AD #1639 – Indian Ford Coming to U.S.? All-New BMW 7 Series, Honda’s 2-Wheel Rocket Ship
June 11th, 2015 at 11:58am
Runtime: 6:38
- Indian Ford Coming to the U.S.?
- All-New BMW 7 Series
- Green Cars Get Worse As Year Goes On
- Hyundai Tests Small Crossover Waters
- Volvo Tech Cutting Insurance Claims
- Honda Introduces Near-MotoGP Bike
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On today’s show… Ford could be the first automaker to export cars to the U.S. from India, BMW loads up the 7 Series with new technology and Volvo’s safety technology is helping to slash insurance claims. All that and more coming right up on Autoline Daily.
This is Autoline Daily for June 11th, 2015.
COMING TO AMERICA
Volvo plans to start selling S60’s built in China in the U.S. by the end of the year, the first major automaker to do so and now Ford could be the first carmaker to sell Indian built cars in the American market. According to a report from India’s The Economic Times, Ford may start exporting its compact SUV, the EcoSport, from India to the U.S. starting in 2017. The company has begun working on a refreshed version for North America and is looking to export as many as 90,000 a year.
BMW’S ALL-NEW 7 SERIES
BMW took the wraps off the all-new 7 Series yesterday. And while the styling isn’t drastically different, the company loaded up its big sedan with a host of new features. Depending on the version you choose, it’s up to 130 kilograms lighter or about 287 pounds, thanks to the use of carbon fiber reinforced plastic in the body structure. It’s powered by updated V8 and in-line six-cylinder engines that are mated to an 8-speed manumatic transmission. A plug-in hybrid version is available for the first time too. It consists of a four-cylinder gasoline engine and an electric motor. Its fuel economy is rated at 2.1 liters per 100 kilometers combined or 112 MPG but that’s based on the easier European test cycle. The plug-in can also travel up to 25 miles in pure electric mode at speeds up to an impressive 75 MPH. On the inside, the iDrive system comes with a touch screen for the first time and gesture control, which detects hand movements with a 3D sensor. Another big new feature is the addition of Remote Control Parking that helps you get in and out of a tight parking spot. The technology doesn’t require a driver behind the wheel, instead the owner uses a special tablet to start moving in or out of a spot while the car takes care of the rest. Those are just the highlights of the new 7 Series, if you want to learn more, just click the link in today’s transcript.
And we’ll be back with more right after this.
GREEN CARS GET WORSE AS YEAR GOES ON
In yesterday’s show we reported on green cars in the US market and how cheap gasoline prices are clobbering sales. We reported those as year-to-date sales, but mistakenly showed you the figures for only for the month of May. Here are the year-to-date sales. The entire segment is down 15% for the year. Hybrids are off 19%, plug-ins have plummeted 30%. The only bright spot is for electric cars, which are up 30%. But based on the figures we provided yesterday, the green car segment is getting worse as the year goes on.
HYUNDAI TESTS SMALL CROSSOVER WATERS
We’ve seen a number of new small crossovers hit the market recently and now Hyundai’s getting into the mix. The automaker just released this sketch of its entry, the Creta. As you can see it bears a lot of resemblance to other models in its lineup, including its big brother, the Santa Fe. No other details were released with the sketch, but with the small crossover segment on fire it’s not surprising to see others test the waters.
If you want to learn more about the development of the all-new Chevrolet Camaro, make sure you tune into Autoline After Hours this afternoon. That’s because our special guest is Al Oppenheiser, the chief engineer of the muscle car. So if you’ve got any questions about the new Camaro send them to viewermail@autoline.tv. And then join John and Gary Vasilash for some of the best insider discussions in the business. That’s today at 3PM eastern time on Autoline.tv.
Coming up next, Volvo is helping to cut accident claims and Honda introduces a new rocket ship on two wheels.
VOLVO TECH CUTTING INSURANCE CLAIMS
Cars these days are being loaded up with safety technology but is it really helping to prevent accidents? In Volvo’s case the answer is yes. The company says that cars equipped with its collision avoidance technology, which it calls City Safety, have cut insurance claims by nearly 30%. The data comes from two Swedish insurance companies. And the figures only include the first two generations of City Safety which automatically brakes at speeds up to 30 MPH. The updated version in the new XC90 now works at any speed. As we’ve said, Volvo is a step ahead of everyone else when it comes to pushing safety.
