AD #3000 – Buick Shows Off New Enclave; Barn Find Narrowed Down; Is VW Ready to Dump Its MEB Platform?
January 22nd, 2021 at 11:56am
Listen to “AD #3000 – Buick Shows Off New Enclave; Barn Find Narrowed Down; Is VW Ready to Dump Its MEB Platform?” on Spreaker.
Follow us on social media:
Runtime: 11:35
0:07 Celebrating Show #3,000!
1:16 New Buick Envision Now on Sale
2:01 Buick Shows Off New Enclave
4:03 Is VW Ready to Dump Its MEB Platform?
5:03 VW Reveals New Taos Details
5:35 BMW Enhances the i4’s Driving Dynamics
6:38 Nissan Debuts Closed-Loop Aluminum Recycling System
7:40 Stellantis & Tesla’s Stock Symbols Very Similar
8:12 Don’t Bother with NEDC Test Numbers
9:13 Barn Find Narrowed Down
Visit our sponsors to thank them for their support of Autoline Daily: Bridgestone, Intrepid Control Systems, and Magna.
This is Autoline Daily, the show dedicated to enthusiasts of the global automotive industry.
CELEBRATING SHOW #3,000!
And welcome to show number 3,000! Wow! What an accomplishment. We’re so grateful to have been around so long and that people continue to want to watch. Our very first episode of Autoline Daily went out on October 14th, 2008. And it’s kind of funny, that first show included talk of Chrysler possibly merging with GM or Ford. Now, today, a merger has finally happened, albeit with the PSA Group. But I’d like to take a moment to think back to our start. Tesla had only recently started production of the Roadster. GM still commanded over 22% market share. There was no such thing as Nikola, Lucid or Rivian. Volkswagen’s diesels were still admired by all. Flo-Rida and T-Pain topped the Billboard charts. And the F-150 was the number 1 selling vehicle. Well, at least some things never change. And we don’t plan to either. Adapt sure, but you’ll continue to find us the same place every day during the week. Now, on to the news!
NEW BUICK ENVISION NOW ON SALE
Buick showed off the new Envision last year and now it’s hitting showrooms in the U.S. It carries a starting price just under $33,000, including destination charges. Powering the crossover is a 2.0L inline four-cylinder turbo that’s matched with a nine-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is also available. Nine active safety features are standard and it’s offered with a Continuous Damping Control suspension. The interior styling has also been refreshed and it’s now available with a 10.2-inch touchscreen. The new model is lower and wider than the outgoing Envision and it features new styling with good proportions and a well sculpted body.
BUICK SHOWS OFF NEW ENCLAVE
Buick is also giving us our first look at the new Enclave. As you can see, the styling has been updated, most notably the front end, which features a new grille and thinner, sleeker headlights than before. Buick didn’t share any more details other than it will go on sale later this year.
Autoline supports the automotive industry.…because it supports so many other industries, like the materials industry. We’re talking steel. And aluminum. Magnesium. Plastics. Glass and rubber. Textiles and fabrics. No other industry uses so many different materials in these kinds of quantities. That’s what makes the economy hum. And that’s why we’re proud to say that Autoline is an advocate for the automotive industry.
IS VW READY TO DUMP ITS MEB PLATFORM?
Is Volkswagen getting ready to dump its MEB platform? It unveiled the MEB architecture for its electric cars in 2019 with great fanfare, but it’s already moving on. Ralf Brandstatter, the CEO of the VW brand, posted on LinkedIn that at the end of this year they’re going to unveil the first car to come out of what it’s calling Project Trinity. He called it “A highly efficient flat seat concept with an iconic design.” If this car under wraps is any indication, it could be a station wagon with seats that stow away for a completely flat floor. Brandstatter described it as a new architecture that makes us wonder if it’s a skateboard design. It will launch with L2 driving assist and will be L4 ready. VW plans to build 300,000 a year at its home plant in Wolfsburg. Brandstatter claims it will set a new standard in range and charging and will use a neural network.
VW REVEALS NEW TAOS DETAILS
Speaking of VW, it released more info yesterday on its Taos CUV that will be out at the end of the second quarter. It’s powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine developing 158 horsepower and 184 pound feet of torque. The front wheel drive version gets an 8-speed automatic, while the all-wheel drive version gets a 7-speed dual clutch transmission. There are three trim levels, but VW hasn’t posted any info yet on how it’s going to price it.
