AD #3548 – Ford to Import China-Made Vehicles; Buick Getting All-New Small Crossover; Toyota Reveals More New EVs
April 18th, 2023 at 12:00pm
Listen to “AD #3548 – Ford to Import China-Made Vehicles; Buick Getting All-New Small Crossover; Toyota Reveals More New EVs” on Spreaker.
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Runtime:10:57
0:00 Ford to Import China-Made Vehicles to the U.S.
1:56 All-New Lincoln Nautilus Details
4:20 Buick Bringing the Envista to the U.S.
5:08 Nissan Arizon Concept Designed in China for China
5:52 New Polestar 4 Slots Between the 2 & 3
7:26 Porsche Unveils All-New Cayenne
8:31 Honda’s China EV Lineup Growing
9:31 Toyota Expanding Its EV Lineup
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FORD TO IMPORT CHINA-MADE VEHICLES
Lots of news and new cars coming out of China today. And we start off with some history. Ford is doing something it’s never done before. It’s going to build vehicles in China and ship them to the U.S. We can say with certainty that includes the all-new Lincoln Nautilus and we can say with confidence it will probably also include the new Edge L. We’d like to thank Lincoln for giving us the chance to join it at a local event in Detroit the other day, which is where we learned the Nautilus is moving from Ford’s CD4 platform for mid-size vehicles to its more versatile C2 platform. The Kuga, Bronco Sport, Maverick and new Lincoln Corsair all use this platform. Lincoln also revealed that it will start making the Nautilus in China and ship it to the U.S. Currently the Nautilus and Ford Edge are made at the same plant and we think that’s going to continue, but this time in China. The all-new Nautilus is powered by two 2.0L turbo engines, one is a gas setup and the other is a hybrid. This chart for the new Edge L, which is also moving to the C2 platform, appears to show the same hybrid setup, so it looks like it’s also being built in China. And it would make a lot of sense to us from a volume standpoint to ship it to the U.S. as well. Now, before we get into the actual details of the all-new Nautilus, we have one more quick Ford China announcement. It says it’s also going to manufacture the all-new Ranger pickup in the country. It’s kind of surprising but Chinese consumers are warming up to trucks now that many city bans have been lifted. (Ford Edge L pictured)
ALL-NEW LINCOLN NAUTILUS DETAILS
Ok, let’s move back to the new Nautilus. The real attention grabber for us is the interior. Walking up to the vehicle, you first notice Lincoln’s beautiful-looking multi-way adjustable seats, but opening the door you’re pulled to the giant display screen on the upper part of the dash, which welcomes you with an animation that flows out into the doors. The previously mentioned platform switch also means a new electronic architecture that, among other things, facilitates more expansive OTA updates and hands-free driving. But it’s dropping the name ActiveGlide for its hands-free system and will now use Lincoln BlueCruise going forward. It says this creates less confusion across its brands. The exterior of the Nautilus uses lighting as its main forms of expression. The elements on the front and rear are the real focal points, but it also wears Lincoln’s new signature grille and, as a neat little touch, it features door handles similar to the Continental. They’re positioned just below the windows, which cleans up the side of the car. And we’ll wrap this up with those engines we talked about. The 2.0L turbo gas engine makes 250 horsepower, 275 lb-ft of torque and is mated to an 8-speed automatic. The hybrid features a CVT with an electric motor mounted between it and the engine. That setup provides 300 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. Lincoln says orders are open now and deliveries start early next year.
BUICK BRINGING THE ENVISTA TO THE U.S.
Buick revealed its model for the U.S. to adopt its new design language inspired by the Wildcat Concept. It’s the Envista. You may remember we first showed this in August of last year for the Chinese market. But the U.S. version of the small crossover is powered by a 1.2L turbocharged inline 3-cylinder engine that’s paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. It produces 136 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque. Fuel economy is estimated at 30 MPG combined. Pricing for the Envista starts at $23,500, production kicks off next month and it goes on sale in the U.S. this summer.
