AD #2872 – Hyundai Veloster N Impressions; Porsche 3D Prints Pistons; GM Cuts Shift at Wentzville Plant
July 13th, 2020 at 11:56am
Listen to “AD #2872 – Hyundai Veloster N Impressions; Porsche 3D Prints Pistons; GM Cuts Shift at Wentzville Plant” on Spreaker.
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Runtime: 8:10
0:07 GM Cuts Shift at Wentzville Plant
1:19 Tesla Drops the Price of The Model Y
2:18 Porsche 3D Prints Pistons In 911 GT2 RS
3:07 Jeep Teases New Wrangler or Gladiator Engine
3:47 Kia Shows Off the Interior of The New Sedona
4:46 All-New Bronco Debuts Tonight
5:14 Hyundai Veloster N Impressions
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GM CUTS SHIFT AT WENTZVILLE PLANT
It looked like car production was getting back on its feet in the U.S. after COVID lockdowns but now things aren’t looking very good for the industry. Ford is likely going to have to close plants this week due to engine shortages from Mexico. And now GM is cutting the third shift at its Wentzville plant in Missouri. The facility builds the Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon pickups as well as the Chevy Express and GMC Savana full-size vans. GM didn’t disclose how long the layoff will last or how many workers will be laid off but there are 1,250 workers per shift. Part of the reason GM is making cuts is because absenteeism at the plant is up due to worker fears over the virus. The St. Louis area, where the plant is located, has seen an increase in cases. The Detroit Free Press reports GM is also in discussions with UAW leadership about its Arlington assembly plant, located near Dallas, Texas, another area that has seen a surge in COVID cases. If GM has to cut a shift or close that facility, it would be a big blow for the company, because Arlington is its most profitable plant.
TESLA DROPS THE PRICE OF THE MODEL Y
Is the Model Y not selling as well as Tesla had hoped? Just four months after its debut, Tesla is cutting the price of the Model Y. The small crossover now starts just below $50,000, which is $3,000 cheaper than before. Automakers never cut prices when sales are going strong but this also follows price cuts for the 3, S and X back in May.
PORSCHE 3D PRINTS PISTONS IN 911 GT2 RS
3D printing sure has come a long way. Porsche is now 3D printing the pistons that are used in the 911 GT2 RS. That’s pretty amazing. To make the pistons, the surface of a bed of metal powder is melted in exact points by a laser beam, which builds the part up, layer by layer. Not only are they 10% lighter than the forged pistons used in other 911s, engineers were able to build a cooling duct right into the piston. The benefits are increased engine speed, lower temperature load on the pistons and better efficiency, which translates into nearly 30 more horsepower from the GT2s engine. If this is possible, it’s going to be exciting to see where 3D printing applications go from here.
JEEP TEASES NEW WRANGLER OR GLADIATOR ENGINE
Jeep is not just going to let Ford walk in and steal its sales away with the Bronco. It’s going to fight and one of the best ways the FCA group knows how to fight is to slap more power under the hood. Less than 48 hours before the Bronco unveiling, Jeep Tweeted this picture of either a Wrangler or Gladiator with a big-ol’ hood scoop with the numbers 392 on its side. That number is in reference to the automaker’s 6.4L V8 engine, which in the Durango SRT makes 475 horsepower. We think that ought to compete with a Bronco Raptor quite nicely.
KIA SHOWS OFF THE INTERIOR OF THE NEW SEDONA
We’ve got our first look at the interior of the all-new Kia Sedona, which is sold as the Carnival in the Korean market. The layered look of the dashboard and button layout are mostly carried over from the outgoing model, but that’s about where the similarities end. The instrument cluster has gone all-digital and now blends together with an equally sized 12.3-inch infotainment screen. The displays are no longer sunken into the dash and we also notice that Kia has adopted a rotary shifter knob as well. Sales of the new minivan kick off soon.
ALL-NEW BRONCO DEBUTS TONIGHT
Later tonight Ford is unleashing a barrage of information about the new Broncos. It’s going to be running promos on ABC, ESPN, National Geographic and Hulu during the first commercial break after 8 pm eastern time on those networks. Ford will also provide more content on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. And we will have more details about the Bronco and Bronco Sport on Autoline Daily tomorrow.
