AD #2467 – Tesla Rules EV Efficiency, Chevy Electrifies COPO Camaro, GM Wants Fuel Rules Set to Historic Rates
October 30th, 2018 at 11:41am
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Runtime: 7:52
0:29 VW Reports Q3 Earnings, Looks More Healthy
1:23 GM Wants Economy Rules Set to Historic Rates
2:35 Lexus Creates Expensive Wine Cooler
2:58 Custom VW Jettas
3:10 Nissan 370Z Project Clubsport 23
3:36 Acura RDX Gets Graham Rahal Touch
4:00 GM Electrifies the COPO Camaro
6:04 Tesla Model X Zaps Jaguar I-PACE in Efficiency
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On today’s show… forget the small block V8, Chevy creates an electric COPO Camaro… Tesla’s Model X is way more efficient than the brand new Jaguar I-PACE… and lots of eye candy from the SEMA show. All that and more coming right up on Autoline Daily.
This is Autoline Daily the voice of the automotive industry.
VOLKSWAGEN LOOKING MORE HEALTHY
Despite heavy headwinds the Volkswagen Group managed to post some healthy financial numbers for the third quarter. It’s still paying diesel fines. Sales in Europe were hurt by the WLTP, the new emissions test procedure that prevented some models from going on sale. And the Chinese market slowed down considerably. So sales of cars and trucks were down 1.5%, but revenue was up slightly. Operating profit was up 57%. But here’s the story behind those numbers. Last year VW paid out 2.6 billion euros in diesel fines in the third quarter. This year it only had to pay out €800 million. And as a result of that it’s net profit was up 158%. That might sound impressive, but that’s a net profit margin of only 5%, which will not excite the investment community.
| VW AG Q3, 2018 EARNINGS | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sales | 2.6 Million | -1.5% |
| Revenue | €55.2 Billion | +0.9% |
| Operating Profit | €2.7 Billion | +57.6% |
| Net Profit | €2.7 Billion | +158% |
GM WANTS ECONOMY RULES SET TO HISTORIC RATES
Last week, GM called for a national zero emission vehicle program based on California’s regulations. But now it’s criticizing the fuel economy standards set during the Obama Administration. It says the rules are “not technologically feasible or economically practicable.” But GM doesn’t like the Trump Administration’s proposal to freeze standards either. Instead, GM says fuel economy rules should be based on historic rates of improvement and points out that since 1980, fuel efficiency improved by 1% a year. Under the Obama rules, from 2020 to 2025 cars would have to improve nearly 4% a year while trucks would be closer to 5%.
There’s always a lot of eye candy unveiled at the SEMA show and we’ve got all the goodies coming up next.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 2018 SEMA SHOW
The SEMA show in Las Vegas is in full swing and here are a few highlights. Lexus has a number of vehicles on display, from a custom UX crossover to a tricked out LS sedan. But perhaps most interesting is this ES with a wine refrigerator, oak flooring and racks for wine bottles and glasses mounted in its trunk.
CUSTOM VW JETTAS
VW chose to highlight the Jetta this year. We most like this example that’s been slammed to the floor with coil-overs and a 3D printed prototype body kit.
NISSAN 370Z PROJECT CLUBSPORT 23
Nissan is taking a 370Z that enthusiasts will wish the automaker had made this whole time. Called the Project Clubsport 23, the 350-horsepower 3.7L engine was replaced with a twin-turbo V6 that generates 400-horsepower. And depending on interest levels, Nissan says it may offer a builder’s kit with some of the parts and pieces you see.
ACURA RDX GETS GRAHAM RAHAL TOUCH
IndyCar driver Graham Rahal put his own touch on an Acura RDX. Most notably the 2.0L engine received a new turbocharger, intake and exhaust system, intercooler and custom tuning. That boosted horsepower from 272 up to 345 and torque from 280 to 370 lb-ft.
