AD #1522 – Hitachi Licenses Nissan Tech, Sprint Drops NASCAR, BMW’s Self-Parking i3
December 17th, 2014 at 11:56am
Runtime: 7:42
- Hyundai Unveils New Sonata Hybrid
- Chrysler 300 Updates
- Sprint Drops NASCAR
- BMW Unveils Self-Parking i3
- Hitachi Licenses Nissan Tech
- Keeping Your Air & Fuel System Clean
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Hyundai reveals the new Sonata Hybrid, Sprint is dropping its NASCAR sponsorship and I’ll take you back inside the Autoline Garage. All that and more coming right up on Autoline Daily.
This is Autoline Daily for December 17th, 2014.
HYUNDAI UNVEILS NEW SONATA HYBRID
Hyundai launched the all-new Sonata Hybrid in South Korea yesterday. It’s longer and wider than the previous hybrid model and it adopts the new look of the regular Sonata. It’s powered by a 2.0L gasoline engine and a 38 kilowatt electric motor that’s mated to a six-speed automatic. With 16 inch wheels the Sonata Hybrid gets about 43 miles-per-gallon and with 17 inch wheels it gets about 42 MPG. But those numbers could change for the U.S. since they’re based on Korean tests. Hyundai is also offering a plug-in hybrid version for the first time but details for that model will be revealed at next month’s Detroit Auto Show. The Sonata Hybrid goes on sale in the first half of next year.
CHRYSLER 300 UPDATES
Full size sedans used to represent the largest segment in the American market. Today, with annual sales just over 500,000 cars, it’s one of the smallest, but still important. The Chrysler brand is fighting to keep its place in the full size segment with a modest refresh of the Chrysler 300. They’ve gone back to a bolder grille, as they used with the 2005 version of the car. And they updated the rear-end styling with LED tail lamps. Inside, the interior looks more sophisticated, with upgraded materials and modernized switchgear. New safety technology was added, such as forward collision warning with full stop. And an 8-speed automatic is now standard across the line, boosting both fuel economy and performance. It’s a very nice sedan and these changes will help the 300 stay relevant in the large car segment. But don’t expect to see a big bump in sales. This segment will continue to shrink.
And don’t forget to tune into After Hours this tomorrow night. John, Gary and their panel will be playing the automotive equivalent of Santa Claus, watching who’s been naughty and who’s been nice, and handing out presents or lumps of coal. That’s this Thursday at 6PM on our website, Autoline.tv.
Still to come…Sprint says sayonara to NASCAR, Hitachi licenses Nissan technology and BMW reveals self-parking technology.
SPRINT DROPS NASCAR
We’ve highlighted some of the problems with NASCAR, which we believe is a direct correlation to a reduced number of viewers. And now it may be costing the series a major sponsor. Sprint has announced that its not returning as the primary sponsor of NASCAR in 2016 after its current contract is up. The wireless provider has been with the racing series since 2008.
BMW UNVEILS SELF-PARKING i3
We’ve seen self-parking cars from Audi and Volvo and now BMW is joining the list. The automaker will show an i3 equipped with autonomous technology at next month’s Consumer Electronics Show. The self-parking i3 is able to maneuver around a multi-story garage thanks to its four advanced sensors and computers. A SmartWatch can be used to send the car to a parking spot or summon it from its space.
HITACHI LICENSES NISSAN TECH
Last week we showed you autonomous mining trucks from Caterpillar and Komatsu. And now another maker of construction vehicles is adopting advanced technology. Hitachi’s construction division is licensing driver assistance features from Nissan. Hitachi will integrate the automaker’s Around View Monitor and Motion Object Detection Technology into its huge haul trucks and hydraulic excavators. The driver’s line of sight is limited in those types of vehicles, so these technologies will help them know what’s going on around them.
Coming up next, how to get your entire air and fuel system clean and maybe even shut off a check engine light.
