo Driver being prepared for deployment in ride-hailing and goods delivery, it’s a wonderful opportunity for me to pass the baton to Tekedra and Dmitri as Waymo’s co-CEOs,” he wrote.

Next steps

Waymo named former COO Tekedra Mawakana as its new co-CEO to replace Krafcik.

Krafcik didn’t offer many details what the future holds, although it could be that he’s uncertain himself. He said he and his wife, Leila, will take a “coupbatical,” which he described as “a refresh period where we look forward to reconnecting with old friends & family, and discovering new parts of the world.

“After that, we’ve got a few ideas for focus and contribution that we’ll flesh out together and share when the time is right. We’ve already relocated to Austin, Texas, and we look forward to seeing some of you there, or on our travels.”

Krafcik once headed up Hyundai’s U.S. operations, helping lead the brand through an image renaissance and a period of rapid growth. He even earned the “Automotive Executive of the Year” in 2013. However, his run there ended in late 2013 after the South Korean automaker declined to renew his contract — despite the accolade.

However, he quickly landed on his feet, taking over as CEO of TrueCar just as the automotive sales and data website was readying to go public. His tenure there was short, however, as he moved on to Waymo, then-Google’s self-driving car project, just a little more than a year later in September 2015.

Dynamic duo

Waymo CTO Dmitri Dolgov joins Mawakana as co-CEO with Krafcik’s departure.

As for the company, Mawakana and Dolgov now step into new roles. Previously the COO and CTO respectively, they are described as having “complementary skill sets and experiences.” Due to the nature of their roles, they’re already accustomed to working together.

Dolgov, who started in autonomy as part of Stanford’s DARPA Urban Challenge team, joined the company in 2009, when it was still referred to as Google’s self-driving car project. Over time, his influence and responsibility grew. He became CTO late in 2016.

Mawakana, joined Waymo as a policy lead. Prior to joining the company in 2017, she led global policy teams at eBay, AOL, Startec and Yahoo, after beginning her career as Washington, D.C.-based law firm Steptoe & Johnson LLP.

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These Automakers Now Plan an All-Electric Future

March 23, 2021 admin

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

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 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’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 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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A Week With: 2021 Kia Sorento Prestige X-Line AWD

February 18, 2021 admin

Kia’s fourth-generation Sorento ute is one of the brand’s best sellers and the updates for 2021 are likely to ensure that continues.

After a week piloting the redesigned 2021 Kia Sorento, it’s easy to forget just how far the South Korean automaker has come since first landing on these shores nearly three decades ago. At the time, I had the unfortunate duty of test-driving them. I concluded that some of my most unpleasant automotive experiences had been behind the wheel of Kias.

Of course, no one raised an eyebrow. By then, the company’s value image and low-rent cars made it the Rodney Dangerfield of the automotive world.

But that’s no longer the case, not by a long shot. In fact, it could be argued that decades of self-awareness propelled Kia, and its corporate sibling Hyundai, into the top tier of automakers, producing models that are superior to the Japanese competitors they long sought to surpass. And if cars like the Soul, Stinger, K5, Niro and Telluride don’t prove it, the 2021 Sorento will.

Overview

The new Sorento gets a new exterior design for 2021 aimed at giving it a more rugged look.

Hot on the heels of the fast-selling Telluride, you might think this slightly smaller three-row SUV is the same thing, except it got shrunk in the dryer. But deeming it a Telluride knockoff sells it short. The Sorento is very much its own flavor, not only is it distinctive from the Telluride, but also its distinct for the first time in its existence. It possesses a likeable persona where it previously had none.

The Sorento comes standard with a normally aspirated 4-cylinder gas engine in base LX and S trims, or with a turbocharged engine in EX, SX, SX Prestige and SX Prestige X-line trims. Both front-wheel and all-wheel drive are available. Kia will soon offer a hybrid and plug-in hybrid as well.

Exterior

While the Sorento shares some styling cues with the Telluride, it’s clearly its own ute, with chiseled lines that offset more design detail than its larger and pricier sibling. The large, chunky taillamps are distinctive, and an inset on the bottom of the rear side window echoes the shape of the window line above it. The grille texture has a sporty, upscale feel. Overall, the Sorento is quite handsome, and has lost the soft appearance of the previous model.

“… Sorento is very much its own flavor, not only is it distinctive from the Telluride, its distinct for the first time in its existence …”

Interior

The Sorento X-Line is powered by a 2.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder putting out 281 horsepower.