BMW ENHANCES THE i4’S DRIVING DYNAMICS
With so many EVs coming out, automakers will come up with a number of different ways to set themselves apart from their competitors. Looks like BMW is going after handling. Since most EVs mount the battery in the floor of the vehicle, all that mass is down low, which gives them a low center of gravity. That makes for a great on-road feel, especially through long, sweeping turns. But hit some quick switchbacks or an autocross course and all that weight wants to push the vehicle around. A few months before its world debut, BMW is finishing testing on the all-new i4 and working to give the EV the same dynamic driving capabilities of its other models. While the i4 will have up to 530 horsepower and do 0 to 100 km/h in 4 seconds, the automaker says, “Simply accelerating fast in a straight line is not enough for BMW.” Sure lends validity to reports the first electric M car will be the i4.
NISSAN DEBUTS CLOSED-LOOP ALUMINUM RECYCLING SYSTEM
Many automakers are actively reducing emissions produced from their entire supply chains. At Nissan, the all-new Rogue will be built using the automaker’s first closed-loop recycling system for aluminum parts. The model is made in Japan and the U.S. and as its doors and hood are stamped, the scrap material falls on a conveyor system where it’s taken to be shredded and separated into grades. That scrap is then sent back to its suppliers, who turn it back into aluminum sheets and deliver it back to Nissan. According to the Aluminum Association, recycling scrap aluminum saves more than 90% of the energy needed to create a comparable amount from raw materials.
STELLANTIS & TESLA’S STOCK SYMBOLS VERY SIMILAR
Well, here’s something that is bound to cause confusion for investors. Stellantis, the new name for the merger between PSA and FCA, started trading on stock exchanges this week. And it’s trading symbol is STLA. Does that sort of sound familiar? It should. Tesla’s trading symbol is TSLA. So a word to the wise for all you day traders out there: you better proofread your orders or you might end up investing in the wrong company.
DON’T BOTHER WITH NEDC TEST NUMBERS
As long as we’re on the topic of confusion, let’s talk about the driving range that some EV companies claim for their cars. When NIO unveiled its eT7 in China last week, it claimed it will go 600 miles. That got all the headlines. And earlier this week when Mercedes unveiled the EQA it claimed a driving range of just over 300 miles, which is really impressive for a CUV with a 66.5 kWh battery. But here’s the thing. Those ranges were calculated using the NEDC test procedure, which everyone knows is bogus. It’s an easy-breezy test that doesn’t produce real world numbers. The WLTP test is much more credible, and the U.S. EPA is the most credible of all. So any time any automaker claims anything under the NEDC procedure, walk away from the numbers. They’re just trying to make things sound better than they actually are.
BARN FIND NARROWED DOWN
With your help, we think we have a pretty good idea of what our recent Barn Find is. You may remember these pictures sent in by viewer Will Prudden of an old vehicle tucked away in a barn. While it looks more like a pile of parts, Joe Wilder commented the engine “…appears to be an overhead valve, 4 cylinder engine. I don’t think Ford, GM or Chrysler made such a thing until the 70′s.” That prompted this reply from Mike K, “That is a Chevrolet engine from about 1916. They offered a “valve-in-head” in-line 4 cylinder engine starting in 1914.” These details seemed promising so we did a little more digging. That engine did start in 1914 and went all the way up until 1928 when it was replaced by a six-cylinder engine. Using that information, we started trying to match up known models that used the 4-cylinder engine with other features from our Barn Find. The dashboard design eliminated the earlier models that ran from 1914 to 1922, but the Chevrolet Superior that ran from 1923-1926, the 1927 Series AA Capitol and 1928 Series AB National, all used a similar dashboard seen in the pictures sent to us. So, our Barn Find is very likely one of those 3 models. Interestingly, they all offered a coupe that looks like it has an awfully short wheelbase. But based on the placement of the wheels on our Barn Find, it still looks like the frame was chopped and the rear axle moved forward.
And that brings us to the end of another week’s worth of shows. Thanks for watching and we hope you have a great weekend.
Thanks to our partner for embedding Autoline Daily on its website: WardsAuto.com
Share
Permalink
Comments (34)
January 22nd, 2021 at 12:18 pm
Congrats on the 3,000th show to everyone at A.D.! The show has come to be a valued part of my daily routine.
January 22nd, 2021 at 12:23 pm
I wonder if BMW will offset the mass of the battery with more carbon fiber parts. Given that BMW has extensive manufacturing experience with carbon fiber and they are looking at an M vehicle, they could command a premium for using carbon fiber.
January 22nd, 2021 at 12:27 pm
If everyone knows the NEDC (New European Driving Cycle) is a bogus test why does anyone even acknowledge those numbers? Those tests are conducted on a chassis dyno. Seems they could offer a standardized adjustment to them to correct for real world environment. Subtract 15% or so to provide a number closer to what you’ll really get.
Congrats on the 3000th show I too look forward to my lunch break and my 10 minute automotive news fix.
