AD #2087 – Genesis Shows First SUV Concept, Hyundai Puts Style Back Into Sonata, Clarity EV Could Be a Let Down
April 13th, 2017 at 11:47am
Runtime: 7:56
To watch this episode on YouTube click here.
- Subaru Ascent SUV Concept
- Genesis GV80 SUV Concept
- Hyundai Updates Sonata for 2018
- Honda Reveals Clarity Plug-in & EV
- F1 Driver to Fulfill Indy 500 Dream
- Toyota FT-4X Compact SUV Concept
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On today’s show… Hyundai’s Genesis luxury brand reveals a fuel cell SUV concept, F1’s Fernando Alonso is skipping the Monaco Grand Prix to race at this year’s Indy 500 and Toyota creates a wild off-road concept aimed at millennials. All that and more coming right up on Autoline Daily.
This is Autoline Daily the show for enthusiasts of the automotive industry.
SUBARU ASCENDS THE SUV LADDER
The New York Auto Show is still underway and we’ve got more new vehicles to look at. Subaru took the wraps off its upcoming three-row SUV called the Ascent. And while this is a concept it sure looks production ready now. Both this version and the production model feature an all-new turbocharged direct injection BOXER engine, but details about its specs were not revealed. The production version will be based on a modified version of the company’s global architecture and be built in Indiana. The Ascent will only be sold in North America and it will hit dealerships starting next year.
GENESIS SHOWS FIRST SUV CONCEPT
The freshly minted Genesis brand just showed off its first SUV concept, called GV80. It’s clearly a concept, but I think we can look past the mesh pattern on the wheels and B- and C-pillars to see what a production version might look like. The silhouette is that of a sporty, luxury SUV with a long hood and tapered roof line. Keep the grille too and add some door handles as well and I think you’ve Genesis’ new SUV. Some variation of the display screen and instrument cluster could carry over as well. A large 22-inch curved OLED screen flows into a large digital instrument cluster. Both are something we’re starting to see more of. We could also see a wide choice of powertrains. The GV80 Concept is shown with plug-in hydrogen fuel cell, but you can bet that wouldn’t be the only option.
HYUNDAI PUTS STYLE BACK INTO SONATA
When Hyundai introduced the current Sonata a few years back, it’s styling was criticized for being blander than the version it replaced. But now the new version, which was just unveiled in New York, features a bolder design. The vehicle was created at the company’s California design studio with American tastes in mind. In addition to the updated design, the 2018 Sonata also features a reworked chassis and suspension to improve ride and handling. It’s top of the line, 2.0L turbocharged engine is now mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. And it’s available with more safety equipment.
Still to come… Honda shows off the full Clarity line-up.
CLARITY EV COULD BE A LET DOWN
We got our first look at the plug-in and pure electric versions of the Honda Clarity. The plug-in is impressive, while I think the EV will be a bit of a let down. Here’s why. The plug-in will have an estimated electric range of 42 miles from a 17 kWh battery pack, which would suit a lot of people’s needs. Combined with a 1.5-liter Atkinson cycle 4-cylinder engine, the Clarity PHEV will be able to drive over 330 miles. The range of the plug-in will be its main selling point, but I think it will be the downfall of the EV. Honda has not released the range yet, but I think we can make an educated guess. It has a 25.5 kWh battery pack. That’s smaller than the LEAF, eGolf, Focus Electric and only slightly bigger than the Fiat 500e. All of those vehicles, which are significantly smaller than the Clarity have about 120 miles of range. So, it’s likely that the Clarity EV will struggle to hit 100 miles. That’s just not acceptable this day and age. But the one thing it will have over those other EVs is a comfortable amount of room for 4-5 adults. Both the Clarity plug-in and EV go on sale later this year. The plug-in will be available nationwide, while the EV can be leased in California and Oregon.
F1 DRIVER TO FULFILL INDY DREAM
And in other Honda news, the company announced that F1 driver Fernando Alonso will race in this year’s Indy 500 for the Andretti Autosport team. While it’s not that unusual to see drivers from other series compete in this race, this year’s 500 falls on the same day as the Monaco Grand Prix, meaning Alonso is skipping that race. While he is disappointed to miss that race, he’s already won it twice and Alonso says it’s always been a dream of his to race at Indy. It’s going to be a lot of fun to watch how he does since he’s never driven in an IndyCar before.
And don’t forget to tune into Autoline After Hours later today. John and Gary are in New York speaking to executives from Toyota, Infiniti and Lincoln about their new reveals. And they’ll share what they think are the highlights of the show. That’s this afternoon on our website, Autoline.tv.
Coming up next, a look at Toyota’s wild new off-road concept.
TOYOTA’S SUV CONCEPT FOR MILLENNIALS
Toyota says the busyness of city-based work life builds an urge to “get away.” So, it created the Future Toyota 4-Wheel Drive Crossover or FT-4X for short that’s aimed right at city-based millennials. Toyota calls it a four-wheel drive toolbox with rugged charm. You’ll notice cues tying it to the FJ Cruiser and a vertical rear window that’s similar to what can be found on past Toyota’s as well. The design team actually started the styling processes from rear of the concept rather than the front, which they normally do. They did this because they felt like millennials tend to hang around the back of the vehicle when they go camping and on other trips. And you can see a lot of emphasis was put on the rear tailgate. This is where Toyota employs what it calls mechanical satisfaction.
