AD #2916 – Hyundai Venue Stands Out in A Crowd; Ford Ranger Tremor; China Wants to Boost Fuel Cell Vehicle Sales
September 14th, 2020 at 11:48am
Listen to “AD #2916 – Hyundai Venue Stands Out in A Crowd; Ford Ranger Tremor; China Wants to Boost Fuel Cell Vehicle Sales” on Spreaker.
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Runtime: 9:13
0:07 China Reveals Plan to Boost Fuel Cell Vehicle Sales
0:38 Japan & Korea Already Subsidizing Fuel Cells
1:00 Delphi Wins Another Bid for EV Inverter
1:34 Dodge Reveals New Police Vehicles
2:47 Ford Unveils New Ranger Tremor
4:00 Mustang Mach-E Set to Make Chinese Debut
4:21 Aston Martin Introduces Racing Simulator
5:17 Hyundai Shows Off Soapbox Car
6:50 Hyundai Venue Stands Out in A Crowd
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This is Autoline Daily, the show dedicated to enthusiasts of the global automotive industry.
CHINA REVEALS PLAN TO BOOST FUEL CELL VEHICLE SALES
And we start out today in Asia, where China is about to roll out its strategy to develop a hydrogen economy. Reuters reports that China’s strategy will include policies for local governments and car companies to build a hydrogen supply chain and business models. Automakers such as SAIC and BAIC announced they’re going to start making fuel cell cars. Even though China dominates the global market for battery electric cars, it sees hydrogen as the long-term solution.
JAPAN & KOREA ALREADY SUBSIDIZING FUEL CELLS
And China is not the only one. Japan and South Korea are already subsidizing the development of fuel cell cars, which explains why Toyota, Honda and Hyundai already sell them. Even though Elon Musk calls them “fool cells” and is trying to turn people against them, a growing number of countries see hydrogen as the pathway to the future.
DELPHI WINS ANOTHER BID FOR EV INVERTER
As we’ve reported, suppliers are the ones developing most of the technology in vehicles these days. And Delphi Technologies announced it just won a bid to supply a major European OEM with its 800-volt inverter for battery electric vehicles. The unknown company will start using the inverter in 2024. Delphi says it’s now the primary inverter supplier to three of the top four premium brands in the world. It didn’t name those companies but it sure sounds like Audi, BMW and Mercedes to us.
DODGE REVEALS NEW POLICE VEHICLES
Dodge revealed the new versions of the Charger and Durango police vehicles. The Charger is now available with an 8-speed automatic transmission that’s mated to either a new V-6 with all-wheel-drive or a Hemi V-8. The Durango has the option for a 3.6L V-6 or a 5.7L Hemi V-8 that can be mated to the same 8-speed transmission. The Durango Pursuit also comes with 20 new standard features. The company is taking orders for the models now but production of the Charger starts at the end of the year, while the Durango goes into production in the first quarter of next year.
FORD UNVEILS NEW RANGER TREMOR
To the disappointment of many enthusiasts, Ford isn’t bringing the Raptor version of the Ranger to the U.S., at least not yet anyway. But Ford isn’t leaving you hanging. It introduced an exclusive off-road package for the mid-size pickup, called Tremor, which is the same name it uses for the off-road package on its heavy-duty trucks. The Ranger Tremor comes with unique styling elements inside and out, side steps, underbody skid plates, rear locking diff, off-road drive modes and an off-road tuned suspension, which raises the ride height by about ¾ of an inch. The later, along with fender lip moldings, help clear the 32-inch all-terrain tires and help improve approach and departure angles. There’s no change under the hood. The truck comes with a 270-horsepower, 2.3L EcoBoost engine mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. The Tremor package is available on mid XLT trims and higher that are equipped with the SuperCrew 4X4 configuration. It will cost just under $4,300 and production is slated to start early next year.
MUSTANG MACH-E SET TO MAKE CHINESE DEBUT
Speaking of Ford, if you didn’t know the all-electric Mustang Mach-E was going to be a true global vehicle, you do now. It’s going to make its debut at the Beijing Auto Show, which was pushed back to the 26th of this month due to the coronavirus. Ford says it hopes the Mach-E helps “open a new chapter in EVs for Chinese customers.”
ASTON MARTIN INTRODUCES RACING SIMULATOR
Another result of lockdowns due to the coronavirus was a spike in video game play, especially virtual races. That may be why Aston Martin has introduced its own racing simulator. Its look was dreamed up by Aston Martin designers, which took inspiration from its racing program in the form of the grille. The seating position is the same as its new hypercar, the Valkyrie and it even features a carbon fiber monocoque. Of course, no racing simulator is complete without the latest and greatest software and a giant curved display screen. So, what does one of these things cost? Base price is 57,500 pounds or about $74,000. That’s a lot of money, and you’ll be lucky to get one because they’re limited to 150 examples, but remember other professional setups can cost well over $100,000.
