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Runtime: 8:08
0:29 NACTOY Finalists
1:02 Audi’s Drone Prototype
1:50 Audi e-tron GT Electric Sports Car
3:17 All-New Kia Soul
4:04 Hyundai Palisade Mid-Size SUV
5:22 Updated Mercedes AMG GT with New Model
6:19 Jeep Gladiator Pickup Truck
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On today’s show… the finalists for the 2019 North American, Car, Utility and Truck of the Year were announced… Audi shows off a working prototype of its passenger drone… and we’ll take a look at more reveals from the LA Auto Show. All that and more coming right up on Autoline Daily.
This is Autoline Daily the voice of the automotive industry.
NACTOY FINALISTS REVEALED
The finalists for the 2019 North American Car, Utility and Truck of the Year were revealed. On the car side, the Genesis G70, Honda Insight and Volvo S60 and V60 made the final cut. The Utility finalists are the Acura RDX, Hyundai Kona, and the Jaguar I-Pace. And the Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra and Ram 1500 are the finalists for Truck of the Year. The winners will be announced at the Detroit auto show in January.
AUDI TO SHOW WORKING DRONE PROTOTYPE
Earlier this year, Audi, along with ItalDesign and Airbus, revealed their vision of a passenger drone. Called the Pop.Up Next, it’s an electric, autonomous vehicle that can seat two people, plus it’s also modular. The cabin has been designed to attach to the aircraft or to a car. So, once a flight is complete, the cabin can lock into a car chassis to finish the trip on the ground. And now the companies will show off a working prototype this week during Amsterdam Drone Week. While this seems like science fiction, Audi says it’s convinced flying taxis are on the way because more and more people are moving into cities. And it believes this technology will help move people around cities more conveniently.
ALL SHOW, NO GO
Speaking of Audi, it revealed the concept version of its new electric performance car, the e-tron GT at the LA Auto Show. It looks like the automaker hopes to win customers over on styling because like the e-tron SUV the numbers aren’t all that impressive. Audi expects a range of about 250-miles, which is pretty good, but that’s with a lithium ion battery pack larger than 90 kWh. Chevy and Tesla already match and beat that with much smaller packs. With two electric motors producing about 600-horsepower, the e-tron GT should accelerate from 0-60 MPH in around 3.5-seconds. Still good, but I think this shows some automakers have a way to go before they catch up with the leaders in the EV segment. And while I wish the designers would have been more clever finding a way to tie the styling to the rest of Audi’s lineup without a big useless grille, overall I think the car is really good looking.
We’ll take a look at more reveals from the LA Auto Show, right after this.
KIA’S STILL GOT SOUL
After teasing the vehicle for the last couple of weeks, Kia finally took the wraps off the new Soul. The styling has been updated and its wheelbase and overall length have been slightly increased, but there’s not mistaking it as anything other than a Kia Soul. Two engines are available, a new 2.0L four-cylinder that’s mated to a six-speed manual or a CVT. And a 1.6L turbo, inline four-cylinder with a seven-speed dual clutch transmission is also offered. An all-electric version will also be available. It’s powered by a 64-kWh lithium-ion battery but the company didn’t announce its range because it’s still under testing. The new Soul goes on sale sometime during the first half of next year.
HYUNDAI ENTERS MID-SIZE CUV SEGMENT
Kia’s parent company, Hyundai introduced an all-new mid-size crossover called the Palisade. The three-row CUV rides on an all-new architecture and its only engine option is a 3.8L V6 with direct injection that’s mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. The setup cranks out 291 horsepower and 262 lb.-ft. of torque. All-wheel-drive is also available. On the inside, it features a 10.25-inch touchscreen plus a 12.3-inch screen for the center instrument cluster. And to make access to the third row easier, you just need to press a button on the second-row seats once to fold them up. Every model comes standard with its suite of driver assistance technologies. The Palisade will be built in Korea and will hit dealerships in the U.S. next summer.
Coming up next, Jeep makes its triumphant return to the pickup truck segment.
MERCEDES ADDS NEW MODEL TO AMG GT LINEUP
Mercedes has updated the AMG GT sports car. It’s hard to notice any differences, but there are a few tweaks here and there and the lighting more resembles the AMG GT 4-door coupe. Interior enhancements include a 12.3-inch instrument cluster and 10.25-inch infotainment display. New to the lineup is a more track focused R PRO version, which gets improvements inspired by the GT3 and GT4 racing cars. The suspension has been optimized and now features more lightweight components, there’s a host of carbon fiber parts and pieces, which not only make it lighter, but also improve aerodynamics. More weight is saved through the use of ceramic brakes and forged wheels. At 585-horsepower for both the R and R PRO models, engine output is also up slightly as well compared to the old car.
JEEP GLADIATOR STORMS ONTO STAGE
The wait is over! Jeep finally took the wraps off its new pickup truck, the Gladiator. Its styling is based on the Wrangler but the grille slots are a bit wider to help with air intake due to its increased towing capacity. At launch, it’s available with a 3.6L V6 that produces 285 horsepower and 260 lb.-ft. of torque. It comes standard with a six-speed manual or an 8-speed automatic transmission is optional. In 2020, a 3.0L V6 diesel will be available. It cranks out 260 horsepower and 442 lb.-ft. of torque. The diesel is standard with the 8-speed automatic. On the inside, customers can choose from a 7 or 8.4 inch touchscreen and includes the 4th generation of FCA’s Uconnect infotainment system. The new Gladiator goes on sale in the second quarter of 2019. And best of all, there’s already more than 200 parts available from Mopar, to customize the truck. And for more about the Gladiator, be sure to check out Autoline After Hours this afternoon. Scott Tallon, Jeep’s Marketing Director and Mark Allen, the head of Jeep design will be talking with John and Gary from the LA Auto Show about the new pickup. So tune in at 3PM eastern time on our website, Autoline.tv to catch that show.
But that’s it for today, thanks for watching and please join us again tomorrow.
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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.