But to learn what that’s all about, check out John’s interview with Kevin Hunter, the President of Toyota’s CALTY research center. Interestingly he says that this isn’t too far off from being production ready. To find out why, you can watch that and John’s other New York show interviews, on our website, Autoline.tv. Just look for the Autoline On The Road section. Or you can find them on our YouTube channel.
But that wraps up today’s show, thanks for watching and please join us again tomorrow.
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April 13th, 2017 at 12:21 pm
The automotive future looks bright. I have to say that battery electric will win out over all other forms of fuel.
April 13th, 2017 at 12:28 pm
Isn’t Marco Andretti going to drive for Andretti Autosport team at this year’s Indy 500?
April 13th, 2017 at 12:48 pm
Toyota FT-4X looks like it was designed to appear in the next Star Wars sequel. The nose looks like an Imperial Storm Trooper’s helmet and the back looks like some sort of hatch on the Death Star.
April 13th, 2017 at 1:00 pm
I hope Fernando does well. He certainly has a better chance of finishing Indy than he does at Monaco in his unreliable Honda powered McLaren.
#2 Marco still drives for his dad, along with Alexander Rossi (last year’s winner), Ryan Hunter-Reay and Takuma Sato are also part of Andretti Autosport.
I am sure disappointed at the Honda Clarity EV’s range estimation. I am troubled that Honda would even bother to build the car. Their version of the “Volt” should do well, but why do manufacturers keep announcing car EVs? If they would have done the same in a HR-V or CR-V the lines would have been long to buy them.
April 13th, 2017 at 1:03 pm
I think Toyota are on to something. Very much like the thinking at Hyundai. Urban people who like to get out of town for active lifestyle activites on the weekend. The need for a properly small pickup truck goes right over the heads of the American manufacturers. Size of these vehicles are critical because they have to work within a city. I think this small urban outdoors style will be a popular choice.
The Clarity EV does not have the range needed for California or Oregon, but it will work just fine in Japan. I wonder why they bothered to offer it as many will think less of Honda for introducing the vehicle.
April 13th, 2017 at 1:08 pm
2, 4
Here is the Indy entry list:
http://www.trackforum.com/forums/showthread.php/207435-2017-Indy-500-Entry-list
Marco is in the #27 car.
There is always a lot of luck at Indy, with unavoidable crashes, etc., but I expect Alonso to do well. Historically, F1 drivers have done well there, and Fernando is probably one of the best ever.
April 13th, 2017 at 1:19 pm
The Honda EV will flounder in the market place for all the reasons above. Honda sometimes just does not recognize what the market wants to buy in a major segment. The other story on the new Toyota SUV is clearly a teaser with some of the styling appointments that are just “weird” and are almost “prius-like”…..and that is not a compliment!
April 13th, 2017 at 2:22 pm
Isn’t the Toyota concept kind of a replacement for the Honda Element?
April 13th, 2017 at 3:37 pm
I wonder if they’ll consider having him run in the Indy road race to get accustomed to the car? He has already run the road course in F1 so he’d only have to learn the accell and brake limits on the Indy car. Running that race as well would give valuable time getting the car comfortable to him.
April 13th, 2017 at 3:46 pm
9 I doubt that he’ll run the Indy road race, because he would need to miss the Spanish Grand Prix. The Indy race would be good experience for him, though.
April 13th, 2017 at 4:26 pm
The current/proposed new Honda Clarity needs to be redesigned by the same stylists that “FIXED” the Civic, which is now one of the best looking cars on the road, in my opinion. The Clarity’s rear wheel opening does make a statement (DIFFERENT??) and may meet some aerodynamic objective, but is totally out-of-touch with the rest of the car. A similar issue applies to the Accord – an excellent engineered and reliable vehicle that adds a new dimension to the words “boring style.”
April 13th, 2017 at 5:24 pm
I’m thinking that most EV’s are cars, rather than SUV’s, because cars are much more efficient, especially at higher speed. I suspect mfgs tbink there might be more market for a 100 mile range Clarity, than a 100 mile range HR-V for $10K more.
April 13th, 2017 at 6:25 pm
Thanks Sean, for the F1 news, appreciate it!
April 14th, 2017 at 7:40 am
Jenson Button will stand in for Alonso at Monaco.
April 14th, 2017 at 7:56 am
That Toyota concept looks a lot like the Kia Soul to me even down to the tail lights.
April 14th, 2017 at 9:25 am
Kit, that Toyota is definitely aimed at the Element crowd. There is a huge group of camping and/or triathlon folks that appreciated the utility and small size of the Element and Honda left them with no replacement. I know many triathletes that don’t want a big vehicle or need 4WD, but like the Element’s versatility for being a daily driver or big open box with flat load floor to put their bike inside and all their gear. Toyota better come out with it soon, before the old Elements wear out and these folks settle for Transit Connects and Ram ProMaster Citys.
April 19th, 2017 at 5:42 am
As Gary Vasilash would say.. numbers tell the real story as Chevrolet managed to sell 2,132 of their Volt sedans in March 2017 while during the same time they managed to sell 18,607 of their Cruze sedans which emphasizes the point that people LIE and will say what they think people want to hear.