HELLO MOTO
Most motorcycle riders, that would want to, will never get the chance to climb on the back of a pure race-spec MotoGP bike, but Honda is bringing customers as close to that experience as ever before. It confirmed that it will make a bike called the RC213V-S, which is directly based on its world champion MotoGP motorcycle with only minimal changes for a street application. It gets all the lightweight and go-fast goodies just like the race bike, including the 90-degree 999cc V4 engine. As you would suspect, production is limited and reservations can only be made at an official model website. And the price tag reflects this kind amount of race content and exclusivity… $184,000.
Have you seen our Auto Tune reports? If you’re truly into music we’ve got some great write-ups of songs related to cars, but none of the Top 40 stuff. You can check it out on the Autoline website.
But that brings us to the end of today’s show, thanks for watching and have a great day.
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Comments (24)
June 11th, 2015 at 12:48 pm
The Ford EcoSport and Baby Santa Fe look like winners to me. I just hope the driving dynamics are better that the Buick Encore and Chevy Trax. I have not gotten to a chance to drive the New Honda HRV but it is on my to do list.
The New Ford Grill on the new Edge and EcoSport needs to be placed on the Escape. That would make the Escape a more attractive vehicle in front IMHO. The Rear and sides are other wise great looking.
I would also like to know what is the ratio of AWD to FWD sold among CUVs and SUVs in each region of the country? I would think living in the Northeast the ratio of AWD to FWD would be 10 to 1? I wonder if Gary Vasilash can pull those figures on a year to date basis.
June 11th, 2015 at 12:50 pm
How many more vehicle-types can the U.S. absorb; there’s got to be a breaking point (even as current sales seem to be booming). I guess they just keep coming and either fill a new niche, displace a vehicle already here or grow the segment. Choice is good I suppose; but it does start to boggle the mind (with so many).
June 11th, 2015 at 1:01 pm
At $180k I’m going to assume the Honda bike comes with a body bag as standard equipment. Don’t you even look at one, Sean.
June 11th, 2015 at 1:08 pm
2 To me, it’s how many vehicles of the same type the U.S. market can absorb. It seems that the number is “a lot” when it comes to smallish tall wagons, AKA CUV’s.
Meanwhile, other types get completely neglected. There are exactly zero rear drive car-height wagons available in the U.S. market, and there is only one minivan, the Mazda 5, since the others have become 200 inch long 4600 pound tanks.
June 11th, 2015 at 1:15 pm
3 Talk about a niche market. For $15K, you can get a street bike that will go 180 mph, but if that isn’t fast enough, and you have a lot of spare money, Honda has just what you need.
June 11th, 2015 at 1:37 pm
@HtG – I completed a basic motorcycle riding coarse about a month ago. I’m excited to start riding (don’t have a bike yet) but sport bikes (while cool) are not on my radar.
June 11th, 2015 at 1:40 pm
I’m old-school, so I lust for the Suzuki TU250X. It’s like the bikes I rode as a teenager.
June 11th, 2015 at 2:21 pm
I like the looks of the TU250X, but like a little more motor, and suspension travel for crappy roads, so I have a KLR650. I wish Kawasaki would make a retro styled pure street bike with the KLR motor.
June 11th, 2015 at 2:25 pm
@ Sean: Put your ass on some class,go Harley.I started off with jap,then english,and finally was able to buy my first ‘basket’ harley back in 72,and I never looked back.Are they road pizza machine fast? Nope.But most that buy or build their Harleys ain’t looking for that $hit.Btw,my fist harley was a small bearing 52 pan and a rigid frame.Lots of fun.I finally had to give up riding back in 2001.But in all fairness,the docs told me when I got out of the army,NEVER ride motorcycles,lol.But I did,and thankfully I knew when it was time to sell off the bikes,and start taking it easy.You have a whole life of riding in front of you now,use it well,and enjoy every second your getting wind in your face.Your first cross country trip will be a unbelievable experience,so take pics,lots of them.
June 11th, 2015 at 2:28 pm
Some time ago, John interviewed a Honda executive who downplayed Nissan’s recent market successes. He said that Honda does not and will not go after fleet sales in order to increase sales volume figures.
Do the automakers release the number of fleet sales for their vehicles? Someone must know the fleet sales figures because it is part of the auto sales language. Is that information only available to industry insiders or is it an estimated number? I would be interested to know about the number of retail vs fleet sales as part of the monthly and annual sales data.
