AD #3351 – Peugeot Aims New 408 Fastback at SUV Buyers; VW Teases New EV Sedan; BMW Reveals 1st Ever M3 Wagon
June 22nd, 2022 at 11:53am
Listen to “AD #3351 – Peugeot Aims New 408 Fastback at SUV Buyers; VW Teases New EV Sedan; BMW Reveals 1st Ever M3 Wagon” on Spreaker.
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Runtime: 9:48
0:08 GM Accelerates EV Production Plans
0:37 Ford’s Spain Plant to Produce Next-Gen EVs
1:07 Toyota Slashes Production…Again
1:30 Toyota & Redwood Partner on EV Battery Recycling
3:02 Volkswagen Teases New ID. AERO Electric Sedan
3:42 Peugeot Aims New 408 Fastback at SUV Buyers
5:58 IIHS: Pandemic Lockdowns Made Risky Driving New Normal
7:10 BMW Introduces 1st Ever M3 Wagon
8:15 Porsche Struggled to Incorporate Brand DNA In the Cayenne
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GM ACCELERATES EV PRODUCTION PLANS
General Motors is accelerating plans to boost EV production. The automaker announced it will idle its Factory Zero Detroit-Hamtramck plant for the next four weeks, so it can prepare to expand production. The plant currently builds the Hummer EV pickup and in the future, will produce the SUV version as well as the Silverado EV. GM says the move to boost EV production is coming sooner than it initially planned.
FORD’S SPAIN PLANT TO PRODUCE NEXT-GEN EVs
And speaking of EV production, Ford announced that its plant in Valencia, Spain will produce EVs based on its next-generation EV architecture, which will include more connected vehicle technology. But it didn’t say when EV production will kick off in Spain. Ford is also investing $2 billion to build EVs in Germany starting next year. The company is aiming to sell 600,000 EVs annually in Europe by 2026.
TOYOTA SLASHES PRODUCTION…AGAIN
And in other manufacturing news, Toyota is once again slashing production. The automaker announced its cutting global production by 50,000 units in July and now only expects to make 800,000 vehicles. This is in addition to cuts Toyota announced last month. And it’s all go to do with a shortage of semiconductor chips.
TOYOTA & REDWOOD PARTNER ON EV BATTERY RECYCLING
Let’s stick with Toyota for the moment. It’s partnering with Redwood Materials to create a sustainable, closed-loop EV battery ecosystem. The collaboration will focus on the collection, testing and recycling of Toyota’s hybrid batteries for raw materials. It will also develop second-life uses for repurposed or remanufactured batteries. If the name Redwood sounds familiar that’s because we’ve talked about it before. The company was established by former Tesla co-founder JB Straubel. And last year, Ford invested $50 million in Redwood to help it expand it manufacturing footprint.
VOLKSWAGEN TEASES NEW ID. AERO ELECTRIC SEDAN
4-door sedans are a dying breed but Volkswagen isn’t ready to give up on them and just revealed design sketches of an all-new electric sedan, called the ID. AERO. It will be built on its MEB platform, like VW’s other ID. vehicles, so you can expect a similar layout. It will most likely offer several battery sizes, depending on the market, with the largest having 77 kWh of usable space and the option for AWD. The ID. AERO will first go on sale in China in the second half of next year, which is the same time production will start for the North American and European markets.
PEUGEOT AIMS NEW 408 FASTBACK AT SUV BUYERS
Peugeot thinks customers are getting tired of high-roofed, boxy SUVs, so it converted the 408 sedan into a vehicle that looks like a mix between a sedan, SUV and wagon. It hopes to lure consumers looking for something different. The 408 is a lot lower and longer than Peugeot’s 3008 SUV and has a sleeker design. The grille is the same color as the body to blend in with the front end. It will initially be offered with three powertrains, two of which are plug-in hybrids, one with 182 horsepower and the other with 228 horses. The third option is a gasoline engine with 131 horsepower. All the engines are mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. An all-electric version will be available a few months after the vehicle launches in the beginning of 2023. And to support all of its driver assistance functions, it’s equipped with 6 cameras and 9 radars. The 408 will be built in both France, for the European market and in Chengdu for the Chinese market.
Do car designers really need to use clay models to design new cars, or can they do it all digitally? That’s the topic on Autoline After Hours this Thursday. The designer John Manoogian will be joining us, and so will Doug Grieg, the CEO of a company called Tarus that makes clay milling machines. So join John and Gary as they dive into one of the most controversial topics in today’s automotive design.
