AD #1990 – Toyota Strengthens EV Development, Drive For Free…But There’s A Catch, Jaguar Reproduces 1957 XKSS
November 17th, 2016 at 11:55am
Runtime: 8:31
To watch this episode on YouTube click here.
- Toyota Creates Venture Company to Develop EVs
- EPA Labels More Accurate
- Jaguar Reproduces 1957 XKSS
- Acura Reveals Future Interior Design
- Drive For Free…But There’s A Catch
- Hyundai Shows Off Autonomous Ioniq
- VW e-Golf Updates
- Mitsubishi Hints at Future Design Direction
- Mazda Unveils New Prototype Racecar
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On today’s show…Toyota creates an in-house venture to develop EVs…Hyundai reveals an autonomous version of the Ioniq…and more highlights from the LA auto show. All that and more coming right up on Autoline Daily.
This is Autoline Daily the show for enthusiasts of the automotive industry.
TOYOTA CREATES VENTURE COMPANY TO DEVELOP EVs
Last week we reported about Toyota’s plans to introduce a pure EV by 2020 that has at least a 200-mile range. And to help make that a reality, the company is establishing an in-house venture company that will be responsible for developing electric cars. The new company will launch next month and also include representatives from suppliers Aisin and Denso. Up until now Toyota has put its focus on hydrogen fuel cells instead of battery electric vehicles, deeming them the “ultimate eco-car.” However the company is switching its strategy because governments around the world are investing into EV charging stations instead of hydrogen stations. And the company realized it needed to change course.
EPA LABELS MORE ACCURATE
Around a decade ago, the EPA revised its fuel economy testing to more accurately reflect real world driving. That’s because most drivers were getting lower mileage than the car’s label. A 2005 study from Consumer Reports found that the EPA label was off by an average of 3.3 MPGs. But now Consumer Reports has updated its study and found that there is no significant difference between its test and the EPA label. CR tested nearly 400 vehicles from model years 2009 to 2016 and found that the figures differed by an average of 0.8 MPG or 3%.
JAGUAR REPRODUCES 1957 XKSS
Earlier this year, Jaguar announced plans to rebuild its famous XKSS model from the 1950’s to its exact specifications from when it was originally produced. And now the company is showing off an example at the Petersen Museum in LA. The car was a production version of Jaguar’s famous D-type race-car. The company originally built 25 of them but only 16 survived a fire that broke out at the Browns Lane plant where it was built. So Jaguar decided to build those nine models that were lost and it’s already sold them for more than 1 million pounds apiece.
Still to come…Acura shows off what its future interiors will look like.
IT’S WHAT’S ON THE INSIDE THAT COUNTS
Earlier this year at the Detroit auto show Acura gave us a look at its styling future with the Precision Concept and now in LA it’s giving us a peek into its future interior. At the core of the Precision Cockpit are two large display screens. One for driver information, the other for infotainment. The one for the driver will display all the normal stuff, like how fast you’re going, engine speed, those sorts of things. But when automated driving is engaged the screen transforms into a 3D layout that displays cars, pedestrians, cyclists and other objects. Now let’s move over to the infotainment screen, which Acura has placed high on the dash to be more in line with the driver’s natural line of sight. While it’s still a touchscreen, the main source of control is a low-mounted touchpad. What’s unique about this touchpad is that it uses something called absolute position mapping. Essentially wherever you touch the touchpad it corresponds with the same spot on the screen. Touch bottom left on the touchpad and it’s like you’re touching the bottom left of the screen. But don’t think this is some space-age dream of Acura’s. The brand says we’ll see this technology in the next few years.
DRIVE FOR FREE…BUT THERE’S A CATCH
The basis of any ride- or car-sharing program is that you have to pay for the service. But how does free sound? The only catch is you have to be ok with becoming a rolling billboard. Hyundai and WaiveCar are launching a car-sharing program using the pure electric version of the Ioniq that runs on advertising dollars. The cars will be wrapped in advertising and also feature a digital roof mounted display. Using an app, customers can get the vehicles for 2 hours for free. It’s $5.99 for every additional hour. The service will first be rolled out in LA next year with 3 additional cities planned by the end of 2017.
