AD #2487 – NACTOY Finalists Revealed, Audi Shows Working Drone Prototype, Jeep Gladiator Pickup Storms Into LA
November 29th, 2018 at 11:47am
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Runtime: 8:08
0:29 NACTOY Finalists
1:02 Audi’s Drone Prototype
1:50 Audi e-tron GT Electric Sports Car
3:17 All-New Kia Soul
4:04 Hyundai Palisade Mid-Size SUV
5:22 Updated Mercedes AMG GT with New Model
6:19 Jeep Gladiator Pickup Truck
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On today’s show… the finalists for the 2019 North American, Car, Utility and Truck of the Year were announced… Audi shows off a working prototype of its passenger drone… and we’ll take a look at more reveals from the LA Auto Show. All that and more coming right up on Autoline Daily.
This is Autoline Daily the voice of the automotive industry.
NACTOY FINALISTS REVEALED
The finalists for the 2019 North American Car, Utility and Truck of the Year were revealed. On the car side, the Genesis G70, Honda Insight and Volvo S60 and V60 made the final cut. The Utility finalists are the Acura RDX, Hyundai Kona, and the Jaguar I-Pace. And the Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra and Ram 1500 are the finalists for Truck of the Year. The winners will be announced at the Detroit auto show in January.
AUDI TO SHOW WORKING DRONE PROTOTYPE
Earlier this year, Audi, along with ItalDesign and Airbus, revealed their vision of a passenger drone. Called the Pop.Up Next, it’s an electric, autonomous vehicle that can seat two people, plus it’s also modular. The cabin has been designed to attach to the aircraft or to a car. So, once a flight is complete, the cabin can lock into a car chassis to finish the trip on the ground. And now the companies will show off a working prototype this week during Amsterdam Drone Week. While this seems like science fiction, Audi says it’s convinced flying taxis are on the way because more and more people are moving into cities. And it believes this technology will help move people around cities more conveniently.
ALL SHOW, NO GO
Speaking of Audi, it revealed the concept version of its new electric performance car, the e-tron GT at the LA Auto Show. It looks like the automaker hopes to win customers over on styling because like the e-tron SUV the numbers aren’t all that impressive. Audi expects a range of about 250-miles, which is pretty good, but that’s with a lithium ion battery pack larger than 90 kWh. Chevy and Tesla already match and beat that with much smaller packs. With two electric motors producing about 600-horsepower, the e-tron GT should accelerate from 0-60 MPH in around 3.5-seconds. Still good, but I think this shows some automakers have a way to go before they catch up with the leaders in the EV segment. And while I wish the designers would have been more clever finding a way to tie the styling to the rest of Audi’s lineup without a big useless grille, overall I think the car is really good looking.
We’ll take a look at more reveals from the LA Auto Show, right after this.
KIA’S STILL GOT SOUL
After teasing the vehicle for the last couple of weeks, Kia finally took the wraps off the new Soul. The styling has been updated and its wheelbase and overall length have been slightly increased, but there’s not mistaking it as anything other than a Kia Soul. Two engines are available, a new 2.0L four-cylinder that’s mated to a six-speed manual or a CVT. And a 1.6L turbo, inline four-cylinder with a seven-speed dual clutch transmission is also offered. An all-electric version will also be available. It’s powered by a 64-kWh lithium-ion battery but the company didn’t announce its range because it’s still under testing. The new Soul goes on sale sometime during the first half of next year.
HYUNDAI ENTERS MID-SIZE CUV SEGMENT
Kia’s parent company, Hyundai introduced an all-new mid-size crossover called the Palisade. The three-row CUV rides on an all-new architecture and its only engine option is a 3.8L V6 with direct injection that’s mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. The setup cranks out 291 horsepower and 262 lb.-ft. of torque. All-wheel-drive is also available. On the inside, it features a 10.25-inch touchscreen plus a 12.3-inch screen for the center instrument cluster. And to make access to the third row easier, you just need to press a button on the second-row seats once to fold them up. Every model comes standard with its suite of driver assistance technologies. The Palisade will be built in Korea and will hit dealerships in the U.S. next summer.