GM ELECTRIFIES THE COPO CAMARO
General Motors just built its first electric COPO Camaro for the dragstrip. It has the equivalent of more than 700 horsepower and 600 lb-ft of torque. Estimated quarter-mile times are in the 9-second range. The electric motor is based on a pair of BorgWarner HVH 250-150 motor assemblies, each generating 300 lb-ft of torque. Its 800-volt battery pack enables faster recharging, a critical consideration to making multiple elimination rounds in drag racing. The battery pack has four 200-volt modules, each weighing approximately 175 pounds. Two are located in the rear seat area and the other two are in the trunk. That provides a 56 percent rear-weight bias, which launches the car better. The electric motor bolts up to just about any GM transmission, and the drivetrain is the same as in a gasoline-powered COPO Camaro race car.
But if you ever wonder why automakers spend the time and money it takes to go to SEMA, here’s a couple of interesting stats we learned at FCA’s SEMA preview. The aftermarket business generates $100 billion a year and a vehicle fitted with even just one aftermarket part has a 10% faster turn rate on a dealer lot. And speaking of FCA and SEMA, make sure to keep your eye on our YouTube page and social media, autoline network on Instagram and Facebook and @Autoline on Twitter, this evening for the automaker’s mammoth announcement.
Coming up next, even though the Tesla Model X came out four years ago, it’s still more efficient than the brand new Jaguar I-PACE.
Be sure to join us on Thursday for Autoline After Hours. We’ll have Tim Herrick, the chief engineer of the all-new Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck. And we’ll take a deep dive into how he ran that program. That’s Thursday live at 3 PM eastern, though you can always catch that show on our website or YouTube channel.
TESLA IN A CLASS OF ITS OWN
Tesla is way ahead of the rest of the industry when it comes to EV efficiency. A German YouTube channel called nextmove compared the range and battery consumption of a Tesla Model X 90D and Jaguar I-PACE since they both have 90-kWh battery packs. They drove them on a 166 mile stretch of the Autobahn and found that the I-PACE is less efficient than the Model X, even though it’s lighter and smaller. At speeds between 58 MPH and 68 MPH, the Model X was 23% more efficient. It’s also better when it comes to charging. The researchers tested the vehicles at an IONITY charging station which can provide an output up to 350 kW. The I-PACE was limited to 30-80kW, while the Model X recharged with more than 100kW. This confirms what Sandy Munro told us about his tear-down of a Model 3. When it comes to batteries and electronics, Tesla is in a class of its own.
But that wraps up today’s report, thanks for watching and please join us again tomorrow.
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Comments (20)
October 30th, 2018 at 12:25 pm
VW- Thats why quarterly earnings should be in relation to the average last ten years performance. Having a 158% increase sounds impressive until you know last quarter was horrible. Since the auto industry tends to by cyclic and see a downturn about every 7 years how they perform in relation to their past 10 years would give you a better sense of how they are doing.
October 30th, 2018 at 12:52 pm
If the comparison of the efficiency of iPace vs Model X was valid, and the different instrumentation gave accurate results, why is the Jaguar less efficient? Is the motor inefficient, the controller, the batteries or charging electronics? The iPace can’t have that much more drag, at the moderate speeds they were going.
October 30th, 2018 at 12:56 pm
Brave move by Lexus in this day of easily offended PC police. Certainly someone will take offense that having a wine cooler in your car (even if in the trunk) is in direct conflict with the no drinking and driving message.
But I however understanding the premise of the SEMA show can appreciate the attention to detail and it does give the car a historical Ora of days gone by. Very James Bond like.
October 30th, 2018 at 1:01 pm
Sean, Sorry but the Jetta even with its 3D printed body kit was about as exciting as a lowered Jetta with aftermarket wheels. Oh thats exactly what it was. Yawn!
October 30th, 2018 at 1:19 pm
I think Chevrolet misnamed their electric Camaro; COPO stands for Central Office Purchase Order, and can be had; this vehicle while very cool, can not be ordered. They just needed to name it somthing else.