HYUNDAI VELOSTER N IMPRESSIONS
We just had a Hyundai Veloster N in the Autoline Garage. As you probably know N is the letter that Hyundai uses to designate its highest performance vehicles. And the Veloster N truly deserves that designation. The one we drove came with the $2,000 optional performance package, with a 2-liter twin scroll turbo engine that cranks out 275 horsepower and 260 pound feet of torque. With a curb weight of 3,000 pounds that works out to 10.9:1 pounds per horsepower, which is quite good. Just to give you some idea of what that means, it’s a better power to weight ratio than the old Honda S2000 sports car. The Veloster N can be truly considered a track car. The seats are heavily bolstered, it comes with Pirelli P Zero 235/35 R19 summer tires, a limited slip differential and big brakes: 13.6-inch rotors up front, and 12.4 in the rear. This car is really responsive. It darts to the apex with a flick of the wheel, accelerates with a rush and hauls down to nothing when you stomp on the brakes. But as an enthusiast, the one thing I did not like about this car is that I found it awkward to heel and toe with its 6-speed manual transmission. In fact, it’s a mistake that most automakers make. While some OEMs brag about saving the manual transmission, very few provide the proper pedal positioning for heel and toe driving. And while the Veloster N provides automatic rev matching, to me that’s like riding a bicycle with training wheels. Real enthusiasts need to learn how to heel and toe on their own, but they need the pedals to be in the proper position. The Mazda MX-5 Miata is a perfect example of how to do it right and is a more satisfying car to drive if only for that reason. If you buy a Veloster N you can always modify the pedals on your own, but it shouldn’t have to be that way. The model we drove cost just over $30,400 and it’s rated at 25 miles to the gallon or 9.4 liters per 100 kilometers. I liked everything about the car, except for those pedals.
And that wraps up today’s report. Thanks for watching.
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Comments (34)
July 13th, 2020 at 12:12 pm
It’s one thing to 3d print a body part or trim piece, something else entirely to use that tech on something subjected to extreme conditions of the combustion engine. I assume Porsche did some testing, but I tell you I would NOT want engine parts on my vehicle to be manufactured that way. I foresee catastrophic engine failure and huge repair costs on those engines.
July 13th, 2020 at 12:22 pm
@2, John: what would be the proper pedal position? You showed the Miyata as an example, but I still did not get it. Sorry about that.
July 13th, 2020 at 12:27 pm
But it you put the pedals in the proper position the car is more likely to drive into the side of a building or someone’s living room so I guess Hyundai is erring on the caution side.
July 13th, 2020 at 12:52 pm
1. I was thinking the same thing about those Porsche pistons. 3D printing is cool, for making demonstration adjustable wrenches out of plastic, and you can lighten things by “printing” voids inside a seemingly solid object, but pistons, and not for just any engine, but an extra high performance engine? It sure doesn’t sound very good to me.
July 13th, 2020 at 12:59 pm
The Veloster Type N was Road and Track’s “performance car of the year,” beating out the C8, 911, Supra, and a Lamborghini or two. These awards are really, uh, subjective, with a big dollop of “value” in the equation here.
https://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/car-comparison-tests/a29640493/2020-performance-car-of-the-year/
July 13th, 2020 at 1:05 pm
Saying you can’t be a real enthusiast if you can’t heel and toe is a bit harsh and I would say unfair. Especially true since so few cars even offer a manual today.
I think we should be happy that there is a N model at all I’m sure the business case for this type of car is pretty sketchy these days, especially with a manual transmission.
July 13th, 2020 at 1:12 pm
Slow news day but Cutting the Y prices is significant AND good news for many.
You are DEAD WRONG, BTW, that “automakers do not cut prices when sales are strong”.
Study your AUTO HISTORY.
The Model T, which was the Model 3 of the 20th century, Went down from $850 to $250!!!!!! As its volume SKYROCKETED.
Wise up.
July 13th, 2020 at 1:25 pm
I’m thinking that if they can make pistons by the sintering process, why not the 3-D printer (laser) process. Instead of pressing the metal into a dye and heating it to fusion, the laser fuses the metal as it is being printed. I’m guessing the finished printed pistons would have to be heat treated and machined, but maybe, be just as strong. Also wondering what a piston would cost, each, not cheap I’m sure.