Coming up next, Jeep makes its triumphant return to the pickup truck segment.
MERCEDES ADDS NEW MODEL TO AMG GT LINEUP
Mercedes has updated the AMG GT sports car. It’s hard to notice any differences, but there are a few tweaks here and there and the lighting more resembles the AMG GT 4-door coupe. Interior enhancements include a 12.3-inch instrument cluster and 10.25-inch infotainment display. New to the lineup is a more track focused R PRO version, which gets improvements inspired by the GT3 and GT4 racing cars. The suspension has been optimized and now features more lightweight components, there’s a host of carbon fiber parts and pieces, which not only make it lighter, but also improve aerodynamics. More weight is saved through the use of ceramic brakes and forged wheels. At 585-horsepower for both the R and R PRO models, engine output is also up slightly as well compared to the old car.
JEEP GLADIATOR STORMS ONTO STAGE
The wait is over! Jeep finally took the wraps off its new pickup truck, the Gladiator. Its styling is based on the Wrangler but the grille slots are a bit wider to help with air intake due to its increased towing capacity. At launch, it’s available with a 3.6L V6 that produces 285 horsepower and 260 lb.-ft. of torque. It comes standard with a six-speed manual or an 8-speed automatic transmission is optional. In 2020, a 3.0L V6 diesel will be available. It cranks out 260 horsepower and 442 lb.-ft. of torque. The diesel is standard with the 8-speed automatic. On the inside, customers can choose from a 7 or 8.4 inch touchscreen and includes the 4th generation of FCA’s Uconnect infotainment system. The new Gladiator goes on sale in the second quarter of 2019. And best of all, there’s already more than 200 parts available from Mopar, to customize the truck. And for more about the Gladiator, be sure to check out Autoline After Hours this afternoon. Scott Tallon, Jeep’s Marketing Director and Mark Allen, the head of Jeep design will be talking with John and Gary from the LA Auto Show about the new pickup. So tune in at 3PM eastern time on our website, Autoline.tv to catch that show.
But that’s it for today, thanks for watching and please join us again tomorrow.
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Comments (26)
November 29th, 2018 at 12:23 pm
Jeep will sell a ton of the new Gladiator truck.
November 29th, 2018 at 12:31 pm
I like the lines on that new Gladiator.
November 29th, 2018 at 12:37 pm
Drones- the ones I’ve seen and heard aren’t exactly quiet so I’m trying to picture something large enough to carry a vehicle cab and people…. hmmmm Wouldn’t that be pretty loud? and then there are going to be thousands of them in cities??? The whole city will sounds like a beehive on steroids or is it HGH now.
November 29th, 2018 at 12:39 pm
Gladiator- a jeep that is actually useful? There will be tons sold,, mostly seen parked on things like curbs and snow piles in mall parking lots.
November 29th, 2018 at 12:41 pm
Is the Gladiator too late to be eligible for truck of the year?
The Audi concept is about the size of a Tesla S, but probably much less efficiently packaged. The EPA range of the Tesla S P90D was 270 miles, so the Audi range doesn’t seem too much out of line, given the AWD, 590hp powertrain.
November 29th, 2018 at 12:44 pm
So NACTOY is any vehicle sold in NA and not necessarily built in NA? Who votes on them and what is the criteria? Maybe a little surprised that Ford didn’t make the cut in the truck segment.
Make the Audi Etron with a 600hp ICE and Id be interested. Very good looking car.
Sean you mentioned the Jeep’s larger openings in the grill for better cooling due to an increased towing capacity but never said what that is? Has it not been published?