KEEPING YOUR AIR & FUEL SYSTEM CLEAN
After my last Autoline Garage about using quality gas to help clean harmful deposits off internal engine parts, one commenter brought up a real good point: What can be done to a direct injected or DI engine where the gas no longer flows over the intake valves?
Even in DI engines, deposits will build up over time, whether it be from tiny contaminants in the air or even from EGR gases. So the best bet would be to have a complete fuel system cleaning performed. Where I worked we used a three step process from BG Products and charged $125. Now you can’t just run out to your local parts store and buy the stuff. You’ll have to contact your local repair shop or dealership to see if they have it, but if they don’t you can always use the Find a Shop icon on the BG Products website. Of course there are other products out there that are cheaper, but I found that BG works exceptionally well.
First there’s an intake cleaner that gets injected just in front of the throttle body. This cleans the throttle plate, intake and intake valves. The next step is an injector cleaner that goes straight into the fuel rail through the test port. And lastly is a fuel tank additive called 44K. I’m telling you the exact name of the additive because it has a few other benefits you may find helpful.
Not only does it help keep the entire fuel system clean, but it will also remove corrosive deposits on the fuel pump sending unit, which I’m sure many of you know can be a very expensive part. And if you’ve ever had a check engine light come on for a catalyst efficiency code, 44K could shut the light off. In some cases it can bring a dying, not already dead, catalytic converter back to life by removing deposits that clog its honeycomb-like substrate. Now this is not an advertised benefit by the company, but I’ve had it work once and have heard the same from a few other colleges. And if you think a fuel pump is expensive just look up some prices for a catalytic converter. But don’t think 44K will be your only saving grace. As a saying goes in the repair industry, a catalytic converter doesn’t die it’s killed. If you’re lucky the fuel system cleaning will take care of that issue, but there maybe something else that needs to be addressed.
For Autoline Garage, I’m Sean McElroy
But that wraps up today’s show, thanks for watching.
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Comments (32)
December 17th, 2014 at 12:12 pm
The Chrysler 300 will compete with the Impala and Avalon, right?
Every time I see Chrysler’s shift knob all I see is “Cost Savings”.
Smart move by Sprint, “Miracle Ear” would be a better sponsor for NASCAR.
December 17th, 2014 at 12:14 pm
Will in be the Bud Light Cup in 2017?
December 17th, 2014 at 12:18 pm
The Chrysler 300 nominally competes with Impala and Avalon, but it also competes with certain European cars, but at a bargain price.
I haven’t driven a recent 300, but even in ’07 or so when I drove one, it was a nice car for the money, if you want a big rear drive sedan.
December 17th, 2014 at 12:31 pm
Didn’t Volvo say today that they’re pulling out of racing, specifically V8 Supercat in Australia? Racing doesn’t match their brand. I think the con of racing is starting to resemble what’s happened to newspapers. Ferrari pushing Marlboro in Asia notwithstanding.
December 17th, 2014 at 12:35 pm
Chrysler missed a huge opportunity when they did not get involved in the Seth Rogan’s Green Hornet movie remake a few years ago. The 300 could have been introduced as the “New Black Beauty” and would have probably achieve movie car icon status like the Pontiac Firebird “Kitt” from Knight Rider or the Dodge Charger “General Lee”. The Transformer Movies did good things for both the Ford Mustang and Chevy Camaro.
All I am saying is that the 300 has a lot of potential especially since it is offered with AWD.
December 17th, 2014 at 12:56 pm
They need to pull out the Magnum tooling, and sell a 300 wagon. They did that for a while in Europe. I like the car better with the Chrysler front end, that the one on the Magnum.
December 17th, 2014 at 1:06 pm
Sean I agree with your segment on the benefits of intake cleaning. Another thing to be addressed is the complications of turbocharged engines when trying to use an intake cleaner on a running engine.
Perhaps the France family can contact John Lasseter and get the Rust-eezz sponsorship.
The only good looking autonomous car so far has been the Knight Industries 3000, K.I.T.T.