Climb inside and you’ll be greeted by a spacious interior, and one decked out in quality materials. The first two rows provide plenty of head and legroom. The test vehicle, a top-of-the-line SX Prestige X-Line, had second-row Captain’s Chairs, which are standard on EX and above. The seats had a good balance of comfort and support. But the third row is best left to small children or people you despise; space is in short supply. Better to fold it down and expand the 12.6 cubic-foot cargo bay to 38.5 cubic feet. With second and third rows folded, that grows to 75.5 cubic feet.

The dashboard has a busy look, a feeling exacerbated by the diamond quilted stitching on the leather trimmed seats. But the controls prove easy to understand and use. LX models come with cloth seats. S, and EX get lined with leatherette, while other models come with leather.

Powertrain

Opting for an LX and S Sorento nets you a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine and an 8-speed automatic transmission that generates 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. Other models get a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that generates 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. The dual clutch uses liquid cooling to enhance durability.

The Sorento’s interior also gets a new look for 2021, with the X-Line getting a new color combination.

Technology and Safety

Start driver assurance systems include forward collision warning, forward collision-avoidance assist, pedestrian detection, driver attention warning, lane departure alert, lane centering lane keep assist, lane departure warning, and high-beam assist. Optional systems include cyclist detection, blind spot avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic assist, parking distance warning, parking collision avoidance assist, navigation-based smart cruise control curve control, highway driving assist, and safe exist assist.

The SX, SX Prestige 2.5T and SX Prestige X-Line come with a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment screen with navigation, AM/FM Audio system with Satellite Radio, UVO telematics, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Other models get a smaller 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, which isn’t installed with larger screen for some inexplicably puzzling reason. A Bose surround sound audio system is standard on the SX Prestige 2.5T and SX Prestige X-Line.

The Sorento comes with eight USB charging ports in all but the LX, which gets six. A wireless smartphone charging pad is optional. An optional 12.3-in. digital instrument cluster includes a Blind View Monitor that displays a live view of adjacent lanes in the instrument cluster when the turn signal is activated.

Driving Impressions

The test vehicle’s turbo engine provides more than enough moxie to move this sweetheart with ease, especially considering it possesses more torque than the larger, heavier Telluride. Given that, it’s best to opt for all-wheel drive since there’s probably more power than the front-wheel-drive model can handle without spinning its wheels.

That said, there is some turbo lag from a standing start, but once up to boil, the Sorento feels extremely responsive, acting instantaneously to your requests. The dual-clutch shifts promptly, and road noise is subdued. The ride is firm, but road impacts never felt harsh. Ingress and egress were particularly good.

Wrap Up

There’s something about the 2021 Kia Sorento that makes me want to call it Goldilocks. Neither too big nor too small, the Sorento is a perfect size, with a pleasing personality that makes it an easy vehicle to love, a perfect dance partner for the drudgery of daily driving.

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A Week With: 2021 Ford F-150 Limited SuperCrew

February 5, 2021 admin

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.

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

First Look: 2022 BMW M5 CS

January 26, 2021 admin

BMW rolled out its 2022 M5 CS sedan offering fans impressive mix of power and luxury.

For those looking for a balanced blend of power and luxury, the BMW M5 has long been a top pick. Now, the Bavarian automaker is set to push things to new extremes, at least on the performance front, with the introduction of the 2022 M5 CS.

The limited-edition “super sedan” will punch out a solid 627 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque, making it the most powerful production vehicle BMW has ever brought to market. And that’s only part of the story.

By putting a premium on lightweighting and traction enhancement, BMW aims to ensure all that power goes to the pavement. That means a factory rated top speed of 190 mph, and a 0-60 launch time of 2.9 seconds.

(BMW wants to double EV sales this year.)

The new M5 CS is the most powerful sedan ever introduced by the Bavarian automaker.

“The new limited production super sedan builds on the immensely capable M5, itself recently updated for model year 2021, by delivering more power, greater performance, lighter weight and exclusive interior appointments making the new M5 CS truly a one-of-a-kind vehicle in its class,” the automaker blared in a news release introducing the 2022 performance sedan.

The heart of this beast is BMW’s S63 4.4-liter M TwinPower twin-turbocharged V-8. It makes 10 more hp than the marque’s previous record setter, the M5 Competition model. And the CS sedan’s torque band is wider, as well.