June 11th, 2015 at 2:39 pm
I strongly suggested to the Suzuki dealer that the mfg ought to take the 650cc single drive train out of the S40, fuel inject it, and make a TU650X. I’d rob a bank to get something like that.
June 11th, 2015 at 2:46 pm
@G.A. – My plan is to restore a ’58 Harley Pan Head my uncle, who lost a battle to cancer a few back, owned. While that’s going on I’d like to get something cheap to better my skills on.
June 11th, 2015 at 2:46 pm
As far as the Ecosport goes, I hope they take the spare tire “backpack” away.
June 11th, 2015 at 2:47 pm
*a few years back
June 11th, 2015 at 3:28 pm
11 The S40, formerly Savage is a nice “thumper,” if you like forward controls. Were it not for the forward controls, I might have gotten an S40 instead of the KLR, though my dirt bike suspension works a lot better on bad roads.
The carburetor on the S40 works well enough, as does the one on my KLR, but I’m sure gas mileage would be a little better with FI. Cold starts are a little easier with FI, but they seem to have the carburetors very well sorted out on the few bikes that still have carburetors.
June 11th, 2015 at 4:28 pm
All these small utes have become foreign regardless of the maker, so I’ll prolly buy something larger from Ford or GM and still made in the US, …even if its a whale of a gas hog. Not many people like me left these days!
June 11th, 2015 at 6:35 pm
Sean, Look more for a “Sport/Touring”, like a Honda VFR. Stay away from a Hardly Ableson, just technology that is too, too old. Maybe a Buell might be just the trick for you. But most of all, ride carefully!! (I’m 64 and have been riding since I was 14. With no accidents, BTW)
June 11th, 2015 at 6:43 pm
@ Sean: Good idea.I’m sorry about your uncle,but I’m willing to bet he would be more then pleased with you getting his old pan back on the road.
The 58 is a big bearing lower end.Plenty of beef.Also 58 was the first year for rear suspension,which means you don’t HAVE to run the polo seat.I never could get used to that damn thing.
Also,don’t change out the cam and lifters for solids.That destroys the oil pressure.Upgrade the hydraulics,but don’t get rid of them.Also,there are kits to replace the stock oil pump with an aftermarket high volume/low pressure.That is a great improvement too.
Harleys are low pressure/high volume engines,at least the older ones.You’ll get along fine with the dual fire/single points ignition system.Don’t forget when kicker it over,use the compression stoke with ignition on,after giving it a few primer kicks,switch off.I’ll tell ya more if ya want me too.
June 11th, 2015 at 6:48 pm
@ 16,FSTFRD: I’ve been riding sinece I was 11,and I’m coming up on 64 here shortly,no tickets,no accidents either.There is nothing wrong with the old harleys.If you are a wrench,you’ll have one for life.Nothing fancy or wingding fast,just a plain old big bike that rides great,and handles great for it’s size and weight.
June 11th, 2015 at 7:14 pm
I’ve been riding since I was 27, also with no accidents. I’m 68. Maybe we are a lucky bunch.
As with cars, different people like different things in bikes. I’ve had various Japanese bikes, BMW’s, and a Buell. Most of my current riding is relatively short trips, sometimes on not-so-good country roads, and the KLR650 dual sport is great for that, even though I never use it off road. Also, I just like the relaxed sound and feel of the big single. The KLR replaced a faster, smoother V-Strom 650, but for the riding I do, I like the KLR better.
I also have a big scooter, a Honda SilverWing. The scooter has better weather protection, the engine is smoother, and it’s being automatic is nice when I’m feeling lazy. The KLR’s suspension is much better, though.
What am I saying here? Some people like Harleys, some like sport bikes, etc. Figure out what your priorities are, and select a bike accordingly.
Regarding the KLR650 that I really like, it is not for everyone, because it is tall. I”m 5’10″, and I can’t put me feet flat on the ground with it.
June 11th, 2015 at 8:17 pm
@ 19,Kit: Your right.I,myself,loved long distance riding.Can’t beat a big ol harley for that.Goldwings are too smooth,and kinda look funny,to me at any rate.
June 11th, 2015 at 9:13 pm
I had an ’82 Gold Wing which I liked for highway riding. It even got good gas mileage, about 50 on the highway. The current Gold Wings are just too huge for my tastes, though the quiet, silkey smooth engine is cool.
June 12th, 2015 at 8:22 am
@G.A. – When the time comes for actually wrenchin’ on the thing we should hook up via email.
June 12th, 2015 at 11:53 am
@ Sean: You got it bro.