On today’s show… VW’s emissions scandal claims another top executive, Ford’s performance cars are turning into a sales bonanza for the company and why Uber drivers now have to take selfies. All that and more coming right up on Autoline Daily.
This is Autoline Daily for September 26th, 2016.
AUDI’S R&D CHIEF SACKED
Even though Volkswagen at first said its’ diesel emissions scandal was caused by a rogue group of engineers, another top executive is leaving the company. Reuters reports that its head of R&D Stefan Knirsch will leave the company immediately. Last week we reported that he was suspended for his involvement in the coverup and lying under oath. And Bloomberg reports that Martin Winterkorn, the former CEO who resigned because of the scandal, signed off on a coverup plan to only divulge part of the cheating process. Here’s my Autoline Insight: These developments leave little doubt that this scandal goes to the very top of the company. Now the question is: will any of these top executives face prison time if they are convicted?
U.S. SAAR TO BOUNCE BACK
Last month’s car sales in the U.S. market fell a little over 3% and the SAAR dipped to 16.9 million units. That set off a lot of hand wringing, with a lot of analysts predicting this signaled a downturn in the market. But Wards is forecasting that the SAAR will bounce right back this month to 17.6 million.
ZF DEVELOPING AUTONOMOUS TECHNOLOGY
One of the reasons why the cost of autonomous technology is coming down so fast is that so many companies are working on it. Now we can add the supplier company ZF to the list. It’s developing a Level 3 autonomous car that can drive on highways hands-free. ZF also took a 40% stake in a company called Ibeo that makes lidar, which is an important technology for self driving cars. We showed you recently how fast the cost of lidar systems are coming down, from $75,000 a little over a decade ago to only $250 today.
And we’ll be back with more right after this.
FORD PERFORMANCE SALES MATCH PORSCHE
When Ford created a new business unit called Ford Performance, it saw a lot of potential in selling more performance cars. Wow was it right. The automaker will sell more than 200,000 performance cars globally this year. That’s nearly double what it was 3-years ago. To help put that in perspective, that’s about the same number of cars that Porsche will sell globally this year. The Mustang GT350 and 350R are sold out for 2017 and the new Focus RS is sold out in every region around the world. And not only are these cars the most expensive in their model lineups, they’re also bringing younger and more affluent buyers to the brand.
SAY CHEESE!
We all know that kids these days take a ton of selfies, but now you’ll have to add Uber drivers to that list. The ride-hailing company now requires drivers to periodically take a selfie as a form of real-time ID to make sure the right person is driving the car. Uber says that verification only takes a few seconds, but if the pictures doesn’t match the one on file the driver’s account will be temporarily blocked. It’s all about safety for its riders.
Coming up next, a look how Mazda MX-5 was converted into a Fiat 124.
WHAT MAKES THE 124 SPIDER A FIAT
As I’m sure you’re all aware, Fiat’s new small sports car, the 124 Spider was developed in collaboration with Mazda and shares a platform with the MX-5 Miata. On last week’s Autoline After Hours we were joined by Leia Horton, the Program Manager for the Fiat 124 Spider. And in the following clip she discusses what the team did to make it a Fiat.
(Clip from AAH #348 can only be viewed in the video version of today’s show.)
For more info about the development of the Fiat 124 Spider, you can watch that entire discussion right now on autoline.tv or you can find it on our YouTube channel.
But that wraps up today’s show, thanks for watching and please join us again tomorrow.
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Comments (14)
September 26th, 2016 at 12:27 pm
So at vw the mighty are still falling.Will there be any consequences at all for the suits,including winterkorn,or do they all get a slap on the hand and still leave with big bucks?
September 26th, 2016 at 2:10 pm
Still haven’t read one solid explanation for the big push for autonomous vehicles the past couple years. Why did it start? Why the urgency to take driving out of peoples hands?
September 26th, 2016 at 2:27 pm
Checking the Ford Media link, I found that they are counting all Mustangs to get to their 200K global sales of “performance” cars. To me, it’s a stretch to call all Mustangs performance cars, but I commend Ford for selling a such a uniquely American car globally, including RHD versions.
