AD #3144 – Hyundai Reveals New Elantra N; Tesla Shows Off Humanoid Robot; Ford Performance Plans Electric Crate Motor
August 20th, 2021 at 11:57am
Listen to “AD #3144 – Hyundai Reveals New Elantra N; Tesla Shows Off Humanoid Robot; Ford Performance Plans Electric Crate Motor” on Spreaker.
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Runtime: 11:14
0:08 GM Mexico Workers Reject Union
1:05 Hagerty Is Going Public
1:46 Tesla Shows Off Humanoid Robot
3:50 Hyundai Reveals New Elantra N
5:23 Dodge Won’t Ditch Engines Right Away
6:18 Ford Performance Coming Out with Electric Crate Motor
6:46 Mustang & Mach-E Get All-White Appearance Package
7:56 BMW Offering More Paint Colors to Customers
9:07 GM Bringing 5G To Its Lineup
9:36 Australian Mystery Car Revealed
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GM MEXICO WORKERS REJECT UNION
This could be the beginning of the end of super cheap wages in Mexico. Workers at GM’s plant in Silao, Mexico rejected their union contract yesterday. And they also rejected their union. The AP reports that workers are organizing to get a union they feel really represents them. Most unions in Mexico are compliant to whatever management wants. Workers at the plant were paid as little as $115 a week in wages. That’s less than $6,000 a year for people assembling full-size pickup trucks that typically sell for over $50,000. But the USMCA could change all that. The US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement was in part designed to give Mexican workers a greater say in choosing their unions. The idea is to raise wages there, so American and Canadian companies don’t move more jobs to Mexico.
HAGERTY IS GOING PUBLIC
Big news in the automotive media world. Hagerty, the company that insures classic cars, owns major classic car shows and publishes a monthly magazine on classic cars, is going public. In fact, just like so many EV startups, Hagerty is doing a SPAC. The deal puts a value on Hagerty of just over $3 billion. It recently bought the Amelia Island Concours as well as the St. John’s Concours, and Hagerty says it’s going to take the money it raises on the New York Stock Exchange to grow even more. The stock trades under the symbol HGTY.
TESLA SHOWS OFF HUMANOID ROBOT
Tesla held its AI Day yesterday where it touted its progress in advanced technology. It revealed its Dojo supercomputer that it created to train its neural networks to develop autonomous technology. Elon Musk says it should start operating next year. It also showed off a new chip it developed in-house that will be used to power the brains of its advanced driver assistance features. The company said it’s considering licensing the technology to other automakers. But the thing that’s grabbing most of the headlines is the humanoid robot, called Tesla Bot. It’s designed to help humans perform what Elon Musk calls “repetitive and boring tasks.” Its head is equipped with cameras it uses for Autopilot and its body is fitted with its Full-Self Driving computer. Elon Musk says it will have a prototype sometime next year. Several years ago Toyota and Honda also demonstrated humanoid robots that they’re developing. Honda’s robot, called Asimo, even directed the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.
HYUNDAI REVEALS NEW ELANTRA N
Hyundai finally revealed the new Elantra N for the U.S. market, so let’s dive right into the highlights. It features a similar 2.0L turbo engine as the Veloster N, but with some tweaks, including to the turbo. It makes 276 horsepower, same as the Veloster, but its 289 lb-ft of torque is nearly 30 more. There’s also what amounts to an overboost function that pushes horsepower up to 286 for 20 seconds, but requires a 40 second recycle time before it can be used again. With launch control, the Elantra N is able to go from 0-60 MPH in 5 seconds. And there’s a lot more going on under the skin than just a powerful engine. It can be had with either a 6-speed manual or 8-speed wet dual-clutch transmission, which sends power through the electronic limited slip differential and on into the drive axles, which are integrated into the wheel hubs. This cuts down on weight and is also more durable and improves ride and handling. Further improving the ride is electronically controlled dampers, a new 5-link rear suspension setup and lots of reinforcement to the chassis. In fact, torsional rigidity is up 29% compared to the standard Elantra. The Elantra N is scheduled to go on sale in the 4th quarter, although Hyundai hasn’t released pricing yet. It also says the Kona N will come out before the end of the year.
DODGE WON’T DITCH ENGINES RIGHT AWAY
During a presentation on its future plans, Stellantis revealed that the Dodge Charger and Challenger would be going electric in 2024. But it sounds like customers that still want a fire breathing Dodge won’t be out of luck right away. In an interview with Muscle Cars and Trucks, brand CEO Tim Kuniskis said, “The new platform comes in 2024. The new car comes in 2024. We didn’t say that the current cars are going to die in 2024. There might be a little overlap, but you’re not going to have years and years and years of the classic and the new one at the same time.” He goes on to say that Dodge will probably lose some customers with the changeover, but he thinks as long as he can deliver on brand positioning, i.e. performance, it doesn’t matter if its vehicles are electric, non-electric or any type of electrification, the brand will be ok.