NISSAN ARIZON DESIGNED IN CHINA FOR CHINA
Nissan took the wraps off an electric SUV concept that was designed in China for Chinese customers. Called the Arizon, it’s built on the company’s CMF EV platform, the same as the Ariya. The concept’s highlights include a low center of gravity and a pillarless open-air cabin. Nissan didn’t share any of its powertrain specs but some other features include a virtual personal assistant called Eporo, an auto-dimming glass roof and an interactive lighting system that recognizes people and automatically adapts to their preferences.
POLESTAR 4 SLOTS BETWEEN 2 & 3
Polestar introduced the Polestar 4, which it describes as an SUV coupe. The model is positioned between the Polestar 2 and 3 in terms of both size and price. It’s available in single and dual motor setups and both are equipped with a 102-kWh battery. The rear drive version features a 200-kW or 272 horsepower motor and has an estimated 600 kilometers or 373 miles of range based on the WLTP cycle. The dual-motor model has 400-kW or 544 horsepower and a range of 560 kilometers or 348 miles. The Polestar 4 launches first in China at the end of the year and it will be available in the U.S. and Europe early next year with a starting price of $60,000.
PORSCHE UNVEILS ALL-NEW CAYENNE
Porsche unveiled the all-new Cayenne. It comes standard with a 3.0L turbocharged V6 engine. That engine is also used for the plug-in hybrid. A new twin-turbo V8 is now available which replaces the V6 in the Cayenne S. It produces 468 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque and moves from 0 to 60 MPH in 4.4 seconds. The Cayenne Turbo GT also features that engine but its power is boosted to 650 horsepower. It moves from 0 to 60 MPH in just 3.1 seconds and has a top speed of 189 MPH. The new Cayenne starts just under $81,000 in the U.S. while the Turbo GT model is just a shade under $200,000. Customers can order the SUV now and deliveries in the U.S. will begin this summer.
HONDA’S CHINA EV LINEUP GROWING
Honda unveiled several new EV prototypes for the Chinese market. These are the second and third models to come in its e:N Series, which we’ve reported on previously and is the name it’s giving its EV model lineup in China. The e:NS2 and e:NP2 Prototype build on the two current e:N models on the market. While exact details are slime, they feature new styling, updated driving dynamics and improved vehicle intelligence. The other vehicle it showed is a concept, called the e:N SUV. Interestingly, it has a Chinese character after its name that means ‘prologue,’ which as you probably know is the same name as the EV it’s developing with GM. But the e:N SUV will be the first built on a new architecture developed exclusively for its EV lineup in China.
TOYOTA EXPANDING ITS EV LINEUP
Toyota’s electrification efforts are ramping up, which is highlighted by the two newest editions coming to its bZ family of EVs. The bZ Sport Crossover and bZ FlexSpace Concepts likely strongly hint at two new models joining the lineup, first in China next year. Their styling falls in line with the current bZ4X, although we wouldn’t be surprised to see some smaller wheels and protruding door handles. The interiors however seem to be going through a bit of a design evolution. They’re more minimalistic, the driver’s instrument cluster isn’t as anchored to the dash and the center display sits higher. Although, both screens have a curling at the bottom, like the bZ4X. The production versions are two out of the 10 new EVs Toyota plans to release by 2026.
But that brings us to the end of today’s show. Thanks for joining us.
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Comments (29)
April 18th, 2023 at 12:17 pm
so, when these Ford Motor Company vehicles built in China are brought stateside, I am sure they will not benefit from any government subsidies and/or EV rebates….talk about shooting yourself in the foot !
April 18th, 2023 at 12:18 pm
So has the IRA made Lincoln move all EV production local and ICE production over to China?
April 18th, 2023 at 12:20 pm
Will ford proudly show a flag from China on the imported cars a an advertising plus when they go on sale
April 18th, 2023 at 12:22 pm
You’ll see a trend of ICE models produced outside of the North America to make room for EV models.
April 18th, 2023 at 12:24 pm
Hmm… I’m happy that Ford is expanding into China with new manufacturing, but I’m admittedly not a fan of producing vehicles overseas and bringing them back to the United States. This seems really short-sighted. Politically, there’s a lot going on right now with the U.S. and China. Why would they want to go down that road? I didn’t hear if this was addressed, but would they continue to produce the Nautilus and the Edge in the United States? Or would production SHIFT to China? Or… is it simply augmenting production to fill in demand in the US from Chinese manufacturing?
