AD #2479 – Ford Bronco & Jeep Pickup Pics Leaked, DSRC Vs. 5G LTE, Great Car Audio Takes Time
November 15th, 2018 at 11:33am
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Runtime: 8:09
0:32 3D Printing Assembly Tools
1:20 Ford Bronco Pics Buck Out
1:52 Jeep Pickup Leaked
2:23 Kia Teases All-New Soul
3:13 DSRC VS. 5G LTE
4:14 Names of Automated Driving Systems Confusing
5:47 Great Audio Takes Time
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On today’s show… why it now takes years to develop a killer sound system in vehicles… there’s a battle brewing in Europe over DSRC and 5G LTE… and photos of the new Ford Bronco and Jeep pickup are leaked to the internet. All that and more coming right up on Autoline Daily.
This is Autoline Daily the voice of the automotive industry.
3D PRINTING ASSEMBLY TOOLS
3D printing is being used for a number of unique applications in the automotive industry and here’s another that caught our eye. Ford is using a 3D printed window alignment tool at its plant that makes the Mustang convertible. Not only are all the necessary bits and pieces built in, like the retainers to hold down the pneumatic tubing, but it’s also 30% lighter and cheaper to make compared to a traditional welded fixture. The plastic tool also allows for easier handling and is light enough that the operator doesn’t need an assist to lift it. It’s an important enough development that the Society of Plastics Engineers gave it an Automotive Innovation Award in the area of additive manufacturing.
FORD BRONCO PICS BUCK AHEAD OF DEBUT
Photos of two significant vehicles are being leaked ahead of their debuts and we’ll start with the Ford Bronco. As you can see, the SUV mixes a little bit of retro with modern, rugged styling. We think the two-tone paint job gives it a little bit of a Ford Flex vibe and the front grille looks a lot like the Jeep Renegade. The Bronco will be built at the same Ford Wayne assembly plant as the Ranger, so it will likely be about the same size as the pickup.
JEEP PICKUP LEAKS OUT
Now check out the new Jeep Gladiator pickup. As you would expect it looks like a Wrangler with a bed on the back. We’re also learning it will come standard with a 3.6L V6 engine, but the automaker’s 3.0L EcoDiesel engine will available as well. As will two 4-wheel drive systems, Dana 44 axles, electronic swaybar disconnect and 33-inch tires. Look for the Gladiator to make its debut at the LA auto show.
KIA TEASES ALL-NEW SOUL
And while we’re on the subject of LA, Kia released this teaser image of the new Soul. Not much to see, but it does now feature a floating roof design and the taillights look larger than before. If you’d like to get a little bit better idea what the new Soul will look like, do a search on the inter webs, there are some spy photos floating around.
Still to come… a new study finds the names of partially automated systems, give driver’s the impression they’re a lot more capable than they actually are.
DSRC VS. 5G
There’s a big tug-of-war going on in the automotive industry over which technology to use for vehicle-to-vehicle communication, 5G LTE or DSRC, which is short for Dedicated Short Range Communication. DSRC is essentially part of the Wi-Fi spectrum while 5G is the upcoming standard for cell phones. Europe and the United States have embraced DSRC while China is pushing 5G. But not all companies in Europe want DSRC. Reuters reports that BMW along with Vodafone and Ericsson are trying to persuade the European Commission to use 5G in cars, which they say is a better alternative. In related news, a source tells Autoline that there’s going to be a major announcement at CES about an enhanced version of 4G LTE. Some are even calling 4.5G because the infrastructure to use it is already built.
NAMES OF AUTOMATED DRIVING SYSTEMS CONFUSING
And in other technology news, the AAA just released a study that found that consumers are confused over the capability of partially automated driving systems because of their names. Around 40% of Americans, expect those systems, which have names like Autopilot, ProPilot and Pilot Assist, to have the ability to drive the car by itself. It says drivers need to educate themselves about the systems but it also suggests they need standardized naming to avoid confusion. The AAA also tested these systems on both public and closed coarse roads in four different vehicles, a 2018 Mercedes S-Class, 2018 Nissan Rogue, 2017 Tesla Model S, and the 2019 Volvo XC40. If found they performed best on open freeways and highways with stop and go traffic. But they had a tendency to struggle with poor lane markings, unusual traffic patterns or stationary vehicles.