Credit improvements to the powertrain’s high-pressure direct injection and liquid-to-air intercooling for both turbos and oil system. That, the automaker claims, will allow the M5 CS to pose a formidable challenge both on the street, as well as on the track.

Power is fed through an 8-speed M Steptronic transmission into a performance-enhanced version of BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system. The rear-biased AWD package is aided by an electronically controlled clutch and Active M Differential.

“The driver can select from three xDrive modes including 4WD, 4WD Sport and 2WD,” added BMW. “The Dynamic Stability Control system can be adjusted between three settings to further enhance driver control – DSC ON, MDM (M Dynamic Mode) and DSC OFF.”

Improvements to the powertrain’s high-pressure direct injection and liquid-to-air intercooling for both turbos and oil system make a massive difference.

The bump in horsepower is only one step BMW took to enhance performance, however. The 2022 BMW M5 CS also makes extensive use of CFRP and other lightweight materials. All told, the automaker shaved off a full 220 pounds compared to the older M5 Competition model which, in turn, helped reduce 0-60 times by 0.2 seconds. It’s a modest number but can add up to a big win on the track.

(BMW rolls down the top with new 4 Series convertible.)

The performance experience is further enhanced, BMW explains, by the M Sound system which changes the exhaust note depending upon the sedan’s driving mode, such as Sport and Sport+. The settings also adjust various vehicle settings, including the reconfigurable gauge cluster and Head-Up display. In Sport mode, for example, the tach, digital speed, gear and shift lights are displayed in the center of the cluster, along with coolant temperature, tire pressure and G-forces.

To further enhance driving dynamics, the CS chassis and suspension have been revised, with engine mounts and springs now stiffer than the M5 Competition Package, and a ride height lowered by 0.2 inches.

The M Sound system which changes the exhaust note depending upon the sedan’s driving mode, such as Sport and Sport+.

To scrub off speed, meanwhile, the M5 CS features standard carbon ceramic brakes with red six-piston front calipers and a single-piston rear floating caliper. The package is a full 51 pounds lighter than the M Compound brakes used in the M5 Competition model.

Visually, the 2022 BMW M5 CS features a CFRP roof and hood, front splitter, mirror caps, rear diffuser and rear spoiler. There’s also a gold bronze finish to the familiar BMW kidney grille surround. The CS also gets 20-inch forged light alloy wheels shod, BMW notes with “20-inch M forged Y-spoke wheels – 9.5 J x 20 in front and 10.5 J x 20 in the rear. Pirelli P Zero Corsa performance tires are available as a no cost option and make full use of the M5 CS’s enhanced handling capabilities.”

The CS is the first M5 set up specifically for four passengers, with carbon sport seats up front and twin buckets in the rear.

The cabin is outfitted in special Alcantara and black merino leather with distinctive BMW M tri-color stitching.

(BMW gives its vaunted M3 and M4 models a complete makeover.)

Production is set to begin in March and the 2022 BMW M5 CS will carry an MSRP of $142,000 plus $995 in delivery fees.

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Stellantis Enjoys Warm Welcome from European Investors

January 18, 2021 admin

Stellantis Chairman John Elkann is meeting with the media tomorrow to talk about the company’s future.

Not every merger involving an automaker these days involves a blank-check company. The newly minted tie-up between Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. and Peugeot S.A. was finalized over the weekend and the resulting company, Stellantis N.V., is enjoying a warm welcome.

At least on the stock market.

The new company’s stock trades on three exchanges and it finished the day on the Paris exchange up nearly 7%, closing at €13.14. It also jumped up 7.7% on the Milan exchange.

The New York Stock Exchange, the third exchange it’s traded on, was not open today due to the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

(Chrysler is no more as Stellantis comes to life.)

CEO Carlos Tavares has a lot on his corporate plate now that the merger is complete.

The $52 billion merger of near equals creates a massive enterprise with operations on six continents, employs about 400,000 people, sells – at least for the time being – 14 vehicle brands and sells 8.1 million vehicles annually, making it the fourth-largest automaker in the world behind Volkswagen, Toyota and the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance.

With all of those possibilities, it’s going to take a press conference Tuesday to start revealing what Stellantis will look like now that’s it’s a living, breathing entity. What brands will stay? How many workers will keep their jobs?

