AD #1565 – Audi Reveals New R8, Paint that Makes You Police Proof, Infiniti “Tunes” Up
February 26th, 2015 at 12:01pm
Runtime: 6:46
- Honda Ridgeline to Boost MPGs
- Volvo Making Progress
- Police-Proof Paint
- Honda’s Flight Simulator
- Audi Reveals Two Vehicles Ahead of Geneva
- Infiniti “Tunes” Up
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On today’s show… Honda wants to maximize the fuel economy of the new Ridgeline… how to hide your car from police radar… and Infiniti brings us a techno symphony of car sounds. All that and more coming right up on Autoline Daily.
This is Autoline Daily for February 26th, 2015.
RIDGELINE TO BOOST MPGs
With sales of pickups going strong in the American market, Honda does not want to get left behind. But it needs a new truck. When it introduced the Ridgeline, sales peaked at 50,000 units but last year that sank to a paltry 13,000 trucks. While Honda will not reveal details of how it will improve the Ridgeline, it did release this sketch. As you can see, the bed of the truck is much more conventional looking, compared to the very odd side profile of the version that just went out of production. Jeff Conrad, a senior vice president at Honda, tells Autoline that they want to beat their previous sales peak, but are not going after the commercial market. He does drop one hint, “We want to maximize the fuel economy.” They’ll have to. The old Ridgeline had a combined fuel economy rating of only 17 miles per gallon.
VOLVO MAKING PROGRESS
Ever since Ford sold off Volvo to Geely, the Swedish automaker has struggled. But it looks like it’s making progress. Global sales were up nearly 9% last year to almost 466,000 cars. This year the company predicts it will top 500,000 units. Revenue cames to $15.6 billion and it achieved an operating profit of $271 million. Even though that’s progress, it represents an operating profit margin of less than 2%. Volvo is especially counting on the launch of the new XC-90 crossover in the US, a market where the company is going through especially tough times.
Still to come… how to put your car in stealth mode… we bring you a techno car symphony form Infiniti… and Honda takes another step closer to putting private jets in the sky.
COLOR ME GONE
If you’re concerned about the increased use of license plate scanners here’s a solution for you. Called Veil G5, it’ a coating you apply to your license plate, headlights or other reflective surface, that absorbs lasers, so it makes it harder for the police to detect you. You can buy it online and a bottle of the product costs $100.
And don’t forget to join us later tonight for Autoline AFTER HOURS where — fresh from their big Daytona 500 win last weekend — we’ll be joined by Jamie Allison from Ford Racing as well as a very special guest. Tune in for not only some great racing talk but also to see who Jaime brings along to the AFTER HOURS studios. That’s tonight right here on Autoline.tv
HONDA’S FLIGHT SIMULATOR
Honda keeps getting closer to the launch of its private jet. It just installed a full motion flight simulator at the Honda Aircraft Company headquarters in Greensboro, north Carolina. The simulator was made by FlightSafety International. Honda says it’s putting a significant effort and investment into flight training for all of its customers, even though the HondaJet was designed for simple, intuitive operation. Sounds like they want this thing to be the Civic of the Sky.
Coming up next… Audi gives us a taste of what they want to put in their showrooms, while Infiniti lets us listen to a techno symphony of car sounds.
NEW AUDI R8? GR8!
Audi revealed a couple new vehicles it will have in Geneva. First up is the prologue Avant which is a variant of the prologue concept it unveiled at the LA Auto Show. Like the previous car, the Avant is a look into the company’s future design direction. It’s powered by the same hybrid powertrain that’s equipped in the Q7 e-tron Quattro, a 3.0L diesel that’s mated to an electric motor and an 8-speed manumatic transmission. The company also took the wraps off the new R8. It’s offered with two 5.2L 10-cylinder engines, one with 540 horsepower and the other cranks out 610 horses. Depending on the model, the R8 is up to 110 pounds lighter than the outgoing one. The R8 goes on sale this summer with prices ranging from about $185,000 to $210,000.