April 18th, 2023 at 12:26 pm
Ford / Lincoln importing Chinese Built vehicles to the USA will kill the Lincoln brand.
To My Eye, if you slapped a Buick logo on the Lincoln I would think it is a Buick. The Buick Envista looks very similar to the Ford Escape.
April 18th, 2023 at 12:27 pm
2 I doubt that Ford will advertise their being from China, just as Buick doesn’t advertise that Envision comes from China.
April 18th, 2023 at 12:28 pm
Will the 2024 Honda Passport front and rear facia be restyled to emulate the 2023 Pilot & CRV?
April 18th, 2023 at 12:46 pm
Sean, Your regular viewers are smart enough to want Ford to keep the plants for more advanced future vehicles in North America. Having a short term product like a non-EV Edge stay here would mean that the long term products would go overseas. No OEM can afford the huge expense of keeping workforces for both the interim product AND the future products when they know they are going to have to lay all the ICE workers off when EVs finally catch on.
April 18th, 2023 at 1:12 pm
9 Kevin, Ford has actually already split the EV and ICE manufacturing into separate divisions. Supposedly they want mega-factories for EVs so they could maintain the current factories for ICE production and continue to move forward with EV production in new plants.
Maybe Ford doesnt expect much demand for the Edge and Nautilus in the US compared to the demand in China.
April 18th, 2023 at 1:29 pm
So I wonder how the membership of UAW feels about that? Keep strong arming companies and you’ll have no jobs. Once Ford does this don’t that GM and Chrysler won’t follow.
April 18th, 2023 at 1:43 pm
@10 I had the same idea as you: “Maybe Ford doesn’t expect much demand for the Edge and Nautilus in the US compared to the demand in China.”
April 18th, 2023 at 1:45 pm
@7 Buick should have baptized the “Envision” the “Invasion”.
April 18th, 2023 at 1:49 pm
Saw the review of the Nautilus last night. The huge panel gaps both exterior and interior were a major distraction. Especially with that giant screen that ended at the doors in an enormous panel misalignment. My OCD can’t handle that LOL. I was surprised that none of the journalists at the nautilus party mentioned it as huge uneven panel gaps are not something a Lincoln should have. The way that instrument panel was designed gave me 90s Buick vibes which is not a good thing.
I also thought the upper 3 screens lacking touch sensitive function was a big miss on Fords’ part. Instead you need a smaller and more out of the way screen to control the functions you see on the upper. It seems kind of silly that you need a separate screen to control your 3 other screens that are right there. I am sure that won’t be distracting at all while driving.
April 18th, 2023 at 2:02 pm
If Mexico is less expensive to manufacture than China and America has a trade/geopolitical problem with China why the H*** is Ford manufacturing new stuff in China is somebody at Ford, brain dead?
April 18th, 2023 at 2:05 pm
Chinese Lincolns will kill the brand especially if we go to war with them. Good luck getting parts if and when this comes. Chinese electronics in these cars will be another knockout factor as the trust factor is gone. TIC Toc anyone?
April 18th, 2023 at 2:08 pm
Lincoln now sells more of its luxury vehicles to Chinese buyers than American buyers.
This is a powerful new development.
Unquote, Source Detroit Free Press, 03-31-2022.
April 18th, 2023 at 4:12 pm
While some have already mentioned it, it’s worth repeating that China is the biggest seller (buyer?) of Lincoln’s. I believe the the Edge and Nautilus are current assembled in Canada and that plant is being retrofit it to build midsize BEV vehicles, for both brands.
On the topic of assembly plants, as Sean/John have mentioned, it seems almost every other day, there is an announcement of a new BEV and battery plant being built. If all ICE production leaves the country, as some one suggested, what will OEMs do with all the ICE plants they will not be using? On of the attractive points of building new assembly plant of EVs, is that they require fewer parts, smaller work stations (as I understand) and therefore can occupy a smaller footprint. So, while retro fitting an existing plant can work (as in the case of the Edge/Nautilus plant) an OEM runs the risk of having a lot of unused space (theoretically)?! Ultimately, what will they use the majority of these plants for, once they are no longer building ICE vehicles in them?