FORD PERFORMANCE COMING OUT WITH ELECTRIC CRATE MOTOR
In other electric muscle car news, Ford Performance revealed it’s going to come out with an electric crate motor. It didn’t provide any specs yet, but we’ll likely get some soon enough when the Eluminator, as it’s called, makes its debut at the SEMA show in Las Vegas. We think there’s going to be a lot of classic car owners that convert their ride to electric as ICE bans start going into effect.
MUSTANG & MACH-E GET ALL-WHITE APPEARANCE PACKAGE
In one last bit of muscle car news, Ford is going to offer an all-white appearance package for the Mustang and Mustang Mach-E. It’s been 28 years since it offered a white-on-white package for the Mustang and I’m sure many of you remember those triple white convertible Fox bodies that were quite popular in the 90’s.
BMW OFFERING MORE PAINT COLORS TO CUSTOMERS
Most car companies batch paint their cars. They’ll do a batch of blues, then a run of reds and so on. That’s because each time they change colors they have to purge the paint guns of any paint left over from the previous color. And purging the guns frequently can end up wasting a lot of paint. But BMW is now offering customers a lot more options when it comes to what color they want for their car. There’s 160 options for the 1 Series and 2 Series Gran Coupe, including two matte finishes. Customers can also create their own colors, which will only be used on their car. BMW had to expand its paintshop team at its plant in Leipzig to accommodate the new colors because they require more service and supervision than traditional paint finishes. BMW says it can paint five vehicles a day that have the new colors. Despite having to wait 10 weeks for their car to be painted, BMW says the new paint options are popular with customers. And BMW loves it because it can upcharge them to get the color they want.
GM BRINGING 5G TO ITS LINEUP
GM is partnering with AT&T to bring 5G connectivity into its vehicles. It will first be available in select 2024 model year vehicles. GM says current owners in the U.S. with 4G LTE in 2019 model year or newer vehicles will be able to easily migrate to the new network once the infrastructure is in place. 5G is expected to unleash a torrent of digital services for both retail and commercial vehicle users.
AUSTRALIAN MYSTERY CAR REVEALED
If he stays true to his word, viewer Warwick Dundas will no longer try to defeat the Autoline viewer motoring experts. A number of people recognized the mystery car he sent to us as a JWF Milano GT. Ken Terrens provided some good details in his YouTube comment, they “were built by JWF Fibreglass in Sydney, Australia in the early 1960′s. Approximately 30 were built and we believe around 10 survive. They were sold as a body/chassis kit to which purchasers fitted their own engines/transmissions/rear axle assemblies.” Thanks to everyone that participated, your knowledge is amazing.
But that wraps up today’s show. Thanks for watching and I hope you have a great weekend.
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Comments (21)
August 20th, 2021 at 12:22 pm
While I agree Mexican auto workers are probably being underpaid, the argument that they are building 50,000 dollar vehicles doesn’t hold much water; if they were building 100 toaster/ovens their wages should be higher.
That Hyundai’s front end doesn’t do anything for me; why even try to appear spindle-like (Lexus), uh!
August 20th, 2021 at 12:27 pm
Great call for those who were able to name the mystery car. I’m not sure these types of vehicles should be included in the “Barn Find”, but it only goes to prove even kit cars cannot escape Autoline Nuts like us.
August 20th, 2021 at 12:32 pm
An assembly job is an assembly job, and not saying its an easy job, but it has no bearing on what they are assembling. So if they are running a machine that stamps parts for a 45 Million dollar aircraft or running a machine that rolls toilet paper they may and should pay the same amount. Oh and next time the government shuts everything down again which job is more important to you?
Point being it doesn’t matter if they are assembling 70K trucks or 8K golf carts and shouldn’t be used a reason to request a raise.
Being underpaid and below the average earning for similar jobs in the same area is a very good reason. They go for too big of raise and automation becomes a more cost effective option. Negotiate their way right out of a job. Look at the fast food workers being replaced with kiosks.
August 20th, 2021 at 1:24 pm
So what exactly do they do with the purged paint? Do they save it to mix into grey paint? A local recycling company in my area accepts partial cans of paint of any color, sorts by type, mixes and uses the resulting grey paint to paint their tanks and buildings.
August 20th, 2021 at 1:27 pm
Just say NO to electric vehicles. The auto industry will be in a world of hurt if they keep pushing for something consumers obviously do not want based on the pitiful sales of EV’s.
August 20th, 2021 at 2:13 pm
As far as the Elantra N is concerned, I really wish we got the I30 N (AKA Elantra GT) as it lends itself well to the N persona, better than the standard Elantra in my opinion.