HYUNDAI SHOWS OFF AUTONOMOUS IONIQ
Hyundai also had two other big announcements for the Ioniq. The brand showed off an autonomous version of the electrified car that it has been testing. Hyundai says it’s developing its own autonomous vehicle operating system with the hopes of introducing the technology that the average consumer can afford. It also announced a new negotiation-free single-payment method for a way of getting into an Ioniq EV, called Ioniq Unlimited. The service includes one fixed payment for unlimited mileage, electric charging costs, scheduled maintenance, wear items and all typical purchase fees. Customers go online, select the vehicle they want from the dealer’s inventory and choose a 24- or 36-month lease. Once they get credit approval, they go to the dealer to finish the purchase, which involves filling out a few forms. No haggling.
And for more from LA, be sure to check out our coverage of the show. John talks to the executives about their new unveils from the floor of the show. You can watch those interviews on our website, Autoline.tv or you can find them on our YouTube channel.
Coming up next, Mitsubishi hints at its future design direction and Volkswagen updates the electric version of the Golf.
VW e-GOLF UPDATES
And we’ve still got more reveals from LA to show you. Volkswagen introduced an updated version of the e-Golf. Its range has been boosted from 83 miles up to 124 miles per charge. And its electric motor now cranks out 134 horsepower which is 19 more than before. The e-Golf also features styling updates to the exterior and interior as well.
MITSUBISHI HINTS AT FUTURE DESIGN DIRECTION
Mitsubishi revealed a sleek looking electric crossover concept called the eX. It not only hints at the company’s future design direction, but it’s also a showcase of its EV, autonomous and artificial intelligence technologies.
MAZDA UNVEILS NEW PROTOTYPE RACECAR
Mazda took the wraps off a new prototype race car, called the RT24-P. It’s powered by a 600 horsepower, 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The racecar will compete in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and make its debut at the Rolex 24 at Daytona in January.
And if you want to learn more about Ford’s new compact crossover, the EcoSport, make sure you tune into Autoline After Hours this afternoon. John and Gary sit down with the chief engineer of the vehicle and Ford’s director of U.S. Marketing, to get the inside scoop on the CUV. In addition to that, the guys are joined by their journalist colleagues to discuss the other highlights from the LA auto show. That’s today at 3PM eastern time on our website, Autoline.tv.
But that wraps up today’s show. Thanks for watching and please join us again tomorrow for the latest news in the global automotive industry.
Thanks to our partner for embedding Autoline Daily on its website: WardsAuto.com
November 17th, 2016 at 12:44 pm
Regarding the EPA numbers, the actual tests are too “easy,” relative to real world driving, so they have been downwardly adjusted certain percentages over the years, to better reflect the mpg people actually get.
Still, there is a problem. Since the “highway” test is done at relatively low speed, the results, adjusted or not, don’t accurately reflect the difference between cars, and trucks/SUV’s at 75-80 mpg on the interstate. An example is that my Corvette gets about 29.5 mpg on my ~1100 mile trip between FL and IN on the interstate at 75-80 mph. A friend gets about 2 mpg worse mileage for the same trip at similar speed in his CRV, which has a better highway rating.
November 17th, 2016 at 12:58 pm
I generally find the new of late EPA numbers to be pretty accurate: more so the highway numbers (at 65 mph); the city numbers can be somewhat more variable (per different users), that they, are more of a ‘dart-board’ kind of number. The numbers provided, more often than not, will give the customer a relative comparison between models and I believe that is their most important function.
November 17th, 2016 at 12:59 pm
@ Kit: Your vette has the aerodynamics,the crv doesn’t,lol.I think your mpg’s out of your new vette is terrific.