HYUNDAI SHOWS OFF SOAPBOX CAR
Remember that soapbox car Hyundai teased? Well, here it is. And this is more than just something to show off, It was actually developed for families and friends to build together. So, it’s made from affordable and easily available materials, like wood, metal rods, brackets and screws. And the wheels are from a wheelbarrow. But even though this is a project for anyone, the soapbox was designed like a regular car. The styling inspiration is Hyundai’s 45 concept car. A team of engineers built the chassis, the design team sketched ideas on paper then with 3D models. And another team worked on the trim and color. If you want to try and build Hyundai’s soapbox car, the company has made the instructions available for download. Just click the link in our transcript or description box below.
As we keep pointing out, suppliers account for most of the innovation in the auto industry. Remember, they provide 80% of the value of every vehicle. That’s why we’ve invited George Trampler from ZF to join us on Autoline After Hours this Thursday. He’s the head of engineering and we’ll get his insights on where ZF is placing its bets on future technology. So join John and Gary for more insights into what’s going on in the global automotive industry.
HYUNDAI VENUE STANDS OUT IN A CROWD
In marketing jargon, entry level cars are often referred to as “cheap and cheerful.” And that definitely describes the Hyundai Venue. We just had one in the Autoline Garage, what they call the Denim Edition. It’s relatively cheap at $23,300, and is cheerfully styled with design details that make it stand out in a crowd. Note the white roof and the other white trim pieces, including the top of the mirror housings, as well as the white panels below the headlamps, and the thin white strip at the bottom of the back bumper. There’s also a white trim piece at the top of each wheel well and a long one that runs along the rocker panels. That white plastic is a way of breaking up and brightening the design without using chrome, which would have been more expensive. Inside, it features denim seat inserts outlined by vinyl trim pieces with white piping and white stitching. The materials are all inexpensive but the effect is terrific. This is a very inviting and approachable vehicle. And it can be very pleasant to drive, as long as you keep it under 60 miles an hour and under 3,000 rpm. Anything over that and its 1.6-liter naturally aspirated engine and continuously variable transmission start to complain while road noise, wind noise and body boom start to drown out conversations. But if you drive it at a nice leisurely pace, the Venue is a delightful transportation module. Like all Hyundai’s, it comes packed with the latest safety systems and convenience features. And the EPA rates it at 32 miles to the gallon. Obviously, this is not the car for enthusiasts who want to go auto crossing on the weekends. But it strikes as the perfect vehicle for ambling around beach communities or college campuses. And it serves as a textbook example to other car designers of how to spiff up the styling without spending a ton of money.
But that’s it for today, thanks for watching.
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Comments (30)
September 14th, 2020 at 12:23 pm
@Hyundai Venue: it seems like the design team has “been inspired” by the Mini
September 14th, 2020 at 12:27 pm
Hey Sean, the topic of painted raised lettering on tires came up a couple weeks back.
I may end up taking a crack at this Hyundai soapbox DIY for my 10 & 12 year old boys (and having them help too, of course). One addition I’d make though would be to add some custom white lettering to those otherwise blank wheel barrel tires. “Dunlop”, “Firestone”, etc. I think that would really make that finished result pop!
September 14th, 2020 at 12:38 pm
2) Sounds like a perfect Father/Son project. Maybe add some blue paint to the seats with white trim like the Hyundai Venue Denim and really spiff it up!
September 14th, 2020 at 12:44 pm
It seems like Aston Martin executives love their little side projects. Remember the mini car for $50,000 or the AM inspired yacht? The company might be in better shape if they focused more on their core business and less on pet projects.
September 14th, 2020 at 12:53 pm
4 The spiffed up, rebadged Scion iQ didn’t go over so well. Neither did the regular one for a third the price.
September 14th, 2020 at 1:00 pm
#4. You’d think so, however, unlike the common folk (you and I) Aston Martin clientele ARE favorably influenced by the oddities of such bespoke side projects as yachts, mini-cars, and the like. That’s why Lexus even decided to dip their toe in the lux yacht market late last year: https://www.businessinsider.com/lexus-first-luxury-yacht-ly650-photos-2019-9
Trust me, AM is doing what they need to attract and retain its target market.
September 14th, 2020 at 1:04 pm
I guess I don’t follow the Korean small tall wagons very closely. I hadn’t heard of the Kia Seltos until someone I know bought one, and didn’t know about the Venue until today’s show.
