AD #1873 – Subaru BRZ Gets 86′ed, Story Behind One-of-a-Kind Tow Vehicle, Why FCA Can’t Find a Dance Partner
May 27th, 2016 at 11:26am
Runtime: 8:24
To watch this episode on YouTube click here.
- Global Car Sales Remain Strong
- Subaru Upgrades BRZ Styling & Performance
- Ford Fusion Plug-In Adds Range
- One-of-a-Kind International Tow Vehicle
- Why FCA Can’t Find a Partner
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On today’s show… why FCA is having such a hard time finding a dance partner, Subaru upgrades the BRZ and the story behind why this wild looking trailer and hauler was built. All that and more coming right up on Autoline Daily.
This is Autoline Daily for May 27th, 2016.
GLOBAL CAR SALES REMAIN STRONG
Global car sales for automakers continue to remain strong. Wards reports the industry sold 7.5 million vehicles worldwide in April, which is nearly a 5% increase compared to last year. In North America, sales were up 5%, hitting nearly 2 million units. European sales hit 1.7 million vehicles, which is a strong 7% gain. In Asia sales totaled 3.5 million units, a 6% increase. But car sales in South America continue to remain weak. Economic woes in that region dropped sales by 17% last month. Through the first four months of the year automakers have sold over 30 million vehicles, which is 3% more compared to last year.
SUBARU BRZ GETS TOYOTA 86 TREATMENT
At the New York auto show Toyota showed off an updated version of the Scion FR-S, now called the Toyota 86. And now its Subaru twin, the BRZ is following suit. The same suspension, chassis and engine improvements have been made to the BRZ. The front bumper cover has been redesigned for a widened appearance and positioned lower for improved aerodynamics, control, and stability. LED lighting has been incorporated into the headlights, foglights and rear taillights. A few minor interior enhancements have been made as well. The updated BRZ will start hitting showrooms in September.
FUSION PLUG-IN ADDS RANGE
And speaking of updated models, Ford just introduced the new plug-in hybrid version of the Ford Fusion. Officially called the Fusion Energi, the 2017 model now boasts a total range of 610 miles with a full tank of gasoline and battery charge. That’s 60 miles more than the outgoing model. It’s all-electric range is 21 miles. By the end of the decade, 40% of Ford’s global line-up will be electrified.
Still to come… the story behind this unique trailer/hauler combo.
ONE-OF-A-KIND
Every year on Father’s Day the Detroit Institute of Ophthalmology helps put on a car show, called Eyes on Design. It’s a show unlike any other. As the name suggests, the focus is all on design. Interior and exterior aesthetics determine what you’ll see at this show, not how perfectly restored a vehicle is. And this year you’ll see around 350 examples from all areas of transportation. Over the next several weeks leading up to the show we’re going to highlight just a few of the wonderful things you can see there. And we start off today with something you might not expect to see at a car show… vintage camping trailers. I’m sure most minds go right to Airstream. Of course, there’ll be a few, like this 1938 example that’s a little unique in that it still has most of its original interior and the first owner had it fitted with pop out windows because his wife was claustrophobic. But the real gem has got to be this trailer/hauler combination. The trailer is a 1936 Curtis Aerocar, which was designed by aviation pioneer Glen Curtis and it’s very similar to a double-wing airplane. There’s very little frame-work and it’s held together by wires that are pulled taught with turnbuckles. It was originally towed by a 1936 Plymouth Coupe, but that soon proved to be inadequate. So, in 1938 the family that purchased the trailer commissioned International to build something more robust. This, truly, one-of-a-kind International is what came of that. It’s a 3/4-ton truck with a 233 engine and dual rear wheels. The current owner says it works fantastically and is able to drive it 55 MPH with no problems. If you’d like to learn more about this tow vehicle and trailer setup, we’ll have a video up later today on our website and YouTube channel. But if you’re interested in seeing it in person, the Eyes on Design car show is on Father’s Day June 19th at the Henry Ford mansion in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. It’s $25 to get in and the money helps fund the DIO’s research, education and support group programs for the visually impaired.
So will FCA ever find a partner? We’ll have more about that right after this.
OEMs HESITANT TO FORM PARTNERSHIPS
It’s no secret that FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne wants to find another automaker to partner up with. But so far there haven’t been any takers. On Autoline This Week we’re joined by John Murphy, the auto analyst at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. And in the following clip he shares why other automakers are hesitant to form a partnership.
(Clip from ATW #2018 can only be viewed in the video version of today’s show.)
For more of John Murphy’s outlook, you can watch that entire program right now on our website or you can look for it on our YouTube channel.
But that wraps up today’s show. There won’t be a Autoline Daily on Monday because of the Memorial Day holiday. So enjoy the long weekend and we’ll be right back here again on Tuesday.
Thanks to our partner for embedding Autoline Daily on its website: WardsAuto.com
May 27th, 2016 at 11:58 am
A 5 hp jump in the BRZ power is a joke! If you lose weight, get a skinnier GF and empty out your trunk, you will see better results than the tiny increase in HP will provide. Oh and add a cold air intake also.
May 27th, 2016 at 2:09 pm
You tricked us – normally when you say something has been 86′d, it means cancelled, dead, done.
May 27th, 2016 at 2:48 pm
#2 – Sean must be a little younger than us – My first reaction when reading the headline was same as Marshall.
May 27th, 2016 at 3:31 pm
I wonder if the sales volumes of the ToyoBaru are too low to interest the aftermarket in supercharger or turbocharger kits. Another 70 or 80 horsepower would really get things happening.
May 27th, 2016 at 3:32 pm
Your start stop tech is working very well, although i think it would be better without it.
May 27th, 2016 at 5:39 pm
4. There are several aftermarket turbo kits vailable for FR-S/BRZ. Here’s one of them.
http://www.superstreetonline.com/how-to/aftermarket-parts/1307-greddy-t518z-tuner-turbo-kit/
May 28th, 2016 at 8:24 pm
Off topic. Tomorrow will be a very good day in central Indiana for real TV, the kind you get for free, with an antenna. For the first time since 1949, the Indy 500 will not be “blacked out” locally. Also, Monaco will be broadcast over the air, maybe for the first time ever here. If I still want to watch racing after Indy, the NASCAR race will be broadcast, but it normally is.
May 28th, 2016 at 10:02 pm
epic fail, not having a decent engine in this thing before it became produced.
May 29th, 2016 at 1:18 am
@ John or Sean: In regards to the start/stop tech,is it used on turbo’d engines,and if so,do the oems use a remote oil tank to keep the turbo lubed and keep it from burning out the bearings?
June 3rd, 2016 at 4:15 pm
Wouldn’t an FCA partnership with PSA (Peugeot/ Citroen) make a lot of sense? PSA has indicated that they want to re-enter the N.A. market.
Anyone that looks at, and drives, something from PSA’s current lineup could agree that they will bring new, fresh, stylish and competitive products to our shores, but the big, and costly, hurdle for them will be setting up a dealership and service network. FCA has a bunch of stand alone Fiat/Alfa Romeo dealers that are hurting for product. Why not a synergy for FCA and PSA that presents a wide range of non-German, European products from Italy and France? I’ve driven the current Peugeot 308 in France, and it is an awesome machine that gives the Japanese a run for their money.
Come on Sergio, the French are ripe for a dance partner!