The engine in the new Bullitt Mustang produces some of the sweetest sounds you’ll ever hear. But so does its audio system and we’ll have more about that, right after this.
GREAT AUDIO TAKES TIME
It used to be a rite of passage to upgrade your car’s sound system. When I was in high school that meant installing radios with dolphins that jumped across the screen and the biggest subwoofers and amp you could afford and/or fit in your trunk. But car audio systems have gotten so good that almost no one upgrades the system in a brand new vehicle anymore. At a recent event put on by electronics company Bang & Olufsen and Ford, I learned that audio engineers are now working with automakers, like Ford, 2-3 years before a vehicle will even hit customer hands. They need that much time because they’re not just taking speakers and radios into consideration. They’re also trying to map out the natural resonance of the vehicle itself. How will a hole in the sheet metal of the door or thick leather material of the interior impact how the system sounds? It’s questions like these that the engineers need to get answers and find solutions for. And it’s paying off in the end product. I was able to experience the 12-speaker, 1,000-watt Bang & Olufsen stereo system in the new Bullitt Mustang and like so many new vehicles, it was just amazing how crisp and clear the songs were. The upgraded 5.0L V8 engine in the Bullitt also produces its own really good soundtrack… so stay tuned for that.
And you won’t want to miss Autoline After Hours this afternoon. Joining us is Christian Spencer from Nissan to talk about the all-new Altima. And back by popular demand, the Autoextremist, Peter DeLorenzo will be along for the ride as well as Mark Phelan from the Detroit Free Press. So join us at 3PM eastern time on Autoline.tv to see what the gang has to say about what’s going on in the automotive industry.
But that’s it for today, thanks for watching and please join us again tomorrow.
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Comments (29)
November 15th, 2018 at 11:49 am
3D Ford: I will stay tuned to see if all this makes any difference in Ford’s next quarterly profits… or, more accurately, if it makes its significant losses any smaller. If it does not, it’s just details.
Ford Bronco: I have no idea who will bother with this dinosaur. Hopefully the folks at Ford have DONE their Homework this time.
Jeep Pickup, why not? The US pickup market is still huge and the number of serious players is still too small. Its really the “detroit 3″ plus Toyota, everybody else offering pickups, incl Honda and Nissan, are just footnotes.
Why not? because they already have the very successful RAM at FCA. Hopefully the Jeep Pickup will not cannibalize Ram.
Names of Auto systems confusing? Not confusing, Downright MISLEADING when you call something an “Autopilot” when in fact it is NOTHING of the kind. This is just the same principle with our unanimous condemnation of using misleading and wrong alphanumerics for BMW, Merc, Lexus and others.
It’s great to have Peter back. I used to fully agree with his ‘rants’ when he first came out with his Autoextremist site, although later I did not fully agree with him. Next time, try to grab former C&D Editor Czaba Czere if you can. Really smart and well-informed guy.
November 15th, 2018 at 12:02 pm
I hope Ford’s new Bronco has great function because its forum is (to me) like a frumpy Range Rover; needs work, a lot of work IMO. Neo-retro doesn’t work for this one.
November 15th, 2018 at 12:03 pm
darn it, #2; change forum to form
November 15th, 2018 at 12:15 pm
Hey Sean, I’m thinking either the exhaust note of that Bullitt was dubbed in, or that Mustang doesn’t use rubber engine mounts. Because I couldn’t detect a hair of engine torque as it was revved in that clip.
November 15th, 2018 at 12:26 pm
The Jeep pickup should sell well, but to me, it would look much better as a real pickup, with only two doors. Those are so passe, though. No one sells them, except for lower trim levels of the big trucks.
November 15th, 2018 at 12:50 pm
Bronco looks like somebody mated a Mini with an Explorer.
Fondly remembering the CJ7 Scrambler and wondering if that new Gladiator will also be available as a two-door.
November 15th, 2018 at 12:55 pm
3D printing of tools sounds enticing, I would be interested in the tolerances they can hold.