November 17th, 2016 at 1:02 pm
I’ll never see the full hwy mpg rating for my van.When I leave my valley,it’s climbing up and down mountain passes.I just set the CC at 65 and kick back and enjoy the ride.I still get in the mid 20′s.
November 17th, 2016 at 1:15 pm
With most cars I’ve had, I consistently beat the city rating and, except for the Corvette, get a little less than the highway rating on the interstate.
The only car I’ve had, with which I average less than the “combined” rating, is the Prius. I’m not complaining, though. I average about 46 for driving that includes some very short trips, some interstate driving, and everything in between.
November 17th, 2016 at 1:22 pm
4 Mid 20′s isn’t bad. On non-hilly roads, you would probably maych the highway rating at 65 mph.
The mileage of my Vette drops a lot in shorter trip driving with stops, etc. Still, I get low 20′s, handily beating the city rating of 16.
November 17th, 2016 at 3:34 pm
I was listening to the Ford Ecosport podcast while driving my BMW i3-REX and too often it sounded like they were describing my car.
Bob Wilson
November 17th, 2016 at 6:17 pm
I bet Ford wishes they had that Ecosport now, rather than a year from now. Those small, tall wagons are becoming a really hot item.
November 17th, 2016 at 6:19 pm
Will Ecosport be the first Indian car in the U.S.? Royal Enfield bikes come from India, but I can’t think of any cars that do.
November 17th, 2016 at 6:33 pm
I was interested in the Ecosport until I heard that it won’t be available with a spare tire, not even a donut, just some fix-a-flat. I’m too old school to mess with that stuff, I have blown out sidewalls before where that stuff would have left me stranded on the side of the road. I’m not interested in run-flats either, they produce too rough of a ride for me and my delicate backside
November 17th, 2016 at 9:31 pm
#10 – add a receiver hitch and a spare tire holder. My first BMW i3-REX mod was adding a 2″ receiver hitch to carry my wife’s wheel chair carrier.
Bob Wilson
November 17th, 2016 at 10:55 pm
I last used a spare tire about 40 years ago. When the OEM run flats on my Corvette wear out, I will replace them with non run flats, and take my chances. In the unlikely event I have a flat, I’ll get a flat bed, or repair, as needed.
November 18th, 2016 at 5:42 am
#12 – The previous owner had a flat repair and must have used the tire ‘goop’ kit which was missing. So I replaced it with a quality, tire plug-kit and 12 V air pump.
With the recent cold snap, it is time to top off the tires. Given the sad state of gas station air pumps, it pays for itself within a year from lower tire wear, improved fuel/EV efficiency, and precise handling.
About the Ford Ecosport, the specs show it has the same empty weight as our 2900 lb, BMW i3-REX. But at 168 hp, the 2014 BMW i3-REX has more ‘gitty-up.’
November 18th, 2016 at 8:08 am
I had been on vacation, so I’m playing catch up with these shows & comments. The Pacifica should definitely win NACTOY. I rented one for the drive down to FL and was very impressed with it. The wife even wanted me to ask if we can buy it rather than return it. It handles much more like a car than previous versions and got great gas mileage. The newest generation U-connect with a large screen was very intuitive and easy to use. The stow-n-go seats made it really versatile for cargo/seating as we met our friends down there and could pop seats up as needed. If you are interested in the hybrid version, you may be able to get it cheaper than the standard version! (Click on my name for the link to explain that math.) I am interested in driving the Bolt though before I make any new car purchase.
As far as the talk of ride quality for luxury cars (Buick/Caddy/Lincoln), I prefer the tight German handling but can see how some would prefer the soft, floaty ride. Seems to make sense to have Buick soft & Caddy tight (to compete with German/Japanese), but Buick is trying to shed its “old person” stigma as well as continue to be highly competitive in China. With most in China being chauffer driven though, maybe a cushy ride would do better there?