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Runtime: 6:54
0:07 WLTP Costly for Volkswagen
0:44 Tesla Raises the Price of Its Cars
1:17 Weekend Race Results
1:51 GM Refiles Zora Trademark
2:16 Why GM Is Now Making Mid-Engine Corvette a Reality
3:19 Production in North America Expected to Increase
4:20 Magna’s Integrated eDrive System
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This is Autoline Daily reporting on the global automotive industry.
WLTP COSTLY FOR VW
Europe’s new fuel economy and test procedure, the WLTP, caused havoc last year for automakers because it takes 2 to 3 times longer to test vehicles than before, which delayed the release of a number of models. And it’s also costly. Germany’s Der Spiegel magazine reports that Volkswagen spent $4 billion last year to get its lineup to meet the new standards. But that’s a bit of poetic justice because the WLTP probably wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for VW, since the test was created in response to its diesel emission cheating scandal.
TESLA RAISES THE PRICE OF ITS CARS
Last week, Tesla said it was going to close most of its stores as a cost cutting move so it could lower the base price of the Model 3 to $35,000. Then it changed its mind. Now Tesla says it will close fewer stores and raise the price of its cars 3%, though the base Model 3 will still be $35,000. Tesla came under withering criticism after it announced the store closings and one of its most loyal investment firms dumped all its stock in the company.
WEEKEND RACE RESULTS
In racing over the weekend, Josef Newgarden won with his Chevrolet-powered Penske at the IndyCar season opener in St. Petersburg, Florida. And in NASCAR, Kyle Busch drove his Toyota Camry to the win in Phoenix, Arizona.
GM REFILES ZORA TRADEMARK
General Motors just refiled to trademark the name Zora. Some believe GM will use the name on the new C8 Corvette, possibly for a high-performance version. Zora Arkus Duntov was a brilliant engineer who played a major role in the development of the Corvette. We want to thank Autoline viewer Will Slate who’s been keeping up to date on GM’s trademark filings with the Zora name.
WHY GM IS NOW MAKING MID-ENGINE CORVETTE A REALITY
And speaking of Corvette, if you didn’t catch Autoline After Hours last week, we had a great discussion about the upcoming mid-engine C8 Corvette. The car is nearly 60 years in the making and Don Sherman, a freelancer who knows a heckuva lot about it, shared why he thinks GM is pulling the trigger now on making it a reality.
(The AAH preview is only available in the video version of today’s show.)
For more info about the C8 Corvette, you can watch that episode right now on our website, Autoline.tv or you can find it on our YouTube channel.
PRODUCTION IN NORTH AMERICA EXPECTED TO INCREASE
Here’s a little bit of good news for auto workers in North America. While LMC Automotive is predicting light vehicle sales will be down 2% in the region, it’s expecting production to be up slightly this year. Last year imported SUV sales shot up 15% because there weren’t enough locally produced models to meet demand. But vehicles like the BMW X7, Chevy Blazer, Cadillac XT6, Kia Telluride, and Subaru Ascent will fill the gap that was created. Mid-size pickups will also play a role in the production increase. With the Ford Ranger and Jeep Gladiator coming on line, sales in the segment are forecast to grow nearly 12% this year.
MAGNA’S INTEGRATED EDRIVE SYSTEM
From stop/start to 48 volt to pure electric, there are 42 different possible combinations of electrified powertrains. That’s according to the giant Tier 1 supplier Magna, which says it can supply 29 of them. One of Magna’s most interesting prototypes is a Tesla Model S with a modified powertrain. Magna gutted the Tesla’s factory powertrain and installed its own, including a different battery pack. On the front axle, they installed an integrated edrive system, with motor, inverter and gearbox. The peak power of the motor is 160 kilowatts, or about 214 horsepower, and delivers over 2,400 pound feet of torque. At the rear, they installed two asynchronous motors capable of delivering 320 kilowatts, or more than 400 horsepower, and over 4,800 pound feet. The two rear motors can operate independently, sending power to either rear wheel, or to both. Autoline Daily got the opportunity to test drive the car on a frozen lake in northern Sweden and the performance is, well, electrifying. The prototype can operate as a front wheel drive car, a rear drive car, or in all wheel drive. All Tesla’s have great handling and traction, but Magna’s prototype takes it to a new level. As a front drive car, the Tesla accelerates well, but understeers on the icy skid pad. In rear drive, it oversteers, of course, but with the two electric motors providing torque vectoring, you can drift it around the skid pad in total control. The electric motors react faster than a mechanical differential would. In all-wheel-drive the Tesla feels supremely stable and predictable and provides the driver with the kind of confidence you wouldn’t expect to encounter when driving in icy conditions. Magna’s prototype shows that the future of performance with electric cars will go beyond straight line acceleration. We’re going to get all-weather traction and handling like we’ve never experienced before.
But that’s it for today, thanks for watching and please join us again tomorrow.
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John McElroy is an influential thought leader in the automotive industry. He is a journalist, lecturer, commentator and entrepreneur. He created “Autoline Daily,” the first industry webcast of industry news and analysis.