Ford Bronco is cool but sadly will only satisfy a niche market and will probably sell well for a year or two. IMO.
Jeep pickup is great news, I dont see it taking sales from Ram as the towing and hauling capabilities will not be even close. Should be a nice addition to the Wrangler line-up.
Totally agree that levels of AV need to be standardized to allow buyers the ability to compare apples to apples. Not only does this confusion make it harder to compare systems when buying a car but it is misleading.
I’ve always been a huge fan of the GM small blocks but that Mustang does have an amazing exhaust note. Seems a shame to put an expensive sound system in to cover up such a great sounding motor.
November 15th, 2018 at 12:59 pm
Reality Check – The real reason that few people upgrade their vehicles audio system is because it nearly impossible these days. It used to be a simple matter of removing an audio head unit. Nowadays the audio / climate / navigation and vehicle controls are all integrated into a single unit.
November 15th, 2018 at 1:07 pm
The exhaust sound of a V8 (Mustang, Camaro, Vette, Ram, Challenger) is wonderfully intoxicating. I fear future generations may not experience such joy.
November 15th, 2018 at 1:11 pm
New Bronco- I don’t think it look that much like the jeep other than round head lights.
3D printing- is one of the major benefits not that you would be able to produce most parts forever? So 70yrs from now your children want to refurbish your corvette or maybe something much more rare, they can always find parts.
Automated driving- adding further to the confusion is the manufactures advertising. I have noticed a Nissan add that implies the auto features can somehow get you through traffic jams faster.
November 15th, 2018 at 1:53 pm
The Mustang window alignment tool is an ideal application for 3D printing, a fairly intricate item, that you need very few of. You can easily make any shape you have the CAD files for. An early 3D printing demonstration item was a working adjustable wrench, with no removable parts. The plastic wrenches I’ve seen are not strong enough to be very useful, though.
November 15th, 2018 at 2:00 pm
9 There will always be V-8s. There just won’t be tens of millions of them on the road, like there are now. In 50 years, you might need to go to a car show to see and hear a V-8, like you now need to go to an air show to see and hear a Merlin V-12, or a 14 cylinder radial engine.
November 15th, 2018 at 2:30 pm
#8 Dead on Phillip; Its not that the OE stereo is always all that great. They are not replaced because of them being very integrated into the car. Yes they have become a lot better than an AM/FM radio with a just a center dash speaker but I’m not sure many aftermarket radios would work with your touch screen or steering wheel controls. Not to mention be the proper shape to fit your dash.
Plus the OE’s have realized that their upgraded sound system can be put in at the factory for an extra $100 to them and they can charge 6 to 10 times that much.
November 15th, 2018 at 5:03 pm
8, 13. I worked at Delco Electronics during the transition from car radios being a separate item, to the radio being combined with HVAC cortrols, and more. As I remember, this started at GM with Beretta/Corsica, and soon followed to other models. The aftermarket audio installers were not happy.
November 15th, 2018 at 5:25 pm
14 I think I was wrong on that. At least the early Berettas and Corsicas still had separate radios. By the mid-late ’90s, though, things were a lot more complicated for aftermarket sound systems.
November 15th, 2018 at 5:46 pm
That is not the Ford Bronco. That is the small Bronco, what some are calling the Maverick. Look at the middle picture. The large “shadow” behind the Maverick is the real Bronco.
November 15th, 2018 at 5:46 pm
To a certain amount a stero can be made to sound somewhat like an upgraded unit by putting in upscale speakers. While that won’t upgrade sound to a unit with premium tuning and more speakers a significant improvement can be had.
November 15th, 2018 at 6:29 pm
16 The picture is the first Bronco. The O.J. monster Broncos, with multiple generations were next, and then the Bronco II somewhere in the middle. The Expedition basically replaced the big Bronco.
November 15th, 2018 at 7:17 pm
So… really do like the Bronco, but damn… I was really hoping for a 2-door.
By the way, you sound EXACTLY like your dad. I thought I was listening to John McElroy.