LISTEN UP
Here’s something cool. Infiniti’s Middle East operations just created this video called Chromatic. All the images you see are vehicles from the company’s line-up and the techno music you hear are sounds created by the cars. Here’s a little taste.
The music was created composer and producer, Megadon Betamax while the visuals were done by animator and videographer Misha Shyukin. The project took 8 months to complete and is being distributed globally by Universal Music Group.
Click on the link if you want to hear the entire version, but that wraps up today’s report, thanks for watching.
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Comments (31)
February 26th, 2015 at 12:28 pm
According to the Veil G5 website, their coating also helps protect your headlights against the yellowing and pitting from oxidation. If its true, that might make it worth the $100.
February 26th, 2015 at 12:30 pm
Hmm…sounds like the new Ridgeline might only be powered by four cylinders.
February 26th, 2015 at 12:31 pm
John
Does Veil G5 work?????
February 26th, 2015 at 12:33 pm
@WineGeek- that was my first question, if it works then $100 may be well worth it, if it doesn’t then….
February 26th, 2015 at 12:38 pm
It’s not a question of whether Veil G5 works or not, but do they post your bail when you get arrested for receiving stolen property, grand theft auto, or any other criminal charge resulting from the failed product!
February 26th, 2015 at 12:49 pm
@5- what?
February 26th, 2015 at 1:02 pm
I think some ridge line customers were upset by the high cost, small bed, limited towing capicity and low mpg numbers. At that price point they could get a Chevy or Ford Pickup with better mileage, good towing capicity and a larger bed.
February 26th, 2015 at 1:04 pm
re that video – hey, my last video has international distribution too, check it out on youtube…
and btw, I didn’t catch any heat shield rattle in that sound track.
February 26th, 2015 at 1:10 pm
I thought when Audi used the term Avant it was referring to the wagon version of a car. Wait, yes…Google validates this.
So why is Avant being used for a Sedan?
February 26th, 2015 at 1:15 pm
@7 – I would agee, there was little reason to buy a ridge line over an avalanche, actually ” little” was about the only reason- it was smaller.
February 26th, 2015 at 1:36 pm
#6 Buzzerd
Who would really be concerned about Veil G5 working? And when it doesn’t work would you rather be compensated with a new bottle, refunded for the cost, or have your bail paid by the manufacturer?
Of course if you do use Veil G5 and YOUR car gets stolen, well, then the product has truly failed you.
February 26th, 2015 at 1:37 pm
7, etc. Ridgeline is too thirsty because it is kind of heavy for its size, and it has a 5-speed autobox with a top gear that is too short for best mpg. Also, it is sold only with 4WD, which doesn’t help mpg, and mpg bragging rights.
The bottom line is that the Ridgeline was designed for what most people actually do with pickup trucks, carry from one to four people with the bed empty without towing anything, and with a little cargo which might be conveniently stored in the “trunk” which the Ridgeline has. It was not designed to appeal to those who buy pickup trucks for the macho image of the current batch of GM/Ford/Ram offerings. That group make up a lot of American pickup buyers.
If the next Ridgeline gets better mpg and costs less, it will sell better, but it still won’t appeal to those who want a pickup that looks kind of like a Peterbilt.
February 26th, 2015 at 1:58 pm
Where are all the Ridgelines hiding, the PNW with Bigfoot? I think I haven’t seen five of these trucks in my life. Oddly, it always makes me angry, too.
February 26th, 2015 at 2:12 pm
Does anybody else think Audi’s new design language is getting a bit more loud than elegant?
And 600+ hp? I guess what China wants, China gets.
February 26th, 2015 at 2:24 pm
Oddly, I see more Ridgelines in Kokomo, IN, than in my area in Florida where import name plates dominate. I don’t see many Ridgelines anywhere, though.
Honda CRV is becoming a hot item, apparent low end CRV’s. A few minutes ago, a saw two of them parked together at my condo, both with steel wheels.
