AD #3018 – European Sales Hit Record Low; Is Mercedes Ashamed of the EQC?; Kia Reveals All-New K8 Sedan
February 17th, 2021 at 12:32pm

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Runtime: 11:32
0:07 European Sales Hit Record Low
0:34 Ford Diving Into EVs in Europe
1:13 Is Mercedes Ashamed of the EQC?
2:36 Quantumscape Makes Solid-State Battery Breakthrough
4:37 Hyundai Gives the Kona a Fresh Look
5:54 All-New Mitsubishi Outlander Shares Nissan Bones
6:48 Peugeot Electrifies Its Rifter Van
7:15 Infiniti Sets QX55 Price
7:50 Kia Reveals All-New K8 Sedan
8:45 Skoda Adds Sportier ENYAQ iV
9:24 EV Production Updates
10:26 Old Wreck Becomes Our Barn Find
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EUROPEAN CAR SALES HIT RECORD LOW
New car sales took an alarming turn in Europe last month. Car sales plunged 26% in January. According to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association, automakers sold just over 842,000 vehicles–the worst January on record. The drop was mostly due to coronavirus lockdowns and low inventory caused by the global semiconductor shortage.
FORD DIVING INTO EVs IN EUROPE
But we all know sales of EVs are soaring in Europe, so Ford is diving into the EV market there head first. It announced that by 2030, 100% of its passenger vehicle lineup will be all-electric. And it expects two-thirds of commercial vehicle sales to be BEVs or PHEVs by 2030. Ford will spend $1 billion to retool its plant in Cologne, Germany to build an all-new BEV starting in 2023. It will be based on Volkswagen’s MEB platform, but the commercial vehicles will sit on a platform developed by Ford.

IS MERCEDES ASHAMED OF THE EQC?
Is Mercedes-Benz ashamed of the EQC? Sure looks that way. In late 2019, Mercedes delayed the EV’s release in the U.S. blaming a shortage of batteries. But it recently told Autoblog that “following a comprehensive review of market developments, the EQC will not be offered in the United States for now.” This news is kind of surprising. Mercedes previously detailed the three trim levels it planned to offer in the U.S. and even set a starting price of just under $69,000. It projected an estimated EPA range of around 220 miles, and the EQC matched up nicely on paper with other luxury EV crossovers, like the Audi e-tron and Jaguar I-PACE. But maybe that’s the problem? Audi only sold about 7,200 e-trons last year in the U.S., including the standard and Sportback versions. Jaguar only sold a little more than 1,650 I-PACEs. Add in newer, cheaper EVs with more range than the EQC hitting the market and we’re guessing Mercedes did not want to be embarrassed with a technologically inferior, slow selling EV. Instead, it’s counting on the EQS, which hits showrooms this fall.
QUANTUMSCAPE INCHES TOWARD SOLID-STATE BATTERY PRODUCTION
Quantumscape, the Silicon Valley startup developing solid state batteries, announced a breakthrough yesterday. It developed a 4-layer cell, which takes it a big step towards high volume production. But don’t expect these batteries anytime soon. Now it has to develop cells with about a dozen layers. In 2023 Volkswagen, which is Quantumscape’s largest shareholder, hopes to start a pilot program with hundreds of test cars. Even if they work perfectly, it will still take Quantumscape several more years to make solid state batteries in volume production.


HYUNDAI KONA GETS NEW LOOK
Front fascias that come to a point, like a Tiger Shark’s nose, are all the rage in the automotive design community. You can find it on everything from a Tesla to a Ford and now the refreshed Hyundai Kona as well. The grille shape was completely redesigned on ICE versions, while there’s no traces left of a grille on the EV model. There’s also a new N-Line trim, which includes more body color on the front fascia and sportier accents both inside and out. You may also notice, in the styling department, that the lighting assemblies incorporated in the fenders no longer protrude quite as far and the lighting signature is a little more aggressive. The Kona still comes with a naturally aspirated 2.0L 4-cylinder engine and an optional 1.6L turbo, but it bumped the horsepower up on the later to 195 from 175. There’s no changes to the EV setup and range still comes in at 258 miles. A couple of other important updates include improvements to the vehicle’s NVH or Noise, Vibration, Harshness as well as bigger screens and more safety features. The new Kona arrives in the U.S. this spring.