People are nervous because the CEO of the new enterprise, Carlos Tavares, has a history of being fearless when it comes to eliminating unprofitable operations and processes in the pursuit of corporate profit. One need only look at how what he did with former General Motors’ subsidiary Opel. A money-loser for a decade, he had it in the black in one year.

(FCA CEO Manley gets new assignment following Stellantis merger.)

“Stellantis faces a mixed outlook as U.S. stimulus plans may buoy Chrysler vs. a more uncertain outlook for Peugeot in Europe,” Michael Dean, BI automotive analyst told Bloomberg. “Former PSA CEO Carlos Tavares takes the helm and, similar to his handling of PSA’s takeover of Opel in 2017, we anticipate a new strategy in the first 100 days of his stewardship. All regions face a difficult 1H amid continued lockdowns.”

Quirky name aside, investors gave Stellantis a warm welcome when it began trading Monday.

The two companies have worked to allay fears of major cutbacks in France and Italy. While top managers have outlined plans to trim costs by $6 billion following the merger, they insist they will be able to do that without closing any plants. They have outlined 40% of those cost savings coming from purchasing, 40% from combining product development efforts, and 20% from marketing and other operations.

However, it’s unclear how Tavares plans to tackle other issues such as improving the company’s performance in China, the world’s largest automotive market, and bolstering its electrification efforts, especially in the aforementioned China as well as in the U.S. Just addressing those two issues are likely to require billions of dollars and euros. Some of plans for these things and more may get touched on Tuesday, Marco Santino, a partner at consulting firm Oliver Wyman, told Reuters.

(Fiat Chrysler and PSA not exactly a “merger of equals.”)

“He has proven to be the kind of person who prefers action to words, so I don’t think he will make loud statements or try to over-sell targets,” he said.

Jaguar J-Pace Could Pose Challenge to Tesla Model X

December 24, 2020 admin

The I-Pace was Jaguar’s first all-electric model. The J-Pace is expected to be bigger – and may also offer hybrid and plug-in powertrain options.

With the launch of the I-Pace, Jaguar became one of the first automakers to deliver an all-electric model in luxury car territory. Now, the British brand is readying its second battery-electric vehicle, the even larger J-Pace.

Expected to arrive later in the 2021 model year, the Jaguar J-Pace will be go up against other premium midsize SUVs, such as the BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz GLE and, in particular, the Tesla Model X.

The automaker hasn’t said much about its plans for the J-Pace, just confirming that additional battery-electric vehicles are in the works. But set to be its second entry into the BEV market, it will be both larger than the current Jaguar I-Pace and longer range, thanks to a battery pack expected to store about 100 kilowatt-hours.

(Jaguar keeps celebrating E-type’s 60th anniversary with unique F-Type.)

That’s in line with the longest-range version of the Model X which can deliver an EPA-rated 348 miles per charge. But whether Jaguar’s electric driveline can match its rival’s efficiency remains to be seen. Currently, Jaguar gets an EPA rating of just 234 miles out of a 90 kWh pack with the smaller I-Pace.

The coming J-Pace will be comparable to the Tesla Model X, although the Model X has a longer range, but changes by Jaguar could change that.

The J-Pace, however, could manage a bit more as it will be using an all-new platform that also will underpin other Jaguar Land Rover battery-electric vehicles. That will include the next-generation Jaguar XJ, along with a future version of the Range Rover. JLR has confirmed the all-electric sedan but only hinted at full electrification plans for the Land Rover side of the company.

It has, nonetheless, made it clear that its future will involve electric drivetrain technology pretty much across the board. But that will include hybrid technology – and plug-ins, in particular – as well as all-electric vehicles.

Significantly, the new platform set to underpin the XJ and J-Pace has been designed to accommodate both full battery-electric drivelines as well as hybrid and traditional gas-powered systems. Some speculation centers around a possible debut of JLR’s new inline-six-cylinder engine with the launch of the J-Pace. Most likely, however, it would be used as part of a plug-in hybrid system with a smaller battery pack than the all-electric version of the J-Pace.

Whatever the final options Jaguar offers, it takes a distinctly different approach from the direction Jaguar took with the I-Pace, its first BEV. That model is offered only with a battery drive system.

(Jaguar offering new, but old electric vehicle: E-type Zero.)

Adopting a flexible architecture has its advantages: it allows a manufacturer to mix and match powertrains, depending upon market demand, without having to develop separate platforms.