IIHS: PANDEMIC LOCKDOWNS MADE RISKY DRIVING NEW NORMAL
During pandemic lockdowns in 2020, risky driving increased out on U.S. roads because a lack of traffic emboldened drivers to step on the gas. But even after lockdowns were lifted, a new report from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says that trend continued. It analyzed data from the Virginia Department of Transportation and found that the chances a Virginia driver was going at least 10 MPH over the speed limit was up over 50% between March and June of 2020, compared to 2019. But the IIHS says speeding continued into 2021 and speed-related deaths were up 5% last year. Other risky driving behavior also continued. The number of passengers killed in crashes without wearing a seatbelt rose 3% and alcohol-related deaths were up another 5% compared to 2020. With the increase in traffic deaths, the IIHS says more needs to be done to prevent speeding like automated speed enforcement and road designs that slow traffic.
BMW INTRODUCES 1ST EVER M3 WAGON
Automotive enthusiasts seem to love sporty station wagons and for the first time ever BMW is offering an M3 version. Equipment-wise it’s the same as other M3 models. Power comes from a turbocharged 3.0L inline 6-cylinder engine mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. AWD is standard and with 375 kW or 510 horsepower the M3 Touring will do 0-100 km/h in 3.6 seconds. That same sporty character is carried over to the design, both inside and out, as well as the chassis and suspension. Obviously, the biggest change will be the amount of space. The M3 sedan has 13 cubic feet or nearly 370 liters of cargo space, but the wagon has 500 liters or over 17.5 cubic feet of rear room with the seats up. Production of the M3 Touring kicks off this November.
PORSCHE STRUGGLED TO INCORPORATE BRAND DNA IN THE CAYENNE
Porsche, a brand once known for only making 2-door sports cars, struggled to incorporate its brand DNA into its first ever SUV, the Cayenne. I mean, just look at these early design sketches. There’s a lot less tying it to Porsche’s other models than the vehicle it came out with. This is just some more of the great information coming out of the company as the SUV celebrates its 20th anniversary, including that, internally, the project was called ‘Colorado.’ It took about 5 years to completely design and develop the Cayenne, which was pretty standard for the time, but getting things like the front-end right proved difficult. Porsche’s design boss at the time spent an entire year on the headlights alone. The doors were also difficult because there’s not a lot of room in front of or behind them, so the doors really define the side of the vehicle. And it even talks about compromises it had to make on the interior. We’ll provide a link if you’d like to learn more.
But that’s a wrap for today, thanks for making Autoline a part of your day.
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Comments (21)
June 22nd, 2022 at 12:14 pm
The M3 wagon is nice. Too bad we’ll never see it here in the US. It’s frustrating to me that wagons aren’t available despite the increase in practicality over a sedan, and the better fuel economy and styling over an SUV/CUV.
Why is Toyota having so much more of an issue with production? The chip shortage is affecting everyone, but they are the only ones that are reported as having to reduce their numbers. Were they just too aggressive in their estimates, or is everyone else just being more quiet about it?
June 22nd, 2022 at 12:24 pm
I learned something about M3s from today’s show. I was thinking they had made M3 wagons in earlier generations, like E36, but just didn’t sell them in the US, but that was not the case.
The new M3 wagon looks fairly nice, except for the nose. Then, there’s the mandatory automatic and 4wd, so it’s not much like an M3.
June 22nd, 2022 at 12:31 pm
1 Exactly, regarding wagons. I wanted a high mpg vehicle that would carry my model airplanes, and the closest thing available was a Highlander hybrid. A Camry hybrid wagon, if it existed, would get better mpg, handle better, and if done properly, would look better. Oh well.
Regarding parts shortages, there are a few thousand new, unfinished Chevy and GMC pickups in a lot in Kokomo, IN waiting on parts. I assume they are waiting for semiconductors, but it could be something else. I suspect Toyota may just shut down plants or remove shifts, rather than building incomplete vehicles. John or Sean, do you know?
June 22nd, 2022 at 12:33 pm
Maybe Porsche spent too much time pruning designers, it looked to me like a marshmallow from the sides (or a VW) with a completely out of place face. Perhaps this is because of my bias against the whole thing when it came out. I still think it looks ugly, just as ugly as the earlier Panamera.
June 22nd, 2022 at 12:43 pm
4 Just the Porsche name seems to sell Cayennes. I drove one as a loaner while a recall was being done on my Cayman, and the Cayenne didn’t seem very special, for what was probably a $75K truck. The similar Audi Q7 costs thousands less, and for the world outside the US, there is the Tuareg, also similar, which would cost less yet.
June 22nd, 2022 at 12:48 pm
I definitely love boxy vehicles. The only station wagon I would really consider getting is the Subaru Outback with the non-turbo 2.5 engine.