November 15th, 2018 at 10:26 pm
I would have expected more research from Autoline in regards to the Bronco. Hello, that’s the baby Bronco! Look at the shadow image behind it. That’s the bigger Bronco. One look at Ford’s teaser would confirm this.
November 15th, 2018 at 10:43 pm
Everything I’ve read in the Wall Street Journal suggests that the U.S. manufacturers are pushing for 5G for V2V, not DSRC. In support of that, the U.S. government blocked a takeover attempt of Qualcomm by Broadcomm, because the former is a U.S. company working at the leading edge of 5G, and Broadcomm at the time was a Chinese company. The U.S. and according to the articles, the U.S. auto companies, are all rallying about 5G for V2V. The U.S blocked the takeover on the fear that a China company holding Qualcomm might reduce the security of 5G.
November 16th, 2018 at 8:51 am
18. Disregard that comment. I was seeing something else, a photo of a light blue 1st gen Bronco.
November 16th, 2018 at 9:02 am
Bryan is correct. That is the baby (focus-based?) Bronco – not the Ranger-based one as seen the shadow behind it. The real Bronco will have a removable top (perhaps panels), tailgate-mounted spare; and even a 7-speed manual to properly compete with the Wrangler. Also Ford has just re-registered the “Maverick” trademark and bets are that is what the baby Bronc will be called (to go up against the Renegade & Cherokee). Can a micro Fiesta-based Bronco be next?!. If so, is it too early to call it a Pinto?
November 16th, 2018 at 9:29 am
Pinto would be a good name for a Ford trucklet. It fits the brand, being horse related, though, I think, just color patterning of horses.
November 16th, 2018 at 9:50 am
Personally I don’t think different levels of Steering Wheel autonomy is a good idea. Sure maybe brake and steering interaction for crash avoidance but not just driving down the road. Even on a short ride, Drivers (like the Uber driver) just cannot remain attentive enough to override a road issue fast enough if they are not already fully engaged. Level 1 then jump to Level 4…anything in between is just asking for trouble.
November 16th, 2018 at 9:56 am
1 When I wrote the comments I had read the show transcript but had not seen the photos of the Jeep Pickup. Later I saw the daily video from Autonews which had it, and I’d like to revise my original opinion:
The Jeep pickup looks good, and will satisfy its intended audience. It sure has Jeep (Wrangler) DNA, and will sell well.
It will not mess with Ram sales, totally different styles, but it might affect sales of other Jeep Models, it may lower Wrangler sales in particular.
When Subaru introduced its very affordable 3-row SUV or CUV the Ascent, it continued its streak of 68 or so months of sales gains, but only slightly. Which obviously means that many Ascent buyers would otherwise buy other Subarus.
In Friday’s show I bet there will be an item about Honda introducing yet another CUV, the passport, slated between the Pilot and the CR-V. I predict it will have the same fate as the Subaru, it will mostly take sales from its siblings.
And now Ford comes up not with one but two Broncos?
I see more and more makers introducing more new light trucks. This can only mean their average profits will suffer, in the long run, and they will end up making the truck market (incl SUVs and CUVs) as bad as the car market, from the point of view that there are already too damned many models to allow them to be profitable.
November 16th, 2018 at 10:01 am
The name pinto has several drawbacks, first it points out the pint size of the truck, and this is exactly what its buyers hate to be pointed out, and second, the name Pinto on a Ford may still produce memories of poorly designed cheap 70s cars whose gas tanks caught fire just because the beancounters at Ford were too cheap to pay the $50 a vehicle to fix them (make it $250 in today’s $), but preferred to keep them unsafe and pay the damages to the victims families, which seemed less expensive to them.
In addition, there are not only pinto horses but also pinto beans. (no pun intended w the above)
November 16th, 2018 at 10:23 am
23, 26 I wasn’t serious about Pinto being a good name, because of the crash and burn reputation of the last Ford Pinto. Maybe younger people wouldn’t know about that, but they’d probably learn about it if the name were revived.
November 18th, 2018 at 8:54 pm
Is it just me or the old bronco has more form and vibe than the new-age bronco? Hope they just retained the look and just added some new cool features and truck accessories to make it more modern.