NEW MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER HAS NISSAN UNDERPINNINGS
Now let’s shift over to the all-new Mitsubishi Outlander. The crossover now rides on a platform that was developed with its alliance partners Renault and Nissan. It’s likely the one the Nissan Rogue and Sentra use because the Outlander comes with the same 181 horsepower 2.5L engine as those vehicles. The setup, which includes a CVT and either 2- or all-wheel drive, replaces the old V6 the Outlander used to come with. While exterior styling is quite expressive, to say the least, the interior seems to be going for a more upscale look. We like the layered dash, quilted seats and door panels and the optional bright accents. The new Outlander goes on sale in the U.S. this April with a starting price of just under $27,000, including destination charges.

PEUGEOT ELECTRIFIES ITS RIFTER VAN
Peugeot introduced an all-electric version of its small Rifter van, called the e-Rifter. It has a range of 280 kilometers or about 174 miles based on the WLTP cycle and it’s available in two lengths with seating for up to 7 people. If it looks familiar that’s because it shares a platform and powertrain with the Citroen e-Berlingo and Opel Combo-e.

INFINITI SETS QX55 PRICE
Infiniti announced pricing for its new QX55 crossover, which is the fastback version of the QX50. When it arrives at dealers this April in the U.S. it will carry a starting price of $47,525 including destination charges. The QX55 shares the same platform and 2.0L four-cylinder powertrain as the QX50 but it comes standard with all-wheel-drive. If you equipped a QX50 similarly it would cost about $3,000 less.
KIA REVEALS ALL-NEW K8 SEDAN
Kia is showing off its future design direction with an all-new sedan, called the K8. This is basically the next-generation K7, a.k.a. the Cadenza, but since Kia went through its rebranding it decided to give the sedan a new name. Note the shape of the grille, how it has no frame or border and its diamond pattern because those are the cues you’re likely to see on other models. It’s also the first Kia to feature the company’s new logo. The K8 will launch later this year.



SKODA COMES OUT WITH SPORTY ENYAQ iV
Skoda is coming out with a sportier version of the ENYAQ iV, which is the automaker’s version of the Volkswagen ID.4. The Sportline model, as it’s called, features lowered suspension, unique 20- or 21-inch wheels, body-color rocker panels and a number of gloss black accents. The interior has a few unique touches, like sporty seats, 3-spoke steering wheel and fake carbon fiber accents. The Sportline ENYAQ iV arrives in Europe later this year, and it’s going to help the Volkswagen Group get even more economies of scale with its electric onslaught.

EV PRODUCTION UPDATES
Looks like the Tesla Model Y’s will start running down the assembly lines in Berlin in October. That’s according to Autoforecast Solutions. Then in May of next year, AFS says Faraday Future will start building its big EV, the FF91 in Hanford, California, which is about halfway between LA and San Francisco.
Speaking of EV startups, we’re going to take a deep dive on Autoline After Hours into ELMS, or Electric Last Mile Solutions. That’s the company that started out as SF Motors, then changed its name to Ceres, and now it’s known as ELMS. It developed an electric delivery van that it will build at an assembly plant in Indiana that it bought from AM General. Jim Taylor is the CEO and he’ll be joining us on Autoline After Hours tomorrow. So join John and Gary as they give you an insider’s look into one of the latest startups that’s about to enter the market.
OLD WRECK BECOMES OUR BARN FIND
It’s Barn Find time! The pictures of this wreck come from Alejandro whose friend spotted the car while on a hike in California’s Bay Area. Crikey, it looks like this thing drove over a cliff! The car has a number of distinguishing features. It’s clearly a 2-door convertible, the fenders are quite shapely with the headlights incorporated on the front, an inline 6-cylinder engine rests under the hood and there’s a unique design accent just behind the front tire. We nailed the last Barn Find with way less to go on, so I’m sure you can help Alejandro figure out what this thing is. Oh, and we hope those bullet holes came after the car was wrecked, and not what caused it.