I could do without the while slashes over the wheel wells, but overall, the the Venue looks decent for that type vehicle, and would be a practical city car for a lot of people.
September 14th, 2020 at 1:17 pm
6. The iQ-based Cygnet sold only ~300 units in the UK over 2 or 3 model years, vs. the predicted 4000, so the minicar project wasn’t very successful.
Related to Aston Martin, the Racing Point, formerly Force India Formula 1 team will be called Aston Martin next year.
September 14th, 2020 at 1:37 pm
I am curious about the Chinese move to fuel cell, my only idea is to use it as a hybrid / electric, to recharge and or run electric motors. It would increase range. I have otherwise always heard that fuel cell tech does not scale up well; working best in small scale applications. I only have a peripheral knowledge of fuel cell , so any more info would be appreciated. If so then it still plays into the electric vehicle. I also read recently about some hybrid issues on phev, vehicles with the ethanol mix sitting so long and going bad for individuals who plug in nightly and go short distances, never using the gas. The corrosive effects damaging parts of the system.
September 14th, 2020 at 1:46 pm
@9, I am not knowledgeable at all about fuel cells. What I know is that you need a tank with liquefied hydrogen under high pressure to power the fuel cells. With hydrogen being highly inflammable and explosive, I am wondering what the safety risks are of replacing a quantity of highly inflammable gasoline or diesel under atmospheric pressure in a vehicle by a quantity of highly inflammable hydrogen under high pressure. Maybe the expectation is that the probability of accidents goes down to close to zero with increased electronic safety features.
Does any of you know?
September 14th, 2020 at 2:00 pm
10 Somehow, the idea of a car with hydrogen stored at 10,000 psi doesn’t sound good to me, but as strong as the tanks need to be to hold that pressure, maybe they are crash proof.
September 14th, 2020 at 2:04 pm
Fuel cells may or may not make sense in the US but they do make sense in any country that has to import all of their oil (ie most countries). Hydrogen can be inexpensively made from natural gas or more expensively made from electricity, which is also a great way to convert solar power to a liquid fuel. Battery EV’s are more efficient overall, but then you have to import the rare materials needed to make batteries. Nobody wants to be dependent on other countries for critical materials.
September 14th, 2020 at 2:06 pm
Sean, Just out of curiosity, do Dodge and other police vehicle manufacturers sell these models to the public as well? If they are faster, more durable or less expensive, it might be worth having one.
September 14th, 2020 at 2:18 pm
“..Even though Elon Musk calls them “fool cells” and is trying to turn people against them..”
No, he calls them as he sees them because they are a FAILURE and have BEEN a failure for 30 years now.
If Fuel Cells were any good, Musk would have ADOPTED THEM.
September 14th, 2020 at 2:35 pm
6 We certainly do not trust you, you have NO CLUE if any of these SILLY ventures made a DIME for any company who tried them. Most5 likely the idiot VP with the big ego who proposed them got them approved, and then the company lost millions or hundreds of millions when they DID NOT SELL.
September 14th, 2020 at 2:38 pm
6 and 15 and 8 is your proof it FAILED MISERABLY.
September 14th, 2020 at 2:44 pm
I grew up in town that had a soap box derby track,it was a huge deal every July. A lot of children that grew up here had some sort of car,wagon, cart,or scooter built around old soap box wheels/tires
September 14th, 2020 at 3:36 pm
Since H2 is the smallest molecule it leaks very easily. There wes a special type of tubing connectors need from my early days in pneumatic plumbing. There is no type of plastic that will hold H2 only metal will work for a long time.
all plastics are made from long chain molecules and the spacing between them is like a barn door opening. I am only talking about when a gas no knowledge if liquid.
Long term storge could be a problem.
September 14th, 2020 at 4:14 pm
I’m pretty sure fuel cells can be made strong enough to be safe. The danger would be at the valve or line connected to the cell. If this weak point becomes damaged and severed, anything can happen and probably all bad.
I sure dislike plastic around the wheel well openings. so many times I see rust and rust holes around them. I wonder if it is caused by the screws holing the plastic on or maybe the wider lip catches dirt and moisture.
September 14th, 2020 at 4:19 pm
When I see fuel cell powered laptops and cell phones, I’ll change my opinion.
September 14th, 2020 at 8:31 pm
20 My laptop and phone are mostly coal fired where I am now, in Indiana.
September 15th, 2020 at 5:49 am
SHARES OF NIKOLA FRAUD TUMBLED WHILE MARKERS SOARED. Music to my ears.
I just listened to Autonews Now, there is a war of words between the fraud Nikola Motors and HINDENBURG, the short sellers who UNCOVERED IT.