November 29th, 2018 at 12:48 pm
6 Here is who votes for NACTOY. Recognize anyone?
https://northamericancaroftheyear.org/jurors/
November 29th, 2018 at 12:50 pm
Common FCA you might as well start working on offering the Gladiator with a Hemi. You did it with the Grand Cherokee so might as well. I have seen so many Wranglers with a small block chevy motor installed. Not sure why they dont just offer it.
November 29th, 2018 at 12:51 pm
As far as Ford in the truck segment, the awards are for vehicles that are new to the market. The current F series is not new, and the Ranger isn’t here yet.
November 29th, 2018 at 12:54 pm
#7 Oh yea John Davis I really enjoy Motorweek..
Just kidding John and Gary.
November 29th, 2018 at 1:21 pm
8 It probably won’t be too long, before someone puts a Hellcat crate engine in a Gladiator.
November 29th, 2018 at 1:25 pm
Where do I start!?!?
1. Audi‘s drone concept may be appealing if there are very few of these drones flying around downtown buildings. But I suspect the technical challenges of collision avoidance in 3D will be expensive, and safety agencies will also ponder the requirements for the pod during land usage.
2. The headline in the transcript (“Hyundai enters mid-size CUV segment”) forgets that Hyundai previously offered the Veracruz and a 3-row (non Sport) Santa Fe.
3. The push-of-a-button seat release for access to the Hyundai Palisade’s 3rd Dow seems convenient, but the resultant opening looks very small. So, the real test of ingenuity is the overall ease of ingress/egress to the 3rd row.
4. And speaking of ease of ingress/egress, it looks like Jeep re-used the rear doors from the Wrangler onto the Gladiator. Jeep has the market cornered for rump bumps.
November 29th, 2018 at 1:30 pm
Does any site publish real world miles per charge for a Tesla or any other electric vehicle. Not interested in epa figures. Say driving from El Paso To San Antonio Texas on I 10, where the speed limit is 85 mph. Where would you stop to recharge?
November 29th, 2018 at 1:31 pm
1 The Gladiator will be a smash hit, even more so if they price it not too greedily. I believe it can tow 7,700 lbs.
3 The drone is impressive if they can make it now, but I guess there will be too few of them because they will charge too much. We already have them, they are called Helicopters. WHen I went from HK to Macau in Nov 13, I had the option of a superfast ferry or a heli (which cost 10 times as much).
5 I believe the Glad can compete next year, when it goes on sale.
6 The whole silly “Employee of the Month” awards turn me off. First of all, in the Pickup truck segment, it is the worst joke of all, there are too few makers of these, and even fewer (1/4th of that) are NEW models. So it is a real joke. Things are better in the car and SUV segment, BUT NONE, absolutely NONE of the 9 contenders that made the short list, is a car I would ever care about, much less a “GOT TO HAVE IT” vehicle.
I really question the choices among cars. The mediocre and poor selling Genesis, the Insight that got much better from its dismal ancestors but still does not cut it for me, and…. worst of all, another damn VOlvo? Are you guys kidding me? A Volvo Every other year? Do you know what Volvo’s market share is? 0.5%! Not 5%, 1/2 of one percent in the US market. And the specific model is probably 1/10th of that!!! In addition, they have DISMAL quality, leaking sunroofs new and other horror stories.
Then the SUVs. Really? Acura, Hyindai Kona? Jag I-pace? IS this some Snub’s club that only chooses vehicles that are UTTERLY insignficant and have truly DISMAL Sales? Were no popular, high volume, or luxury new vehicles this year?
What an utter joke.
November 29th, 2018 at 1:34 pm
The Audi EVs look good, as all audis, and have good interiors (but not as good as top non-EV Audis), but their problem is the same as the Jag’s EV problem, way too expensive, Tesla easily outprices them AND has far better performance, even its base models. I expect the same from the much awaited Mercedes EV and even the Porsche one (which may have good performance but will be really expensive for what u get)
November 29th, 2018 at 1:35 pm
13 There are Tesla, and probably other EV discussion groups that discuss real-world range. As far as specific routes, like San Antonio to El Paso, you’d need to research the distance between charge stations, and plan accordingly. Unless the “superchargers” are fairly close together, you might not be able to drive your Tesla 90 mph and make it to the next station.