February 26th, 2015 at 2:31 pm
@11 – I didn’t realize they used IR for data gathering but either way I have theft insurance on my truck and car so I don’t really care if it happens to get stolen, not much of a concern around here anyway. Also this is just like a radar detector, yes you can still get a ticket with one, it’s a bit of defense but certainly not a guarantee. I know mine has saved me many tickets.
February 26th, 2015 at 2:33 pm
@12- I think it’s thirsty because it’s a truck. Look at the new colorado’s and the Fords, even with all the new technology and brand new designs they still require X amount of fuel to drive down a road.
February 26th, 2015 at 2:35 pm
@9 -You are right, but if you click on the Audi link in the transcript, it mentions this is a five door wagon based on the Prologue coupe. It doesn’t look like a wagon in the video, but it is a sporty low-roofed wagon. You can see more pics elsewhere on the web that show the rear better.
This is also covered in Automobile Magazine: http://www.automobilemag.com/auto_shows/geneva/2015/1502-audi-prologue-avant-concept-brings-sexy-five-door-looks-to-geneva/
February 26th, 2015 at 2:44 pm
John,
I predict the return to the US market of the station wagon (last wk’s autoline). Why? Because the lower frontal area means that a station wagon will get better fuel economy than a tall Mini-van but will still have enough room to haul everyone’s stuff. Remember, you heard it hear first
February 26th, 2015 at 3:03 pm
17 It’s thirsty because it’s the truck, with the high aero drag of a truck, but it is on the thirsty side for one its size and weight.
Ridgeline’s EPA combined rating is 3 mpg worse than a similar size V6, 4WD Colorado, and one mpg worse than a much larger, V8 4WD Silverado. In CR’s testing, a V8 crew cab Silverado beat the Ridgeline by one mpg.
February 26th, 2015 at 3:07 pm
18 Other cars companies might call it a “shooting brake.” In any case, it’s enough like a wagon (or hatchback} that I like it.
February 26th, 2015 at 3:09 pm
The grill of the Audi looks too much like a Ford, though. When Ford first copied the Aston Martin nose for the Fusion, I really liked it, but I’m now seeing way too much of it.
February 26th, 2015 at 4:07 pm
Hi John,
You asked if the new Honda jet is the “Civic of the sky”? I think a more apt name would be the Air-cord of the sky, lol.
By the way, when can we look for your real world, Autoline test of that licence plate cloaking paint you reported on?
Thanks,
Phil and Dakota
February 26th, 2015 at 4:10 pm
In Fla if you buy a Ridgeline, you lose your redneck card.
February 26th, 2015 at 4:29 pm
Maybe if Honda made an Acura version of the Ridgeline? Paste on some jewelry, hire the Liam Neeson, and double the price!
February 26th, 2015 at 4:34 pm
Buy a HondaJet, and get a free Ridgeline.
February 26th, 2015 at 6:04 pm
I wonder if the new Ridgeline will have the spare tire under a hinged door of the bed of the truck like the current one does, made changing a tire a chore if you had any kind of cargo or were hauling any kind of dirt or mulch in the bed and had to remove it all before you could access the spare tire. Not a good design to say the least.
February 26th, 2015 at 7:02 pm
26 I guess that’s another indication that the Ridgeline was designed for the typical pickup driver who rarely carries anything in the bed. As far as spare tires, though, it’s been about 30 years since I’ve needed to use one.
February 26th, 2015 at 8:24 pm
Audi R8 , great another car using the Aston Martin/ Ford, now Hyundai, Subaru, Toyota grille. Hell why doesn’t every car maker adopt the style of grille? That way they can prove that creativity is dead.
Hey I know how you can save that $100 for the Veil G5 and not get a speeding ticket. Obey the speed limits. If you want to speed than accept the risk of getting busted.
Ridgeline , good luck you’ll need it.
February 27th, 2015 at 10:25 am
If this Veil stuff actually works, the company should be shut down immediately, along with other companies selling “disappearing plate” products like smoke grey covers, and frames that cover part of the information on a plate.
February 27th, 2015 at 3:11 pm
Veil G5 is a purchase with intent.