AD #1627 – Top 5 Models in China, MX-5 Miata’s Unique Development, Yes it’s a Buick…I Get It
May 26th, 2015 at 11:52am
Runtime: 7:49
- Top 5 Models in China
- Daimler Partners with Qualcomm
- Lamborghini SUV Could Double Sales
- Yes it’s a Buick… I Get It
- MX-5 Miata’s Unique Development
- Customization Isn’t Easy
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On today’s show…Chinese brands are starting to pass foreign brands in China…Lamborghini wants to jump into the SUV segment…and Mercedes dives deeper into connectivity. All that and more coming right up on Autoline Daily.
This is Autoline Daily for May 26th, 2015.
CHINA RISING
Have Chinese automakers finally turned the corner in their home market? Up to now, foreign automakers have dominated the Chinese market. But the latest sales figures show that Chinese brands are rising to the top. The best selling car in China last month was the Wuling Hongguang. Wuling is actually part of General Motors, but is a local brand. Hyundai’s Elantra brand was second best, with another Chinese SUV, Great Wall’s Haval H6, hot on its heels. Then comes the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Santana. Foreign brands still have 6 of the top 10 selling vehicles in China, but Chinese brands are are starting to give them a run for their money.
GEE. NO, 4G LTE
Daimler and technology company Qualcomm just announced they are partnering on connected car technology. The two companies will initially focus on adding 3G/4G connectivity, in-vehicle wireless charging and the implementation of Qualcomm’s wireless EV charging technology. That means EV customers wouldn’t have to plug-in their car to charge it. They’d just have to park over a wireless charging mat. That’s all the info the two companies are sharing at the moment. But it’s another example of how connectivity is getting the auto industry to partner up with the tech industry.
LAMBORGHINI SUV COULD DOUBLE SALES
We’ve seen Porsche and Bentley introduce SUVs to their line-up recently and now Lamborghini is joining the list. Bloomberg reports that the luxury maker has agreed to build a new SUV in Italy. Lamborghini has said it believes it can sell 3,000 crossovers a year which would more than double its current volume. Last year the company set an all-time high with over 2,500 in sales. Lambo says an SUV will sell better in markets like China where rough roads limit the sales of its exotic sports cars.
And we’ll be back with more right after this.
YES IT’S A BUICK… I GET IT
Have you started to grow tired of those “That’s Not a Buick” commercials? Well, if you raised your hand, get in line behind us. We started out really liking those ads, and so did the public. It helped the brand shake off its old, stuffy image. And Buick sales shot up as soon as those commercials hit the airwaves. But recently the switch flipped. Now, we have that “ok we get it already” mentality each time one comes across the screen. And Buick may have reached all the people that it was going to with these ads. Sales are down this year compared to last year and things didn’t get any better in April. But GM must be hoping that this is all a fluke as it just announced it’s extending the advertising campaign. We hope they have something ready to go just in case it doesn’t work out.
I FEEL GOOD
When it comes to engineering cars, it’s all about finding the right specifications, right? Well, that’s not how Mazda did it when developing the new MX-5 Miata. Mazda says it tuned the suspension and powertrain to a feeling, not a set of specifications. For example, they did not shoot for specific cornering g’s or slalom times. Instead, the engineers tweaked the suspension until, and I quote, “it felt right.” Dave Coleman, Vehicle Development Engineer for Mazda’s North American Operations says they did not even measure the 0-60 acceleration times. They just wanted a car that felt responsive. As you can imagine, this is a very different way of developing a car, and while we’re still under an editorial embargo for reporting driving impressions of the new Miata, I think we can get away with reporting that they achieved a great balance in the car.
AND THE WINNER IS…
Well we let our poll for the next “Big Name” in interior materials run over the weekend and we still have a clear winner at the top… Eco-Weave. It was actually one of the first 2 or 3 suggestions that we got and was submitted by Autoline viewer Buzzerd. So, congrats go out to you and if you don’t already have experience in the marketing world maybe you should think about it because at least in the Autoline Universe, you’re a marketing genius. And a special thank you to everyone that participated.
You think that customizing cars is easy? Coming up next we’ll talk about how hard it can be.
FAST N’ LOUD
It was a Fast N’ Loud Autoline After Hours last week, that’s because our guest was Richard Rawlings, the star of Discovery’s reality show. In the following clip, Richard talks about the hectic schedule he and his crew goes through to restore classic cars.
(The AAH preview is only available in the video version of today’s show.)
Richard is a true entrepreneur and he’s got a great story to tell. So make sure you check out that show on our website or YouTube channel. And don’t forget that we’re giving away THREE autographed copies of his new book: “Fast N’ Loud: Blood, Sweat and Beers.” So check out our website, Autoline.tv to see how you can win a copy.
That wraps up today’s report, thanks for watching and please join us again tomorrow.
Thanks to our partner for embedding Autoline Daily on its website: WardsAuto.com
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Comments (20)
May 26th, 2015 at 12:08 pm
I once had an “opportunity” to buy a used ‘Vette. I am sure it had great skid pad numbers when new, but it drove like a poor truck when I sampled it. A friend now tells me he wants to sell his Z4 because it doesn’t “ride” very well. There is a difference between what you want for track day and what is reasonable to drive.