Road and Track must have had their head (you know where) to crown their pick for performance car of the year above some of the others; you know I’m sure the Veloster is a very good vehicle, but sometimes journalist say stuff for effect too (you be the judge).
July 13th, 2020 at 1:27 pm
Guys, how precise is forging? Listening to the advantages of 3D “printing” I’m thinking Porsche isn’t just acting crazy… that’s a cool story.
July 13th, 2020 at 1:34 pm
@9 Come on dude, what do a bunch of engineers know compared to us.
July 13th, 2020 at 1:35 pm
8. The Veloster N is a good performance car, for a front driver, for the price, but “performance car of the year,” according to a previously respectable publication? I guess R and T just wanted to get some attention.
As far as those pistons, time will tell if there are a lot of grenaded engines in the cars using them.
July 13th, 2020 at 2:02 pm
On the pistons – Laser sintering versus forging. Talk to John Tenbusch at Linear Mold and Engieering. https://www.linearams.com/markets/ They have been doing parts for molds and aerospace for years with densities and strength as good (maybe even better) than forgings and have worked with NSF on standards for both process control, raw material and testing.
July 13th, 2020 at 2:06 pm
Model T = Model 3 HAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
July 13th, 2020 at 2:18 pm
Well, cutting the price of the Model T is certainly relevant to today’s market.
July 13th, 2020 at 2:42 pm
John, why didn’t you show pictures of the Veloster pedal set up like you did with the Miata? It would have gone a long ways to making your point but instead we only have your opinion on this, next time consider side-by-side pictures of what you are going on about.
July 13th, 2020 at 2:49 pm
I think JEEP would be better off not making a special edition with a 392 and spend those resources on making the base engine achieve better power. While they are at it; they can get their quality and reliability up so that they are not at or near the bottom of every metric chart known to the automotive world.
July 13th, 2020 at 3:04 pm
I’m not surprised that Jeep is doing a V8 Wrangler. Actually, I’m surprised they didn’t do that years ago. Maybe they saved it for the arrival of the Bronco.
July 13th, 2020 at 3:34 pm
The 392 Hemi Wrangler is a concept Jeep (not cast in stone as a new model offering); mostly to spoil Ford’s unveil of the Bronco tonight. But I’m betting, depending on how Bronco launches, there just might be a hemi in Jeep’s future. No rush for Jeep to commit, Bronco’s won’t be hitting the sales floor till, I believe, next year. An engine retro-fit wouldn’t take as long as a whole new vehicle launch; maybe they are doing the background development (just in case).
July 13th, 2020 at 4:44 pm
18. If they decide to put the 392 (or 5.7) in the Wrangler, it shouldn’t take long to get it done. Unlike the old 1957-1958 392 hemi, the new 392 is not huge, (and hugely heavy). It is probably physically bigger than a Chevy small block, but should easily fit in a Wrangler/Gladiator, and fit up with the 8-speed automatics they already use in Wrangler, and about every other rwd/4wd Mopar product.
July 13th, 2020 at 5:49 pm
That V8 Wrangler maybe they could call it the Deathwish edition. That much HP in that surely would be a Deathwish.
July 13th, 2020 at 5:57 pm
20. …to go along with the death wobble?
Speaking of V8 Jeeps, didn’t AMC sell CJs with V8s, or were those all transplants?
July 13th, 2020 at 6:17 pm
Haas want Vettel for 2021?
https://www.autoweek.com/racing/formula-1/a33296033/vettel-haas-f1-team-happy-talk/?source=nl&utm_source=nl_aut&utm_medium=email&date=071320&utm_campaign=nl20898255&utm_term=AUT_Autoweek_Racing_Daily_Newsletter_Subscribers
July 13th, 2020 at 7:04 pm
@22 Thanks Kit for that article on Vettel, it may be his only offer if things don’t go better for him this season, he seems cursed and can’t buy a break these days. Not that I am sorry to see Ferrari do bad, Karma has caught up to them for all the crap they put Barrichello through when he was teamed up with Schumacher.
July 13th, 2020 at 7:33 pm
22, Thanks for the Vettel link. Sebastian doesn’t need the money so he’ll probably look at his options, find one that makes him happy (less pressure) and either take that sabbatical, retire or drive for a team that he might have a little bit more fun with.