October 30th, 2018 at 1:33 pm
Numbers…Numbers…Numbers…
I honestly don’t think VW has felt any pain from diesel-gate.
We’re the executives lining their pockets with that much fluff before and now they only line them with a few 10 million each year?
Or was VW on the verge inter-galactic domination and diesel-gate simple protected the galaxy from that?
October 30th, 2018 at 2:00 pm
GM has finally came up with my idea from years ago. 1% each year for fuel economy.
Now if they are really brave they will go with my second idea.
Federal Gas tax goes up by 2cents each year with 90% for highways/improvements and 10% for transit/EVs.
October 30th, 2018 at 2:19 pm
Jaguar revealed the I-Pace climbing rocks. Tuning for off road suspension and drivetrain means higher drag.
October 30th, 2018 at 2:34 pm
7 The Gas needs an overhaul, true, but probably needs to be a road use tax (not a gas tax per se) so the gasoline, EVs (especially the corporate/business people movers), Diesels, even fuel cell vehicles, ALL get to pay their share based on weight and distance traveled. I don’t know if the bravery is there for it, though.
October 30th, 2018 at 2:40 pm
#7 I like your gas tax idea, but typical Gov, currently only about 30 to 45% of state and federal gas tax goes toward road repair and maintenance depending on the state.
October 30th, 2018 at 2:52 pm
I have not test driven a car at a dealers since around Thanksgiving 2012 or so, when they bribed me with a $50 gift card to test a Ford Fusion Hybrid (which I did not like and had pitiful actual MPG). If I wanted to test drive something, now, I’d choose a top of the line, close to $200k AMG S 65 or S 63 (the Driver’s S class! How did I forget it the other time… but I bet the local dealer will not have a test vehicle of this specific type) or a Tesla S.
I googled it and found the nearest Tesla store from my place is almost an hour away. They also said they have S (which I like) and X (which I don’t) and no Model 3s for test drives.
But the search found another site that tried to discourage me from this, unless I would actually buy one:
https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/threads/dont-test-drive-a-tesla-unless-you-want-to-buy-one.96765/
Select comments there:
“…don’t test drive it! It’ll ruin your other car driving experiences..”
“.. But recently . . . the wife was looking at possibly replacing the old Lexus RX 400H. I like the Model X, but not as much as the S, and without any other really meaningful electric SUV with good range, started looking at ICE cars. Looked at BMWs, Lexus, Mercedes, Honda, Acura, Jeep, Audi and pretty much everything out there. Wife liked the look of Mercedes the most, so went for a test drive of the GLC, GLK, and ML. Cars had nice interiors, and were surprisingly comfy, but the ride felt like we were dragging an anchor around behind us, and really felt very choppy with the gear shifts. I realized then that I had officially become spoiled by Tesla’s lightning acceleration and amazing ride. Ugh…”
And this exchange: The Larry below is not related to me in any way.
” Hello All,. My name is Larry. I had my first Tesla experience August 2016. Since then thinking of Tesla’s has ruined my life. Consumed with Tesla forums, researching used Tesla’s, speculating on future Tesla improvements, daily visits to the Tesla.com design studio devolved to twice daily and sometimes hourly visits. Finally after 10 months I figured the car would be cheaper than the necessary therapy bills.
Now things are worse! Like casino’s gambler help lines I think Tesla has a moral obligation to test ride driver’s, no I mean test ride victims like myself, who’s entire lives are focused on our next high, excuse me drive.
Thank you for your compassion.
Welcome, Larry – you are in a place of healing and no judgement. Take it day by day and I’ll be your sponsor if you use my referral code for your next purchase. “
October 30th, 2018 at 4:01 pm
#11 Larry how does anything in your post relate to today’s show? We can all appreciate your daily devotions to Tesla, but the only mention of Tesla today was on electrical efficiency and nothing to do with driving comparisons.