August 20th, 2021 at 2:17 pm
Instead of ruining the economy of other countries by throwing them into inflation. If Mexican workers make $115 @ week and US UAW workers make 1015 @ week ( 2020 National Average)which is 10 times higher that Mexican workers building the same vehicle The simple solution would be to tell auto companies that if they are saving 90% in wages over having it built in the US then the price of the vehicle when it enters the US from mexico must reflect that and now that $50,000 truck costs the consumer $5,000. that would get their attention that if they want to charge those prices then they better have it built here. tariffs wouldn’t work as they’d just pass those costs oto the consumer and make the vehicle even more expensive then it already is. I know what I explained is simplistic and many other factors go in but I hope you get the idea.
August 20th, 2021 at 2:20 pm
Lambo that is what I said yesterday I agree you wage yourself into being obselete.
August 20th, 2021 at 2:32 pm
Mexican workers should have wage parity with the US. They’re just as good as American workers. BMW pays exactly the same wages, which is $2.87 per hour to build their overpriced 3 series in Mexico. Chinese wages are now significantly above this level.
Worker abuse must come to an end.
August 20th, 2021 at 3:03 pm
9 Bob, being as good as US workers again has nothing to do with it. If the pay is too low then how is GM able to keep workers there? Obviously people are willing to work there at that rate.
Its like me trying to rent a single bedroom apartment in Ohio for $2500 a month. when everything else is about $800. Why? because that’s what they get in California or NY.
Cant just say well there should be some parity there the apartments are identical and offer the same things. Its what the market will bear and as long as workers are willing to work for that wage its unlikely to go up. Especially when and if they walk off there is 100 more waiting to take the position. They should organize their own union and hopefully they can negotiate for a better than fair wage. But this comparing it to the US is like comparing apples and oranges.
August 20th, 2021 at 4:03 pm
Wages are just a fraction of a contract.
The Mexican workers are making it clear to have the right to representation of their choosing and not one under the thumb of the manufacturer.
It really doesn’t matter how anyone of us thinks or feels. It are the workers choices and decisions to agree upon a contract and to have representation of their own choosing.
Full time employment, some kind of health care, fair working conditions and wages is not too much to expect from any large employer, like GM. Actually, it should be a expected “normal” from both sides of the aisle.
August 20th, 2021 at 4:33 pm
I’m happy to pay extra for a nicer or low volume paint color. For me,totally worth it.
August 20th, 2021 at 4:58 pm
The USMCA is a step in the right direction, except for those believing the current auto labor wage in Mexico is somehow justified or that all machine operators should be paid the same wage. Such foolish nonsense!
Once the USMCA takes hold, the agreement states 40-45 % of the content made by Mexican workers will be paid $16/hour. Using the $115/wk wage (stated), those workers will then experience about a 5 fold increasse of $640/wk.
One can only assume skilled workers will earn even more.
As the agreement is written, I expect there will be little cuase for concern of inflation, given the time frame for adjustments to the economy. Over time, it will be for the better for both our countries.
August 20th, 2021 at 6:57 pm
@7 – Assembly labor represents less than 5% of the total variable cost of a vehicle. Assuming all of the Mexican labor saving is passed to the new vehicle buyer, the price savings might be $100-200 (recognizing tooling, engineering, S&A, and other fixed costs must be recaptured, too).
August 20th, 2021 at 9:13 pm
12 Porsche has offered custom colors on some models for about $8K, as I remember. If you are spending $100K+ for a 911, ehat’s another $8K for the color you really want? The people I know who have done it got “legacy” colors used on 356s and early 911s.
August 21st, 2021 at 11:07 am
Wow, not a mention of the biggest car happening in our country, the Woodward Dream Cruise, this Saturday on Woodward Avenue in southeast Michigan, you guys are really slipping, I remember when John used to do live reports from the Cruise. What is going on at ALD these days that you could miss an opportunity to give a little love to such a big auto enthusiast event like the Cruise?
August 21st, 2021 at 5:49 pm
16 I just learned something after googling Woodward Dream Cruise. It’s in Ferndale, which I’d never heard of.
August 23rd, 2021 at 9:11 am
GM recalling all the Bolts and EUVs as of late Fri, guess LG has to give some cash back,maybe 70% of $1.8 billion?
August 23rd, 2021 at 10:53 am
USMCA = Trump was right — again
August 23rd, 2021 at 11:36 am
16 Yea I even sent an email to Sean early last week, asking if they would be covering the event. Thought for sure we would see something about it and maybe a short clip of some of the cars. Big weekend in Michigan for auto fans. In addition to the cruise the NASCAR race was at MIS this weekend too.
August 23rd, 2021 at 11:38 am
20 Maybe there will be a clip on today’s show.