I wish Honda bring back the Second Generation Pilot (2009-2015). It is a very roomy vehicle with plenty of carrying space behind the second row and a hidden third room. The only vehicle that comes close to the 2nd Gen Honda in the current market is the Kia Telluride.
June 22nd, 2022 at 1:01 pm
I liked the Subaru Legacy wagon, before they bastardized it with the lift kit, plastic cladding, and in some versions, ridiculous looking huge roof racks, to make the Outback.
June 22nd, 2022 at 1:12 pm
I didn’t get to leave this comment yesterday, but in reference to GM’s push to become “the most diverse workforce in the world”…
I wish GM (and other corporations) would stop trumpeting their desire to be inclusive. Just hire the best people for the jobs without prejudice and let the chips fall where they may. Stop over-correcting.
Diversity for diversity’s sake is NOT good policy. One look at the clown shows going on with the V.P. and the Press Secretary at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. should suffice to prove that. (and I’m a black man pointing this out)
June 22nd, 2022 at 2:00 pm
8- Well said MJB. I appreciate your standing up and stating what I suspect most folks around this country feel.
June 22nd, 2022 at 2:13 pm
Kit @ #5 You’re right about that. When Cayenne 1st came out my boos bought one for his wife because she refused to drive the VW version for thousands less. All about status.
June 22nd, 2022 at 2:13 pm
Boss not boos
June 22nd, 2022 at 2:33 pm
10 For a few years, there were some interesting variants of Cayenne, including with manual transmissions. Now, they use a number of different engines, including some 600+ hp turbo V8s, but all Cayennes now use ZF 8HP series transmissions, like a Dodge Charger. The loaner I drove had a turbo V6, and would have cost about $75K. The fastest Cayenne is $188,700, without options.
June 22nd, 2022 at 2:56 pm
I long for a modern-day version of the Isuzu Vehi-Cross, the quirky two door true sport utility that had everything I ever wanted except for longevity. Wake me up when a major manufacturer comes out with one of those again. Thanks in advance.
June 22nd, 2022 at 3:29 pm
3 I was glad I found a low-mileage Golf Sportwagen for my long-haul trips as it’s no longer sold here. The only wagon available is a Volvo, and those are a little out of my price range. The V60 Recharge is exactly what I want in a vehicle, but good luck finding one.
June 22nd, 2022 at 4:00 pm
Ziggy , I’m a afraid you’ll be in a coma before that happens. They want more doors so they can shove more crap that many will never use , but out the tail for.
June 22nd, 2022 at 4:04 pm
13 About the closest you can get is a 2 door Wrangler, which isn’t very close.
June 22nd, 2022 at 4:19 pm
14 The Volvos seem pricey, and the V60 doesn’t have enough floor length. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a V90, but I’d probably like it, except for the price and gas mileage.
Anyway, I’ve been on a gas mileage kick for years for my non-toy car, and the Highlander hybrid had 36/36 ratings. My actual mpg is even better than I expected. I got ~33 for an 1100 mile trip on the interstate going 80-82 most of the time. I get high 30s for mixed driving, with speeds not much over ~60. The first 3601 miles came out to 38.06, but I need to recheck my adding and dividing. 38 sounds too good, given that the higher speed road trip producing 33 mpg is almost a third of the miles.
June 22nd, 2022 at 4:20 pm
I had a few Saab 9-5 SportCombi’s and recently a Regal TourX. Very functional, drove like a sedan, looked great!
June 23rd, 2022 at 6:33 am
18, Norm, I wanted to get a TourX myself but was vetoed by the wife; truly a handsome vehicle. Even the Regal sedan was on my short list but alas I went elsewhere.
That Peugeot 408 looks pretty snazzy styling-wise as compared to some of the offering in similar category. I suppose it looks kind-of like the Chevy Blazer Electric, which isn’t a bad thing in my eyes mind.
June 23rd, 2022 at 8:33 am
18,19 I like the looks of the TourX, and like that it’s an actual car height wagon, but never seriously considered buying one for three reasons. The gas mileage is mediocre, and it needs premium. Also, it was sold only with AWD in the US, and it seemed destined to become an “orphan,” which turned out to be the case. The later non-wagon Regals were hatchbacks, which I liked, but they were fairly thirsty, even with FWD, and needed premium.
https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/Find.do?action=sbs&id=40569&id=41557
June 23rd, 2022 at 10:03 am
My wife drives a tourx and really likes it. I think the gas milage is in the mid to high 20s with mid grade fuel. She doesn’t drive that much (20,000 miles on a 2019). I was hoping for a GS version with the 310hp v6. She says it’s an old guy (50+) magnet. Quite a few have approached her (60+) to compliment and ask for hat it is.