January 22nd, 2021 at 12:35 pm
Yes, congrats of the 3000th edition (don’t like the term “show”… implies an entertainment priority, as opposed to an information/journalistic priority).
The new Envision looks like it should be a volume seller, in the sweet spot for size. But shouldn’t a volume seller be assembled in NA instead of being shipped from China?
January 22nd, 2021 at 12:48 pm
Hey Sean where are those new Buicks being built? You need to let people know where these new GM models are produced. If they are from China they would drop off my shopping list!
January 22nd, 2021 at 12:49 pm
3000 shows, congrats!
Does that include TV?
January 22nd, 2021 at 12:51 pm
Congratulations to the entire Autoline team! What an amazing accomplishment.
January 22nd, 2021 at 1:00 pm
I surely wish GM (or should that be gm) would assign someone new for the Buick division. The new Enclave styling, if you can call it that, appears to me to be far from innovative or “refreshed”. Perhaps they can hire someone from Kia or Hyundai to show them how it’s done.
January 22nd, 2021 at 1:04 pm
3000 shows is a really great milestone. Congratulations to all of your staff for the terrific content you give us each week. And are these new Buicks from China?
January 22nd, 2021 at 1:18 pm
I like the styling of the new Envision, pretty sharp.
3000 and counting. Way to go.
January 22nd, 2021 at 1:31 pm
Congrats on 3000 , I been here for them all. Great info shared .But does anyone else miss our Number 1 Tesla cheerleader? Yeah, I didn’t think so. LOL Here’s to the next 3000.
January 22nd, 2021 at 1:35 pm
Grats on 3000 (I’m pretty sure I’ve seen the all or at least most of them).
The New Buick Envision looks nice, is the right size but just wasn’t assembled where it should have been. Count me out as well.
I don’t think Nissan is unique in its recycling venture; pretty sure most manufacturers are recycling. I suppose by segregating the scrap it may be somewhat more efficient but that perhaps is not much of a ‘needle’ mover in the recycle game.
January 22nd, 2021 at 1:59 pm
Let me add my congratulations on the milestone. Thanks for to all of the Autoline crew for what you do.
And YES, #11, he is not missed one bit.
January 22nd, 2021 at 2:02 pm
Just saw the Envision on FOX news and it is a Chinese build.
January 22nd, 2021 at 2:06 pm
Congrats on the 3000th show! It’s the best 10 minute automotive news around. BTW Sean you do an excellent job everyday, but does this mean that John is getting closer to retirement? I would hate to see him go.
January 22nd, 2021 at 2:19 pm
11&13 – Miss who? Wink, wink.
January 22nd, 2021 at 2:37 pm
Congrats on 3000!
@Barn find: I am always very impressed by the knowledge of the Autoline Team and the audience, but this time even more so. Great team work!
January 22nd, 2021 at 3:10 pm
have been having lunch/watching your show for most of those 3000. the best lunch dates ever,cheers
January 22nd, 2021 at 3:14 pm
Congrats for all the years you’ve spent giving us the latest auto news.
Thanks
January 22nd, 2021 at 3:54 pm
12 Maybe the recycling is new to Nissan but pretty sure its been done that way for years with lots of manufacturers. Having working in plastics its done very much the same way however most manufacturers have limitations on the level of recycled material that can be used. May not be as much of an issue with aluminum but we were always required to have a percentage of virgin material. All scrap was captured and recycled though.
January 22nd, 2021 at 4:20 pm
Congratulations as well! I think I’ve seen all 3,000!
As for the the NEDC, I wonder if that’s the test that supercar used when it said it hit 300 mph!
January 22nd, 2021 at 7:43 pm
Congrats on the Big 3000! I wonder if VW Group’s plan all along was to introduce this new platform?! The MEB pleased those who were looking for blood as a result of their cheating emissions. So they fast tracked that architecture and offered it for use to other OEM’s to support and quick start their own BEV transition. All the while, they were building a EV platform that would take the clean slate, Upstarts like Tesla, Rivian, Lucid and others to task, on a level playing field! To do so, they needed more time to develop their master stroke. Think about it, as expensive as it is to build one new platform, let alone a BEV from scratch, VW Group will soon have THREE! The MEB, the JP that sits under the Taycan and the e-tron GT and now this new one. While most other OEM’s would be happy with one and/or are trying to rework ICE vehicles for use as EV’s, VW has invested big money in three different architectures that appear to be unrelated! That being said, with all the different brands they have, I’m sure the MEB, and probably not even the Taycan’s platform, could be used to support all of them. Especially the mid and full size vehicles they offer or something from Bentley, Lamborghini and Bugatti. Looking at the money that they have invested, no one can say that the VW Group is not fully vested in the success of BEV’S, even though the currect margins are so small and 99% of the rest of their fleet are profitable ICE vehicles!
