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Runtime: 7:03
0:08 Ford Explorer Hybrid Popular with Police
0:43 Lexus RX Refresh Offers Android Auto
1:12 Daimler’s Martin Daum Launches Truck Podcast
1:36 Banksy’s Box Truck Heads to Auction
2:29 Lambo Unveils Most Powerful Model Ever
3:19 Nissan Juke Revived and Redesigned
4:21 Mercedes Hints at Future Interior Design
5:24 UAW Targets GM for Contract Talks
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This is Autoline Daily reporting on all aspects of the global automotive industry.
FORD EXPLORER HYBRID POPULAR WITH POLICE
It sure looks like a lot of police departments like the idea of hybrid interceptors. Nearly 20% of all the police cars that Ford is selling are hybrid versions of the Ford Explorer. Agencies are interested in its lower operating costs since police cars spend a lot of their time idling. With the hybrid version, the engine can be switched off while idling, yet provide full power for all the equipment in the car. Ford says police departments can save anywhere from $3,500 to $5,700 every year with the hybrid.
LEXUS RX REFRESH OFFERS ANDROID AUTO
The Lexus RX and RXL, are getting a slight refresh for 2020. They will be the first Lexus vehicles to offer Android Auto. Toyota and Lexus tried to keep Apple and Google out of their cars, with their own connectivity services called Entune and Enform. But consumers clearly want to have their cars connect and act like their phones, and so Toyota must have decided that if you can’t lick ‘em, join ‘em.
DAIMLER’S MARTIN DAUM LAUNCHES TRUCK PODCAST
It seems like everyone has a podcast these days, so why not an auto executive? Martin Daum, the CEO of Daimler Trucks & Buses, just launched a podcast called Transportation Matters, which focuses on the commercial truck business. We think this might be the first time an automotive CEO is hosting their own podcast.
BANKSY’S BOX TRUCK HEADS TO AUCTION
When is a 17-ton Volvo box truck that was made before the millennium worth $1.3 to $2 million dollars? When it’s covered in graffiti by the artist Banksy. But in this case, it was before Banksy was Banksy. It took the artist 2-weeks to complete the truck in the year 2000, which is said to be Banksy’s largest piece of work and will be auctioned at the Goodwood Revival. Whoever buys the work of art should have some peace of mind, knowing it’s a lot harder to shred a truck than it a painting.
LAMBO UNVEILS MOST POWERFUL MODEL EVER
Lamborghini is coming out with its most powerful car ever, a hybrid called the Sian. It’s powered by a V12 with a 48-volt electric motor incorporated into the transmission. Instead of a lithium-ion battery it uses a supercapacitor, which is three times more powerful than a battery of the same size and three times lighter than a battery with the same power. The Sian cranks out a combined 819 horsepower, can move from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 2.8 seconds and has a top speed of 350 km/h or 217 MPH. Only 63 Sian’s will be made and it will be on display at next week’s Frankfurt auto show.
NISSAN JUKE REVIVED AND REDESIGNED
The all-new Nissan Juke is getting its wings… or horns?… or whatever you want to call where the Daytime Running Lights merge with the automaker’s V-motion grille. The fun character of the previous model was traded out for a more aggressive look with a two-toned paint job and sharp, crisp lines. Engineers were able to increase the size of the body, which translates to more room for passengers and 20% more storage room. But thanks to high strength steel, it’s actually slightly lighter. Interior design highlights include round air vents laid across the dash and materials in contrasting colors that accent and make certain areas pop out. It will also get Nissan’s driver assistance features, called ProPilot, for the first time. In Europe, the new Juke launches with a turbocharge 1.0L 3-cylinder engine mated to either a 6-speed manual or 7-speed dual clutch transmission. Deliveries start this November.
MERCEDES HINTS AT FUTURE INTERIOR DESIGN
Mercedes is showing off its vision for a future luxury sedan interior. Four individual seats that were inspired by seashells dot the interior, which overall has a very minimalistic design. Display screens curl up from the arm rests and center console, leaving the raked dash free of any clutter. It rather has long horizontal lines and thinly crafted air vents. So, what do you think? Could you see yourself cruising down the Autobahn in this interior?
Speaking of future electrics, John and Gary will be talking a lot about Rivian on Autoline After Hours this Thursday, with special guest Mike Tracey from the Agile Group.
And speaking of John, he’ll be up next with some thoughts on a possible UAW strike.
UAW TARGETS GM FOR CONTRACT TALKS
The UAW just picked General Motors as its lead target for a new labor contract. No surprise there. The union is furious that GM closed two U.S. assembly plants and two powertrain plants, and is making the Chevrolet Blazer in Mexico instead of moving production to one of those plants. It’s itching for a fight with GM.
The union says that 96% of its members at GM, Ford and FCA voted to authorize a strike. But that’s just the result of those who actually voted. Let me let you in on a little secret. The UAW never says how many workers actually voted because the turnout is always embarrassingly low.
Besides, the rank and file are furious about the corruption in the union. They’re likely to reject any contract that the union leadership negotiates because they don’t trust their own leaders. The only hope the leadership has is to deliver a sweetheart of a contract that provides generous wage increases.
Meanwhile, General Motors, which has the highest automotive labor costs in the U.S., is looking for ways to cut those costs. The contract expires on September 14, so we’ll know then what’s going to happen. But it sure looks to me like we’re headed for a strike.
That’s how I see it, and with that we wrap up today’s show.
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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.