12-4 They should just do away with the rear doors.
http://willysforsale.com/ads/1962-willys-4-x-4-pickup/
November 29th, 2018 at 2:20 pm
The Audi Drone is a cool idea in theory but certainly the pod would need to be light for flight and would fail any road worthy crash tests.
So maybe they can sell it to African farmers where passing crash tests are not mandatory.
November 29th, 2018 at 2:43 pm
14 Here is the eligibility list for NACTOY. Yeah, there were a lot of cars and SUVs to choose from, to come up with those 6.
https://northamericancaroftheyear.org/2019-eligibility-list/
I predict that the Ram will win the truck award, with the GM vote split between the Chevy and GMC. Also, the Ram looks good, for a truck, at least to me.
November 29th, 2018 at 2:47 pm
Just saw John on MSNBC speaking about the 70% decline of Tesla sales in China. How they only sold 211 vehicles in Oct. I think they really wanted him to blame the tariffs and John wisely pointed out that China sales have cooled off overall.
Also The majority shareholders of German car-parts maker Continental AG have lost about $16 billion more than half of their combined wealth so far this year.
A 53% tunble after the company warned that extra costs and tough business conditions in Europe and Asia would weigh on profits.
November 29th, 2018 at 2:55 pm
I did find the Gladiator capabilities;
This truck can tow 7,650 pounds and has a payload of 1,600 pounds with widened grille slots for greater air intake and an upgraded cooling module to haul a full load at 110 degrees up the Davis Dam in Arizona. The truck comes with a class 4 hitch, 2-inch receiver and 4- and 7-pin connectors. The five-foot steel bed has lower sides to reach in and out, and is fully equipped with tie-downs.
November 29th, 2018 at 2:55 pm
13 It would take 4 pit stops to drive a Tesla S from El Paso to San Antonio. Hopefully, this link will work.
https://www.tesla.com/trips#/?v=MS_2017_100D&o=El%20Paso,%20TX,%20USA_El%20Paso%20El%20Paso%20County%20TX@31.7618778,-106.4850217&s=&d=San%20Antonio,%20TX,%20USA_San%20Antonio%20Bexar%20County%20TX@29.4241219,-98.49362819999999
November 29th, 2018 at 3:56 pm
Does anyone know if the Gladiator comes in a 2 door version for those that want some actual bed space? Or is it a take-it-or-leave-it 4 door only?
November 29th, 2018 at 4:08 pm
22 four door, 5 foot bed will be the only configuration, according to reviews I’ve seen.
November 30th, 2018 at 6:15 am
And wondering what conquest sales will the Gladiator be taking. I believe it will be classified as a midsized p/u. After initial stellar sales I believe it will find itself behind the ‘regulars’ in the mid-sized offerings: Tacoma, Colorado, and even the yet to be introduced Ranger. Prices haven’t been announced, so that may also be a factor. My comments are pure conjecture (but I’m throwing in my opinion to maybe see what others think).
November 30th, 2018 at 7:31 am
Gladiator will be crude and unrefined, like Wrangler, but will sell because of its looks, and the towing and off-road capability will be good, for the few people who use either.
I suspect it will continue to sell, over time, if competitively priced. Wrangler sells, just because of “image,” when there are much better vehicles for the use most Wranglers actually see, commuting, going to the mall, etc.
November 30th, 2018 at 7:37 am
I suspect Gladiator will largely take sales from Wrangler, but also from 4wd versions of the other “midsize” pickups. I suppose Gladiator will be 4wd only, like Wrangler, though they could change that. The last Jeep pickup, Commanche was sold both rwd and 4wd.