The new J-Pace will likely share its platform and dimensions with the Range Rover Sport, but get a very different look.

But there are numerous compromises to such a design. All-electric architectures tend to resemble oversized skateboards, optimized to have motors, batteries and other key components mounted below the load floor. Among other things, they tend to have lower centers of gravity and good front-to-rear weight distribution. But that changes when you need space up front for a possible gas engine.

The Jaguar I-Pace, in particular, took advantage of its electric-only design by recapturing some of the space normally required for an internal combustion engine, repurposing it for passengers and cargo.

Nonetheless, the J-Pace is expected to pick up many of the distinctive design cues of the I-Pace, albeit with a somewhat longer nose.

It will offer more interior space and more high-line features, according to various sources. There will be an emphasis on technology, including a version of the Duo Pro touchscreen infotainment now offered on the most recent JLR entries. That system uses twin SIM-based communications systems to enhance its speed. One is used for such things as downloading mapping and traffic info, while also being able to handle smartphone-style over-the-air updates for the vehicle’s software.

(2021 Jaguar E-Pace gets “thorough freshening.”)

While Jaguar is expected to continue using internal combustion technology, how long it will do so is unclear. It may follow a path similar to that of Volvo which expects to continue relying on plug-in and BEV systems, at least through the end of the decade. But the British brand has begun signaling that it could go entirely electric beyond 2030. Considering that’s the year that Great Britain now plans to ban sales of new vehicles using internal combustion engines, that would clearly make sense.

McLaren Artura Hybrid Supercar to Debut in 2021

November 23, 2020 admin

McLaren introduced its new Artura hybrid supercar, but provided only scant details.

McLaren has offered up a new name for, and more details about, the hybrid supercar it plans to bring to market next year.

Like competitors such as Aston Martin and Ferrari, McLaren wants to take advantage of the incredible, off-the-line torque that electric motors can deliver. It has already toyed with the advantages hybrid drivetrains can deliver with the limited-run P1 and Speedtail models. The McLaren Artura would be its first series version.

Designed to replace the current Super Series, the new hybrid will pair the electric drive system with a twin-turbo V-6. That engine will be smaller than what’s on the existing line and is widely expected to come in with a displacement of around three liters.

(McLaren eyeing synthetic fuels for future models.)

The Artura, meanwhile, is expected to provide some electric-only drive capabilities, though they would likely be limited. McLaren has so far not indicated any plans to add a plug-in hybrid to its line-up but may need to eventually.

The Artura builds on what the company gleaned from the development of the Supertail.

A number of markets are now enacting new limits on the use of internal combustion engines. That includes the automaker’s home market, the UK banning vehicles solely powered by IC engines as of 2030, and all hybrids by 2035.

McLaren isn’t offering any hard details on power or performance but there seems little reason to believe it would launch a hybrid model that couldn’t at least match the 563 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque currently produced by its 570S model.

There would be the advantage of the instant torque that electric motors can deliver, but there’s also the reality that a hybrid drive system will add to the car’s weight.

(McLaren taking orders for new supercar.)

In a statement, McLaren CEO Mike Flewitt said the product development team is taking multiple steps to minimize that extra mass. “Every element of the Artura is all-new – from the platform architecture and every part of the High-Performance Hybrid powertrain, to the exterior body, interior and cutting-edge driver interface – but it draws on decades of McLaren experience in pioneering super-lightweight race and road car technologies to bring all of our expertise in electrification to the supercar class.”

The P1TM hypercar was the starting point for the Artura.

Another unanswered question is how many motors the McLaren Artura will feature. It may launch with a single motor in a rear-wheel-drive configuration but, if current practices hold, it’s expected to offer even higher-performance versions that would add another motor on the front axle.

Facing the new wave of government mandates, the auto industry is ramping up its collective electrification efforts. That’s particularly true in the exotic and performance segments where there are few other alternatives available.

(McLaren shows us the light – light weight – with new 765LT.)

Aston Martin is already working on a hybridized replacement for its Valkyrie line and recently announced plans to work with Mercedes to offer electric drivetrain technology in other product lines. The Mercedes-AMG performance line will be hybridizing and Maserati has plans for an all-electric version of its MC20 supercar. Even Ferrari is getting into the battery-car game. The SF90 Stradale is its first street-legal plug-in hybrid and it has announced plans to have a pure battery-electric model in its line-up by around 2025.

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