And that wraps up today’s report. Thanks for watching.
Thanks to our partner for embedding Autoline Daily on its website: WardsAuto.com
February 17th, 2021 at 12:53 pm
Barn find: perhaps an Austin Healy 3000.
And the Skoda looks pretty nice (except for the ‘Roadrunner’ emblems (they have).
February 17th, 2021 at 12:53 pm
Barn find+ Austin Healy 3000
February 17th, 2021 at 12:59 pm
Austin Healey 3000 BT7 Mk1 1959-1961, assuming it has the original engine.
February 17th, 2021 at 1:03 pm
Will the K8 be sold in the US? I assume not.
February 17th, 2021 at 1:11 pm
Barn find looks like 1965 Austin Healey 3000
February 17th, 2021 at 1:48 pm
Are the SUs still there?
February 17th, 2021 at 2:18 pm
The New Hyundai Kona non-electric looks like a Ford Escape coming down the road.
I am not a fan of these mid level front bumper headlights. I like a simple clean look as the vehicle is coming or going. The front head lights are the eyes of the vehicle and all these mid bumper headlights look like ugly fish heads to me.
I also dislike vehicles without a traditional transmission shifter lever. These push button and rotary dial configuration are a real turn off to me.
When are we going to get some news of the next generation Honda Pilot and the return of the Honda Element?
February 17th, 2021 at 2:33 pm
7 I don’t think we are going to see a return of thr Honda Element. There has been some “click bait” out there, but it’s probably bogus.
February 17th, 2021 at 2:36 pm
7 Lex I couldn’t agree more, as the mid level lamps just look weird to be with the LED strip above it.
I also hate the button and dial transmissions. They offer only one advantage and that’s a smaller packaging area is needed, opposed to a lever. They don’t provide feedback like a lever does and now add in the nanny safety features and I find it really annoying. If I have my truck in gear and open the door for any reason the truck goes into park and if I take my foot off the brake it sets the E-brake too. I guess they needed to protect those folks that forget to put it in park when launching their boat.
February 17th, 2021 at 3:30 pm
Thanks for the daily EV updates. Exciting times in the car industry.
February 17th, 2021 at 3:48 pm
9 Button shifters have one advantage, at least the on in a friend’s Hyundai Sonata. It automatically goes into park when you shut the engine off with the start/stop button. That also happens with the “self centering” shifter of a Prius.
I’ve never experienced a rotary shifter, but I guess you have to rotate some, or most of them to park position. Otherwise, the vehicle can roll away, as the Jeep that killed a famous person I hadn’t heard of a few years ago.
February 17th, 2021 at 3:50 pm
That may have been your best show yet,thanks
February 17th, 2021 at 3:57 pm
The shifter in my Camry is an old fashioned looking console deal, with kind of stiff detents. When I replaced a Prius with the Camry, I’d sometimes forget to put it in park, because the Prius went into park automatically when turned off with the button. The Camry beeps when you open a door while not in park, but it can roll away if you ignore the beeping.
February 17th, 2021 at 4:50 pm
It is an Austin Healy but I can’t convince myself of which model.
It isn’t a Model III because the tail light (upper one shown in pix) was larger.
So the choices are the Mark I and Mark II. Both had the smaller button tail light.
It would be nice to know if it had 2 HS6 carbs or the HS4 tri-carbs. If it only had 2 carbs, it would indicate a MarkII convertable offered in late summer of 1962.
But after looking at the door panel shown near the edge of the engine picture shown, I don’t see a roll-up window, but perhaps a slot in the door panel. The Mark I had plastc detachable side screens that slid open/close.
My guess comes down to the Mark I
February 17th, 2021 at 4:56 pm