January 22nd, 2021 at 7:43 pm
Congrats on the Big 3000! I wonder if VW Group’s plan all along was to introduce this new platform?! The MEB pleased those who were looking for blood as a result of their cheating emissions. So they fast tracked that architecture and offered it for use to other OEM’s to support and quick start their own BEV transition. All the while, they were building a EV platform that would take the clean slate, Upstarts like Tesla, Rivian, Lucid and others to task, on a level playing field! To do so, they needed more time to develop their master stroke. Think about it, as expensive as it is to build one new platform, let alone a BEV from scratch, VW Group will soon have THREE! The MEB, the JP that sits under the Taycan and the e-tron GT and now this new one. While most other OEM’s would be happy with one and/or are trying to rework ICE vehicles for use as EV’s, VW has invested big money in three different architectures that appear to be unrelated! That being said, with all the different brands they have, I’m sure the MEB, and probably not even the Taycan’s platform, could be used to support all of them. Especially the mid and full size vehicles they offer or something from Bentley, Lamborghini and Bugatti. Looking at the money that they have invested, no one can say that the VW Group is not fully vested in the success of BEV’S, even though the currect margins are so small and 99% of the rest of their fleet are profitable ICE vehicles!
January 22nd, 2021 at 8:00 pm
A belated congratulations on 3000 shows. I’ve seen, or read the transcripts of most of them.
January 22nd, 2021 at 9:20 pm
I worked at Caterpillar from 1974 to 2009. I’ve never NOT seen Caterpillar recycling cuttings and other scrap from the factory. It just made economic sense. So I guess Nissan has caught up to something done at least 47 years ago.
January 23rd, 2021 at 11:00 am
Congrats on 3K. I have been here for every one, thanks so much. And BTW, thanks for getting rid of the #1 Tesla Cheerleader. Much nicer show now!! Thanks again for all you do.
January 23rd, 2021 at 4:16 pm
4 and others.
As several have mentioned, the Envision is assembled in China, at a SIAC-GM plant near Shanghai. I wouldn’t buy one either, on general principals, though a friend has one which has be reliable, and he says the build quality is good.
The US market Enclave is assembled in Lansing, Michigan.
January 23rd, 2021 at 8:48 pm
Congrats Ladies & Gentlemen on 3000th plus as I send this message along to you all from Canada.
Now on to Buick Encore (smallest)made in South Korea.
Buick Envision (Mid Size) made in China.
Buick Enclave (Full Size )made in China
Covid-19 (Global) made in China
January 23rd, 2021 at 9:05 pm
28 Enclave is made in China for the Chinese market, and made in Michigan for the US market.
Covid-19 was “made” in China, but since they got serious about controlling it early on, things are almost back to normal in Wuhan where it probably originated.
January 24th, 2021 at 3:09 pm
Congratulations on#3000! I’ve been listening/reading for most of those years. As for the barn find, it was not unusual for farmers and others with land to strip down an old car and shorten the wheelbase. Sometimes they would put tractor wheels on the rear. I had a neighbor who made one from an old Durant. These vehicles were often called doodlebugs.
January 24th, 2021 at 4:34 pm
30 Did they gear those down with sprockets and chains or something, to make them work better at the low speeds they’d be used?
January 25th, 2021 at 4:11 am
Just curious if anyone can recommend a good source for USA EV sales by model for 2020?
January 25th, 2021 at 8:59 am
Congrats on 3K! As others have mentioned, I think I’ve seen them all. Sometimes I like to go back and view old shows in your “Archives” list on the right side, to reflect some hindsight on some of the future-past.
30) Pertaining to doodlebugs, I have an old fiberglass Manx-type dune buggy. I’ve had more than one older person call it a doodlebug and didn’t give it too much thought. I didn’t know the definition and just thought it was an old car term like jalopy (also thinking they had no idea what it was). Given your description of an old car with a shortened wheelbase and nearly tractor tires on the rear, they were more accurate than I gave them credit for!
January 25th, 2021 at 9:30 am
Speaking of the Archives, many of the early shows require Adobe Flash, which is no longer supported. The shows from late 2010 are viewable via YouTube, but I’m curious if you would be able to make some of the very early shows accessible to view in a supported format? I realize that is probably a lot of work for just a small audience that would like to see the old stuff, but it doesn’t hurt to ask.
Meanwhile, I thought I’d share your old Autoline LA gallery from 2008; there are some really great photos in there, including behind the scenes shots of the crew and some cool cars.
http://www.autoline.tv/journal/?page_id=457