December 17th, 2014 at 1:13 pm
The half-wits at Fiat could see much success with an updated (don’t call it a wagon) SUV based on the 300, call it the 300X. Just pull out the Magnum tooling and update it. This gives Chrysler brand a much needed SUV.
December 17th, 2014 at 1:39 pm
C-Tech,
If they want a Chrysler SUV, shouldn’t they just rebadge the GC/Durango as an Aspen, or something like that? Do they really need a Chrysler badged SUV anyway, since in most cases, Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep brands are sold together? Just asking.
I’d like to see the revival of something like the Magnum as a wagon, with no pretense of it being an SUV. Toyota screwed up the Camry wagon by making it into the tall, heavy Venza. Chrysler doesn’t need to do that. If they revived the wagon, they should make the windows bigger, to look more like a European wagon. That would be more appealing to those of us who like wagons, than the gangsterish look of the Magnum. It would also sell better in other places around the world.
December 17th, 2014 at 2:02 pm
I’m no spring chicken and I grew up watching Petty, Pearson and the rest of the good old boys swapping paint. But, I tell you, I would rather watch a drifting competition than suffer through another boring NASCAR race. Not that the France family cares what I think…
December 17th, 2014 at 2:10 pm
10 once you pass 70 maybe Bernie will give you a look, RumNCoke
December 17th, 2014 at 2:12 pm
oil
Is anyone else looking at the Cuba news and wondering if petroleum price problems for Venezuela factored into this news? Imagine how this all looks from Tehran.
Yep, those Saudis can play The Great Game quite well, thank you.
December 17th, 2014 at 2:51 pm
I hadn’t thought of the oil, and Venezuela, but yeah, that could have been a factor.
Some of my friends will be happy about the Cuba news, since they will probably now be able to bring cigars back with them from cruises, without worrying about getting caught.
I’ve read that the attitude among Cuban Americans in south Florida about normalizing relations with Havana is highly age dependent, with a majority of younger people favoring it, and oldsters opposing. The whole thing will be a huge factor in Florida and presidential politics, starting right now.
December 17th, 2014 at 3:01 pm
Haven’t we also seen some info about Cuba having possible petroleum resources off its coast? Wouldn’t it be nice if Exxon did some exploration? Hmmmm? Maybe sold the goo to the US? Hmmm?
oil.power.cars
they go together
December 17th, 2014 at 3:08 pm
Cuban oil…
http://www.cfr.org/cuba/addressing-risk-cuban-oil-spill/p27515
December 17th, 2014 at 3:21 pm
Speaking of oil, today’s price for diesel at my local 76 station: $2.99.9 @.
December 17th, 2014 at 7:45 pm
@ #9 Kit, I agreed with your ideas about changing the Magnum, I also want it to sell. If you call it an SUV (even if it looks like a wagon) people will buy an SUV. The reason for the Magnum revival instead of a re-badged Durango is to give Chrysler something unique, and tie it to their current hot product, thus the 300X badge. A re-badged Cherokee as the small SUV for Chrysler is enough recycling for now.
December 17th, 2014 at 8:01 pm
The fact that most all FCA dealers in their biggest market carry all their brands on the same floor (some even carry Fiat next door) you don’t want too much re-badging.
December 17th, 2014 at 8:11 pm
I’m not surprised by Sprint’s announcement. They have been getting killed in the cell phone wars. They routinely at the bottom of the lists of providers.
December 17th, 2014 at 9:12 pm
I’m not surprised at Sprint’s announcement either. As far as Sprint, I have used them for years. While Verizon’s coverage is probably better, Sprint works fine where I am, and they continue to be significantly less expensive than Verizon or ATT for what I want.
December 17th, 2014 at 9:12 pm
XA, I remember reading that the Army questioned the value of supporting NASCAR when so few of the few people the sport brought to them could qualify for service. Like a really small number.
Did you see the story about Scott Tucker of Level 5 maybe having a knee snapper with the FBI?
http://blackflag.jalopnik.com/report-feds-to-charge-racer-scott-tucker-with-racketee-1671930668/+travis
I really wonder if racing is going to face a reckoning as sponsors figure out what’s worth actual cash money.