April 18th, 2023 at 4:15 pm
The Buick Envista would look better if they had the face of the Envision, or even the Enclave! And the Polestar 4 should be the standard for all SUV/CUV four door coupes going forward.
April 18th, 2023 at 4:19 pm
I like the BZ Sport Crossover’s exterior. It could have been a Saab, given the rear window’s shape.
April 18th, 2023 at 4:39 pm
Toyota’s future bZ’s show much promise. It would be nice it their bZ3 was coming to more markets outside to China. While it was nice to see what may soon be hitting the road in China and a few other markets, at the Shanghai Auto show, i really hope the same will be true at the up coming Detroit international auto show! GM has shown some of their future, production ready, mass market, midsize and compact EVs, with Blazer and equinox. Yet, with Ford has only revealed a Lincoln concept, much of which will not see production, while Dodge and Chrysler have shown the Charger and Airflow (?) concepts, but one vehicle per division, is very little to support a brand with! Outside of the Mach-E, the current and second generation Lightning, and the 1500 Rev, both automakers have played their future brand portfolios close to the vest. While other OEMs have provided a much fuller view into production plans, to build excitement for their up coming product line, these to have only given us promises of what is to come, with very little to show for it.
April 18th, 2023 at 5:01 pm
I wouldn’t buy a vehicle of any kind produced in China. The US OEMs would be smart to keep a wary eye on the potential for China forcing them out once they have stolen all the intellectual property that they can from the US.
Why import vehicles from China build them on this side of the ocean even if it is in Mexico. I think the Chinese will turn out to be not a trustworthy partner.
April 18th, 2023 at 5:06 pm
@13 for sure
April 18th, 2023 at 6:30 pm
13, 22+++ In 2019 when we were looking for a replacement for my wife’s Vibe the Envision would have been some competition for the TourX had it not been made in China. I will avoid buying anything made in China as best as I can for as long as I can.
April 18th, 2023 at 8:51 pm
24 For many things, it’s hard to avoid products from China, but for cars, there are still options.
April 18th, 2023 at 11:23 pm
How much subsidy did Tesla and the buyers get based on recent sales:
Q4 of 2022:
Model S 9,171
Model 3 55,030
Model X 6,552
Model Y 60,271
My estimate would be a maximum of $795,963,750 in subsidies. I used 100% of Model Y the the max, $7,500. Model 3 estimate is $3,750 for 1/3d of Model 3 and $7,500 for the rest. There are other losses from income level, make too much and no subsidy. But back of the envelope, a nice chunk of change.
All in good fun, the web link is to a poll at a favorite Tesla web site.
April 18th, 2023 at 11:48 pm
Late thought, that would be about $800 million per quarter or about $2.4 billion per year (assuming no sales growth.) A million here and a million there and soon your talking billion dollar range.
April 19th, 2023 at 7:45 am
27 Well, you have to ask yourself, is the government interested in just pushing as many EVs as possible or are they trying to get them in the hands of the average American? Maybe both but if they really want to helpbring EVs to market they need to encourage the price to come down. The average cost of a vehicle in the US is like just under 38K. So they should limit the tax incentives to EVs priced under 40K.
Right after the government announced it was extending the tax incentive Ford increased the cost of the Mach-e and the Lightning. Tesla added some to the sticker which was then again removed a few months later. But the tax incentive shouldn’t be to help manufacturers increase profits. They should be there to help the Average American afford an EV. So only give them to the Average cost of a vehicle.
I willing to bet that if Gov only offered a $7500 tax credit to EVs under 40K within a year there would be 5 EVs priced at $39,999.
April 19th, 2023 at 8:38 am
22 If Ford planned on selling Edge/Nautilus globally, with the US and Canada being the biggest market, it would probably make sense to build them in Mexico. With China the biggest market, and Europe probably not in the plans at all, it makes sense to build them in China. They will probably go away completely in about 6 years.