Nikola, after its stock plummeted, issued a ‘detailed rebuttal’ to Hindenburg’s DEVASTATING Claims, BUT in fact not only it did NOT answer any of them, it reinforced them, and Hindenburg will fire its own guns in its own detailed rebuttal.
Nikola has NO tech of its own, its agreement with GM uses all GM tech.
In short, Nikola brings NOTHING to the table, andf its offer of 11% of its shares, valued at their peak at $2 billion, are only worth a few mill now.
This is the worst Con GM was a victim of since the criminals at FIAT conned GM of several BILLION $ when they dissolved their ill-fated partnership.
The above does NOT speak well about GM’s leadership. I wonder if they also sent a few bill to those Nigerian Princesses that infested their emails not long ago. Nikola is not much better than these crooks.
September 15th, 2020 at 8:29 am
So the Venue is great as long as you don’t go over 60 mph? I don’t think I’ve ever owned a vehicle that didn’t get driven on the freeway on occasion.
I took my 1983 Escort and its 86 hp on the road many times. Maybe it was a different era with different expectations, but I don’t remember having any objections to the way it sounded or drove at 70 mph, eventually. (no AC on that bad boy either, so the windows were down a lot!)
Honestly, if I had a need for a city-only vehicle, I’d be looking very hard at an EV
September 15th, 2020 at 8:45 am
There is a black Peugeot 508 sedan parked on the road to the beach here. Looks big but probably is shorter than a Malibu, bigger than a Cruze. I remember Peugeot wanting to come back to the US market. If they priced this like a Volvo, they would fail (again, just as VOlvo did too). If they priced it like a Chevy, they would lose $ most likely. This is why I predicted failure if they tried to come back to the US, even tho their cars are better quality than the flimsy Renault-Nissans and the crazy Citroens. (accent on the E, John, NOT on the O!)
September 15th, 2020 at 9:02 am
23. Yep, it’s definitely a different era with different expectations. CR got an 8.9 second 0-60 time with the Venue, and 17 second quarter mile with 83 mph trap speed, so it’s fast enough for any normal driving. I drove a 1070 VW Beetle all over Europe, and quite a few places in the US, with its ~15 second 0-60, about 80 mph top speed, no A/C, a crappy heater, and lots of noise. We have gotten spoiled over the years.
September 15th, 2020 at 9:12 am
25 Oops, typo. It was a 1970 Beetle, with 57 hp.
September 15th, 2020 at 9:14 am
There is lots of info on the Internet that looks at fuel cell as being very favorable. Toyota, Honda, the Chinese, and GM are planning to go big with them. I like the idea being able to fuel up taking the same amount of time as a gas pump. I’m sure everyone likes that better than to wait for hours. I know the almighty Elon Musk thinks it’s “fool cells” but the fool could end up being the almighty Mr Musk.
September 15th, 2020 at 9:24 am
25 That Beetle, while it had distinctive styling and character, is not suitable to today;s highway trips. It is not being spoiled to expect a cheap econobox to travel comfortably on the highway on cruise control at 80-100 MPH. In fact, the successor of the Beetle I drove in Germany twice, over two separate 3 day weekend rentals, the GOlf II, probably with a small 1.3 lt engine, smaller than the US versions, could and did cruise all day at 100 MPH (with my foot permanently on the floor), it was a bit noisy but comfortable, and even at those speeds returned a fine 7 lt/100 km, I did 3,000 km each weekend, did all the driving myself, was a nervous wreck when I returned the car to my high-rise garage on Broadway (Breitestrasse) in Schmargendorf, and failure-free executed what my colleagues were worried was a very ambitious itinerary. That was 32 years ago. The only frustration was I could not figure out the Stereo (Blaupunkt)
PS that Peuguot 508 has a diesel -mild hybrid version with a slightly larger tank that can do 1,600+ LM (over 1,000 miles) on one tank and allegedly get 4.2lt/100km, which if it was just a diesel I would not believe for a car of that size, despite the diesel being half the size og my E 320, at 1.6 lts.
September 15th, 2020 at 12:23 pm
@15 – Increased revenue is not the only metric. When a lux auto maker engages in this sort of outside venture, it is akin to your major league baseball team lighting off $15k worth of fireworks at the end of every single home game. That sort of thing is not meant to put more butts in the bleachers. It’s just to enhance the experience for existing patrons and give them a little extra incentive to come back again.
Why is it that when reading your posts, Larry D., that I feel like I’m chiding my 12 year old for always being such a know-it-all?
September 15th, 2020 at 12:25 pm
I said $15k, but that’s actually more like $50k