December 17th, 2014 at 9:13 pm
20 Sprint sucks here, Kit. Sllllllloooowwwwwww. I quit them.
December 17th, 2014 at 9:22 pm
17, I suspect it is unlikely that they will revive a Magnum-like wagon, but if they do, yeah, call it an SUV if that would help sell it. Just keep it the same height as a 300 sedan, and make AWD optional, not mandatory. Both Mercedes and BMW have run off their traditional wagon buyers in the U.S. by having AWD mandatory in the E-class and 3 series wagons in America.
December 17th, 2014 at 9:51 pm
Kit we will not see a Magnum-type wagon coming back because they have not figured out how to market it.
I wonder if the beginning of the end at NASCAR was when Dodge left. If an auto brand can leave NASCAR, not under duress, and not suffer sales losses, then you definitely have to reevaluate your sponsorship if not an automotive brand.
December 17th, 2014 at 10:07 pm
22, I’ve known other people who say the same thing. I happen to spend most of my time where Sprint works well, and in an area at the space center where I spend some time, it seems to work better than ATT and Verizon. I suspect there are a lot more places, though, where ATT and Verizon work better.
December 17th, 2014 at 10:12 pm
24, …and the Dodge race cars were at least a little closer to actual road cars, with the correct wheels making the car go, but their leaving NASCAR didn’t seem to hurt sales.
December 18th, 2014 at 12:58 am
NASCAR is of no interest to me as long as they run “fake” stock cars… Yes, I can remember when it was really stock car racing, albeit with some significant performance modifications.. To be fair, I don’t know if today’s cars would be up to that level of racing without significant “beef up” modifications.. Perhaps it is a comment on the cars of today (which I think for the most part are the best ever in most ways that matter), or maybe just the musings of an old guy (me) who miss the real STOCK cars..
It is sad though to go to some race tracks other than NASCAR and see almost empty seats, sometimes… I kind of wonder if racing has become a little too high tech for some people, and the cars are not really the ones that they can aspire to actually owning as they see it on the track… I kind of think these things might have been a part of interest back “in the day”.. I worry about the future of auto racing, and really think we are losing something pretty special if it does go away in time…
December 18th, 2014 at 8:28 am
Is it me, or have Kia’s designers bitten off a huge chunk of the Merc E-series with that new Sonata incarnation (front facia and side body sculpting)?
December 18th, 2014 at 8:29 am
…By front facia, I meant headlights and faux wind scoops.
December 18th, 2014 at 9:50 am
27, Wasn’t there an attempt at racing something closer to real stock cars a few years ago, but it didn’t go over very well. I think they were called “touring cars,” or something like that.
December 20th, 2014 at 12:48 am
23, I owned a 2006 Magnum R/T Hemi powered.This car was Awesome in Looks,turned heads all the time.Performance was Great 340HP and Good handling with the stock suspension and it was a Grocery Getter modern day station wagon, Not an SUV.The Magnum was cut from production in North America by the Hardware failure Bob Nardelli as CEO for Cerberus Capital Management, L.P.They also cut the Beautiful Chrysler Pacifica.
December 20th, 2014 at 1:09 am
24,It has nothing to do with Dodge leaving NASCAR.The problems are Too many races,ticket prices Too expensive for the average family and Cookie cutter/Air brush race cars.What does NASCAR mean National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing.The key word here is Stock CAR.The people in the grandstands want to be able to recognize the race car with the one they are driving on the street,that is called Brand Recognition.Race on Sunday,Sell on Monday.Who has ever heard of a V8 2 door Toyota Camry or a V8 2 door Ford Fusion or a 2 door V8 Chevy Impala?
In the 50′s,60′s,70′s,80′s, we the spectator saw Real “Stock Car Racing”
Please bring it Back, before it disappears for ever.I hope Bill France JR. gets the message.