May 26th, 2015 at 12:15 pm
What a joke. I guess there are different levels of “restored” I’ve watched this guy butcher cars on his show just to make a buck. Putting a new interior and painting a car is not “restoring” it.
May 26th, 2015 at 12:17 pm
I agree, the FR-S is nice on winding roads (we ain’t got any) but on a trip of just 2 hrs, it gets to you, this suspension and skinny tires gets tiresome after a while, even though the roads around here are in decent shape, I just could not drive it up north in pothole hellhole.
May 26th, 2015 at 12:18 pm
Gee, just what the world needs, a way for lazy EV drivers to charge their cars without having to plug them in, and probably burn 25% more coal to pay for the inefficiency of the wireless charging.
May 26th, 2015 at 12:26 pm
1 For me, a stiff-riding car like my ’96 ‘Vette with Z51 suspension is ok, some of the time, but I wouldn’t want to drive it all of the time. Still, it is fun, even on road trips, to the extent that road trips can be fun. To me, its being rather noisy is more tiring than the stiff ride.
I suspect a Z4 has a cushy ride compare to my ‘Vette.
May 26th, 2015 at 12:37 pm
I’ll take a C6 thanks. I hope it rides nice.
May 26th, 2015 at 12:39 pm
#1 #5 – I also have a C5 with Z51 suspension and its probably over the top for daily driving. That was a common complaint before Magneride shocks came along. And the damn run flats don’t help either.
May 26th, 2015 at 12:42 pm
Last Fall, I took our 2001 Mata 600 miles one-way to drive the Tail of the Dragon (brackets the TN/NC state line in the Smokies). This was the first time I spent significant time in the seat. 2 hours is the limit of its comfort. I suspect the others guys in their Mustang, 911, and C30 endured less strain during the trip. Ah, but all was forgiven when we hit the twisties if the Dragon.
Still looking forward to the first impressions of the new Miata, errrrr, MX5.
May 26th, 2015 at 12:49 pm
Eco-Weave- I was just following the trend- Ford Ecoboost, Ram Ecodiesel, Chevy Ecotec, eco modes for cars…… eco eco eco.
May 26th, 2015 at 12:50 pm
So here’s my internet question for Mazda’s engineer, Mr. Coleman*: Did you engineer the Miata to be a blonde or red headed chick car?
It don’t matter what auto journalists or owners or even Todd Lassa has to say, the internet just gonna hate.
But I do wonder why no one is publishing driving impressions from Japan, where the car is already on sale. Isn’t it?
*I would personally like to invite Mr. Coleman to appear on AAH in the future to talk about the Miata.
May 26th, 2015 at 1:03 pm
I also must congratulate GM and the Department of Justice for dropping the news that GM will agree to criminal charges in relation to ignition switches ON THE FRIDAY BEFORE MEMORIAL DAY.
Bravo, neither wants to see this story featured prominently. Hard to tell who wants to bury it more.
May 26th, 2015 at 1:43 pm
7 Your C5 probably rides better than my last-year C4, but still, not cushy.
When I replaced the OEM run-flat tires on my MINI with regular tires, Pirelli of some sort, it made the car better than new, both a better ride, and substantially less road noise on noisy pavement.
May 26th, 2015 at 1:50 pm
Resto/modding my 64 C2 was fun, driving it was
not. I did not learn the value of all numbers matching until it was too late.
May 26th, 2015 at 2:34 pm
My 85 Corvette with the Z51 was indeed a rough riding vehicle. I told folks they replaced the shocks with concrete. But that was after they softened the rates from 84…I heard those cars with the Z51 were absolutely brutal.
May 26th, 2015 at 2:39 pm
Fast N’ Loud – Restore? more like destroy. I would not let those guys wash my car, let along work on it.
May 26th, 2015 at 6:06 pm
And it’s time for something completely different: How a self parking car workz.
http://powernationtv.com/post/self-parking-car-parks-itself-straight-into-two-onlookers
May 26th, 2015 at 6:30 pm
What killed my interest in Rawlings show was his continuous use of a cheap and easy air-ride suspension. The guy doesn’t realize that hacking up a car that has potential doesn’t make you the biggest buck. Maybe in another 10 years he will have the talent, unless he hires someone with better vision.
May 26th, 2015 at 7:30 pm
I’m one of these “old fashioned” people who likes old cars to remain old cars. A ’32 Ford didn’t have a Chevy V8 and air conditioning, it had a flathead V8, and when I see them, I like them best with a flathead V8.
May 26th, 2015 at 8:04 pm
Same here, Kit. Though when Jay Leno brings his older cars back into working order, I guess it’s fine if he improves the cooling or electrics. He’s respectful of what the cars or bikes were.
May 27th, 2015 at 9:27 am
1, 12, 14;
Had an ’84 with Z-51, it was harsh, but on interstate (and other smooth roads), well, ‘heaven’ (at least to me). Sold it when daughter #1 went to college (still miss it some after all these years). Crossfire V-8, only 205 hp (with 335 lb/ft torque); got a little winded north of 100 mph (but neck-snapping acceleration till then). In its’ day it was a pretty massive leap from the C-3′s.