The K8 looks like KIA bought all the left over Ford Fusions then slapped on a new grill.
February 17th, 2021 at 4:59 pm
The rear end design and straight 6 engine did it for me. Austin-Healey 3000. I always liked the look of that sports car.
February 17th, 2021 at 5:13 pm
15 While they are grossly overpriced, Mercedes still has about the best looking sedans, at least to me. There is a recent C-Class at my condo, and it just looks good.
February 17th, 2021 at 5:23 pm
16) I agree, Mecedes has the best looking cars. I especially like the looks of the wagon.
The other day I saw a Lexus wagon: the real wagon that doesn’t look like an suv. AT first, I thought it was a Mercedes!
February 17th, 2021 at 5:41 pm
17 They turned the E-Class wagon into a very expensive Subaru Outback for the US market, but it still looks ok, though I liked the previous one much better. I’ll look up that Lexus. I didn’t know they had an actual wagon.
February 17th, 2021 at 6:23 pm
17 re. Lexus wagon, do you mean the first generation IS, last sold in 2005? I had one of those.
February 17th, 2021 at 6:41 pm
19) Could have been. It had the old style grill. The car I saw looked brand new. The older couple took very good care of it.
February 17th, 2021 at 7:38 pm
20 Was this it?
https://www.flickr.com/photos/rudedude2140a/13174643745/in/photolist-m5cuA6-ofjz34-YdXnyo-ZRBJDD-21sHZmM-wzQq3D-cxF4Wq-cxF4aG-P5CS4P-cxF4zo-QCBsBC-E4ePzd-K53kUx-qdKeBE-eXUGPK-eXUJbc-eXUJv6-eY75gW-eY76Z9-eXUJSi-AQ3Dfx-eXUHRr-eY76CW-7akJs1-Vdjafn-ZCNXqk-cU7R5E-5Wje3-25Xwo5R-a3rite-ZCNYEV-5Wje5-5Wje4-6mc9fW-fjcWrV-Wyq2TR-rvqBT8-cCZbY3-ZCNY5B-rc2Ezu-qfjrMc-XMWhzk-24zrph5-nWRgjY-pKd1Le-2gvkLtv-f1Dt5y-Wyq2Mt-2gvkjea-XMWftX
It had a 3 liter inline six from the then-current, or recent Supra. It drove well and performed decently, but was thirsty for the size and performance of the car, and was supposed to get premium gas.
February 17th, 2021 at 7:58 pm
Another IS300 SportCross photo
https://www.flickr.com/photos/rudedude2140a/14601902987/in/photolist-ofjz34-YdXnyo-ZRBJDD-21sHZmM-wzQq3D-cxF4Wq-cxF4aG-P5CS4P-cxF4zo-QCBsBC-E4ePzd-K53kUx-qdKeBE-eXUGPK-eXUJbc-eXUJv6-eY75gW-eY76Z9-eXUJSi-AQ3Dfx-eXUHRr-eY76CW-7akJs1-Vdjafn-ZCNXqk-cU7R5E-5Wje3-25Xwo5R-a3rite-ZCNYEV-5Wje5-5Wje4-6mc9fW-fjcWrV-Wyq2TR-rvqBT8-cCZbY3-ZCNY5B-rc2Ezu-qfjrMc-XMWhzk-24zrph5-nWRgjY-pKd1Le-2gvkLtv-f1Dt5y-Wyq2Mt-2gvkjea-XMWftX-H3E4Hp
February 17th, 2021 at 8:51 pm
It looked more like the IS300 SportCross.
The front end and grille look more elegant than the first picture.
February 18th, 2021 at 9:19 am
#11 – Our 2018 Fusion Sport has the rotary shifter on the console & it also moves to Park when you turn the engine off with Stop/Start button. If you leave the engine running you need to manually move it to Park (which is the same as all the other automatic shifter styles over the year – Pushbutton, column, console). Having had all of them over the years, no real preference.
February 18th, 2021 at 10:50 am
24 I’ve never had a rotory shifter, but had push buttons in a ’57 Chrysler and ’64 Dodge Dart.
February 18th, 2021 at 10:53 am
When the current (2nd gen) Pacifica came out, I happened to be heading to FL with the family, so I intentionally rented one (they were so new, Enterprise had to search for one in the area). It had the automatic shifter knob, and it was close to the radio, though larger than the radio knobs. I wondered what would happen if you accidentally dialed the transmission instead of the radio when driving. I can tell you, the dial was different enough that it never happened unintentionally, but I can also tell you it will not rotate if you are moving! I did not test if it would put itself in park when stopped.
February 19th, 2021 at 12:25 pm
I don’t think the Healey is a 3000. No roll-up windows. My guess is a 100-6. I had a 1959 that my son-in-law now has.