October 30th, 2018 at 4:45 pm
8 Yeah, maybe the under carriage of the I-Pace is draggy. Also, maybe the powertrains have more power loss than the Tesla. I think the Jaguar has the motors mounted transversely, which is the efficient way, since it eliminates (relatively) high loss bevel or hypoid gears, but other things could be involved making it a “gas hog.”
October 30th, 2018 at 5:43 pm
What are iPace’s “concentric motors”? Could they be some kind of inefficient compromise?
October 31st, 2018 at 7:25 am
12 AGAIN you make gratuitous attacks on MY POSTS ONLY and NEVER on the person who REALLY makes his “daily devotions to tesla” and EVs in general.
FIRST OF ALL the SHOW DOES have a Tesla Segment, praising its EFFICIENCY. Apparently you are so biased you did not even notice it.
SECOND, I will APPRECIATE IT if you DO NOT read, and especially do not respond, to my posts, since your batting average so far is 0.000 and you only come back and apologize each time you wrongly criticize my posts.
THIRD, Humor. This is what my post was about. AUTOMOTIVE humor. Try it sometime.
And now I hope you can go back to your urgent work.
October 31st, 2018 at 8:33 am
15 Calm down Larry, It was not an attack just a simple question how your 4 page post related to anything in yesterdays show.
However, you are the biggest Tesla cheerleader on this site and post lengthy daily accolades when it doesnt even relate to anything being discussed.
Glad to hear your keeping score of whatever batting average your speak of , Although I have more important things to do than keep track of postings that disagree with me.
I did apologized to you because I believe in being polite and considerate of others opinions on here and in one of your many posts that I misunderstood what you were speaking about. Everyone has opinions and I welcome a diverse conversation of varied ideas and thoughts. However I try to keep in mind that the best opinions are backed up with facts and not links to websites of other peoples opinions that are not only linked but then pasted too as if we are not smart enough to follow a link.
Try not to take things so personal. Have a great day!
October 31st, 2018 at 10:13 am
@14,15. Yes, calm down Larry D. I believe that Lambo2015 was just making a comment and it was not a personal attack on you.
I do watch every show and read ALL comments every day. I have much respect for you and others on the site. My one comment about you is your use of “Trump Like” name calling. This is not necessary at all and I find it distracting. You are very knowledgeable but I believe you are one of those people that think you do nothing wrong, lead the perfect life, and are unable to accept other points of view or actions. My two pennies. Thanks.
October 31st, 2018 at 10:24 am
14, 15, 17. I agree. Let’s try to keep it civil. Weren’t “autos101″ and “ColoradoKid” actually actually banned from this site a few years go?
October 31st, 2018 at 4:50 pm
Remember this is Jaguars FIRST EV, Tesla had the S to work from. Tesla is all out EV and Jag still has to invest in diesel and gas engines (and platform to work with such motors). You might think that all that Tesla knowledge can just be copied. If that were so Detroit would be building cars as good as Japan for years and McLaren would have taken over from Ferrari. It takes time and learning first hand.
1% Mpg improvement is pitiful. So your car in 5 yrs time will do 5mpg better (on test) presuming the same traffic levels and driving habits. Whats forgotten is that in the 80-90′s mpg actually fell and there were no new standards just emission ones. What will hurt detroit is getting better truck mpg even though there is more scope to fix weight/engine performance and fine tuning drag. GM knows that someday climate change will mean only radically more efficient cars will sell and if Trump kills off the reason to invest in better mpg, then one day they will face the same issue as the crash and asking for another fed bailout will not be easy. Autonomous car share firms will not order cars with poor mpg.
October 31st, 2018 at 6:30 pm
Why is the government even involved with fuel economy? There’s no shortage, and doesn’t look like there will be for hundreds of years. Modern cars emit practically zero emissions. USA exports oil so it’s not to protect the economy. Could it be that government just wants to control everyone and everything?