Runtime: 8:26
0:25 FCA Says It Will Out Earn Ford
1:07 Ampere Targets Elio Motors
1:34 Murano CrossCabriolet In High Demand
2:58 Rochling Creates Washer System for Sensors
3:51 New Jeep Cherokee Impressions
5:42 Ford Says Hybrids Make More Sense for Autonomy
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On today’s show…Ford says hybrids are better for ride sharing than electrics…FCA says it will out earn Ford this year…and Nissan has the last laugh with the Murano CrossCabriolet. All that and more coming right up on Autoline Daily.
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FCA SAYS IT WILL OUT EARN FORD
Wow, would this be a role reversal. FCA could make more money than Ford this year. FCA is projecting its EBIT earnings could hit 10.8 billion dollars this year, while Ford is predicting it will hit $9.2 billion. On a conference call with stock analysts Sergio Marchionne said, “I think there is a very strong likelihood that we will outperform Ford in terms of operating earnings in 2018, and that’s something that if I told any of us in the room here that would have been doable five years (ago), nobody would have believed this.” That’s right, no one would have believed it, especially the people in Dearborn.
AMPERE TARGETS ELIO MOTORS
Elio Motors has been talking for years about its gasoline powered two seater, but this two- seater electric could beat it to the market. It’s the Ampere, with a range of 100 miles and a price tag just under $10,000. That’s about $2,500 more than an Elio, but it sure looks terrific. It will be manufactured in Los Angeles and the company claims they will be on sale next year.
MURANO CROSSCABRIOLET IN HIGH DEMAND
Do you remember Nissan’s funky Murano CrossCabriolet? It was a weird mash-up of an SUV and convertible that never sold in big numbers and was eventually axed in 2014. The media mocked it, but Nissan is having the last laugh. The vehicle is in high demand on the used market. According to CarGurus.com data, the median price is $25,000, which is about two-thirds of the original sticker price, much higher than other vehicles from the same time which are at 43% on average.
Next week we’ll be revealing some of the details on the tear down of a Tesla Model 3 that’s going on right now at Munro and Associates. That’s the company that does competitive benchmarking for automakers and suppliers, and they’ve found some interesting issues with the car. And you will be the first ones to see them.
Autonomous cars represent the highest level of technology in the automotive industry, but it’s going to take the most basic level of technology to make it all work, and that’s coming up next.
ROCHLING CREATES WASHER SYSTEM FOR SENSORS
Radar, Lidar and video cameras on cars can give them amazing vision of what’s going on around you. But if they get covered with dirt, snow or even rain they’re useless. So how do you keep them clean? The supplier Rochling has come up with a solution, called the Advanced Active Cleaning System that essentially outfits a vehicle with 9 washer nozzles. When the system detects a sensor is blocked it will spray a cleaning fluid to wash it off and it uses electronics to automatically determine which lens needs cleaning and regulates how much fluid is sprayed on each part. That makes sure the tank lasts as long as possible. It has a large reservoir, it’s heated to prevent the fluid from freezing and will warn you when it’s getting low. This seems like a pretty simple solution to make sure all these Advanced Driver Assistance systems work the way they’re supposed to.
NEW JEEP CHEROKEE IMPRESSIONS
Before I get into my impressions of the new Jeep Cherokee, I need to thank some of you for pointing out that I completely misquoted the power numbers for the new 2.0L turbo engine. It puts out 270-horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. With that out of the way, I feel like this engine should have been offered from the get go. Not only does it suit the Cherokee very well, but it makes the crossover much more competitive in the segment. It’s now the top-of-the-line choice in powertrain, but only carries a $500 premium over the V6. The big differences between the two engines is that the turbo 4 puts out 56 more lb-ft of torque and the V6 can tow 500-pounds more. And speaking of weight, the Cherokee went on a bit of a diet and dropped 150-pounds. Things like an aluminum hood and a composite liftgate helps contribute to the savings. The suspension was also re-tuned in part because of the lightweighting efforts. So, now you have a better riding vehicle with an engine that really suits it. We’re expecting Jeep to have a really good 2018. Pricing for the new Cherokee starts at just over $25,000 and goes up to about $37,500. Jeep expects the 2019 models to start hitting showrooms in the next month or so.
When it comes to autonomous ride sharing, what’s better, pure electric cars or hybrids? Ford has some strong opinions on it and that’s coming up next.
FORD SAYS HYBRIDS MAKE MORE SENSE FOR AUTONOMY
Both GM and Ford are developing autonomous vehicles for ride sharing. But their strategies are a bit different. GM is going to use the all-electric, Chevy Bolt for its fleet, while Ford is going the hybrid route. On Autoline This Week we’re joined by Hau Thai-Tang, the Head of Product Development and Purchasing at Ford. And he explains why Ford believes hybrids make more sense for autonomous vehicles.
(The ATW preview is only available in the video version of today’s show.)
For a deeper dive into product development at Ford, you can watch that entire discussion right now on our website, Autoline.tv or you can find it on our YouTube channel.
But that’s it for today, thanks for watching and have a great weekend.
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John McElroy is an influential thought leader in the automotive industry. He is a journalist, lecturer, commentator and entrepreneur. He created “Autoline Daily,” the first industry webcast of industry news and analysis.