July 13th, 2020 at 8:29 pm
Given his recent history of few moments of brilliance, and too many mistakes, Vettel is not going to get a ride with one of the top teams. I guess it’s official that he won’t be with Ferrari next year. It would be interesting to see him with Haas, and who knows, things could come together for them, at least making it to mid-pack, where they were for a while.
I’d think he might “retire” to other types of racing, like sports cars, or maybe try the Indy 500, like Alonso has done. I don’t expect to see him in NASCAR, though.
July 13th, 2020 at 8:53 pm
I don’t “get” the concern that a car with a manual transmission needs heel and toe pedal position, IF the car already has rev matching on the shift. I track a 2002 Corvette Z06. It has good throttle and brake pedal position, and with a 6 spd manual, toe and heel skill is a requirement. But I look forward to the next car I buy having rev match, and that will allow me to get better as I concentrate on other skills.
July 13th, 2020 at 10:03 pm
26. To me, automatic rev matching removes some of the fun of driving a manual, where it’s fun to do a good job of manually matching revs, at least in street driving. Neither of my manual trans cars have rev matching, but I’ve driven a C7 Corvette with it. It works well, but if I owned the car, I’d have it turned off most of the time. I suspect most cars with automatic rev matching have the option of turning it off.
I drove a Porsche Cayman not too long ago, and to my knowledge, it didn’t have auto rev matching. If it did, it was turned off. I guess they want to remain “pure” in some respects. Probably 80% of Caymans sold, though, at least in the US, are automatic.
July 14th, 2020 at 4:06 am
About the Model Y price reduction, Sandy Munro has completed the cost comparison report between the Model 3 and Model Y. In the video, Sandy says the cost reduction is significant but you’ll have to buy the report.
July 14th, 2020 at 6:55 am
At the corner Speedway station, for many days now, Diesel is actually 10C cheaper than even the cheapest gas:
Unleaded regular $2.259
Diesel $2.159
July 14th, 2020 at 10:26 am
#21 – AMC did put V-8′s at least in the CJ-7. Our 1979 CJ-7 had a 304 cid V-8.
July 14th, 2020 at 10:35 am
Ford and GM having issues with getting enough engines is very concerning to me. If the plant is requiring them to run the plants with half the employees this means their standard operations have to be altered. Meaning the assembly line has likely been slowed down and they require an operator to do two jobs. All I know is that when you make changes to standard procedures that’s where 90% of your quality problems come from. You can expect some engine issues to come out of all this..
V8 Wrangler/Gladiator; People have been doing small block Chevy swaps on Wranglers for years. Especially when they were very much underpowered like in the 80s and 90s. Not sure its needed now but more of a publicity steal right before the Bronco reveal.
1) Porsche Pistons; sounds promising. No doubt they have done their due-diligents and would not even consider them if they did not have the proper strength and performance needed..
Lots of people have no idea the manufacturing methods being used. Sounds crazy but just like Ford who use Plasma Transfer wire arc for cylinder liners rather than conventional sleeves on their aluminum blocks, its a proven process.
July 14th, 2020 at 10:36 am
29 Just got back from Texas where gas is running about $1.75 a gallon still.
July 14th, 2020 at 11:15 am
In central Indiana, regular gas is ~$2.20, and diesel $2.40.
If they do a V8 Wrangler, they should probably do a lowered, street oriented version, like the Grand Cherokee Track Hawk. If they made a lifted, easily rollable Wrangler with 400+ hp, it would probably set new records for fatalities/100K miles.
I don’t think I’d want to buy any car made during the last month or two. I’d expect quality issues in all of them, with the changes in procedures at the factories.
I just read a Tesla Model Y test in Car & Driver, and they liked the Model 3 a lot better, except for the hatchback utility. Both cars had the same powertrain, the non-performance 4wd. They seemed to indicate that the extra height and weight of the Y made a very noticeable difference in the way it drove, both in acceleration and handling feel.
July 14th, 2020 at 12:10 pm
33 Sounds like the Y is basically the same vehicle as the model 3 with a few extra inches here and there and 15K more. My guess is the few extra inches doesn’t justify the price hike.