September 26th, 2016 at 2:55 pm
I just wonder how Fiat will manage to keep Tony busy with this Mazda based car. Well, they can always screw up the engine and the electronics, just like the British did with the Sterling back in the 80′s by messing up the electronics.
September 26th, 2016 at 3:03 pm
@ Marshall: My theory is with autonomous cars,they are all easily tracked,and if needs be,controlled.I know,another ‘big brother’ thing.But with all the surveillance being done now just with smart phones,it’s not out of the question,to me at least.
September 26th, 2016 at 3:45 pm
4 The Fiat Miata uses the genuine Fiat 1.4 turbo, which might help keep Tony busier than a Mazda engine.
Off topic, but I just received the new CR. They tested the new “medium duty” Titan, and didn’t treat it kindly. For a start, it rode worse, was noisier, and less comfortable than the competition. It got one mpg worse overall fuel economy on diesel, than a Ford 3.5 turbo or Chevy 5.3 V8 on gas. The Nissan had a little higher tow rating than the 150/1500 competitors, but not nearly the capability of the HD versions of the others.
September 26th, 2016 at 3:56 pm
Nissan went down the wrong road with the xd diesel.Go big,(3/4 or 1 ton),or just use a V6 diesel in the 1/2 ton and call it good.I may be mistaken,but I don’t think there is an exhaust brake on the 5.0 Cummins in the xd.
September 26th, 2016 at 4:01 pm
@2, 5: one reason would be the current 30,000 casualties in traffic accidents in the U.S., one million globally. Thanks to all those skilled, focused, fine drivers.
September 26th, 2016 at 4:02 pm
@2,5,8: 30,000 casualties in traffic accidents in the U.S., one million globally PER YEAR, that is
September 26th, 2016 at 4:16 pm
There 2 key reasons for policy makers to promote autonomous mobility:
1. Aging Population – Baby Boomers are not likely to give up their mobility. As they lose their dexterity and reaction times, autonomy to the rescue.
2. Distracted Driving – Continued education about the perils of distracted driving (are you listening all you testers?) has not been successful in dissuading people from grabbing their cell phones every time they hear the chime (rhyme intended). Again, autonomy to the rescue.
So, when are we going to have autonomous pedestrians… to prevent them from walking off a bridge or cliff?!?!?!
September 26th, 2016 at 4:32 pm
#5, G.A.
Do you know what that Cummins 5 liter V8 diesel was originally made for? It seems to be an odd ball, for Cummins, a diesel that small, with so many cylinders.
BTW, the Nissan was 1.1 seconds slower 0-60 than the Ram V6 diesel, 10.6 vs 9.5 seconds. The Nissan is probably a lot heavier, though, explaining that, and the lousy mpg, for a diesel.
September 26th, 2016 at 4:39 pm
10 Drew said: “So, when are we going to have autonomous pedestrians… to prevent them from walking off a bridge or cliff?!?!?!”
A friend working at a nearby university told me that 2 or 3 students had been killed over the last year, after walking in front of cars on, and near campus. You can be pretty sure that distraction from electronic devices was involved, almost certainly with the pedestrians, and maybe both the drivers and pedestrians. Also, if 3 students were killed, probably 20 more were hit and seriously injured, but survived.
September 26th, 2016 at 5:00 pm
Kit, I know some AEB systems claim to detect pedestrians. I also know those systems require both the radar and camera to confirm the pedestrian. We know the camera’s effectiveness is compromised at night and in the rain. And we know the radar’s effectiveness is compromised if asked to detect soft objects (e.g., a pedestrian wearing a thick, down winter coat).
Product liability lawyers will be busy.
September 26th, 2016 at 7:36 pm
Autonomous pedestrians, you bet. In the near future cars will talk to everything. Your phone will actively ping out to the cars where you are walking. Also the traffic lights. Maybe no more waiting for lights to change as cars will change the way they cycle. Light turns green and all the cars move at same time too! I sat thru 2 lights today because chucklehead number 3 didn’t go.
Motorcycles will be the only semiautonomous vehicles, and they will be safer too, as they will talk to other vehicles-maybe no more left turns in front of motorcycles? Fuel Efficiency and safety will rule the world, or USA.