Listen to “AD #2828 – Tesla Design Improvements; Build Quality Issues Likely to Spike; Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Impressions” on Spreaker.
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Runtime: 12:18
0:07 U.S. VP Visits GM Ventilator Plant
1:00 Correction to Our Tesla Reporting
1:45 Tesla Improves Model Y Rear Structure
2:53 Build Quality Issues Likely to Spike
4:21 Mercedes Hosts Concours de Zoom
4:50 Bentley Offers New Carbon Fiber Package
5:30 Engines of Not Unusual Sizes
7:21 NASCAR Getting Back to Real Racing
7:51 Gale Halderman, Mustang Designer, Dies
8:17 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Impressions
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MIKE PENCE TOURS GM VENTILATOR PLANT
Yesterday, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence toured the plant where GM and Ventec are making ventilators. Joining him at the Kokomo, Indiana facility was Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao and GM CEO Mary Barra. But here’s the thing that’s grabbing everyone’s attention: Pence wore a mask during the two-hour tour. He was slammed earlier this week when he visited the Mayo Clinic and did not wear a mask, even though it’s required and everyone else around him was wearing one. In any case, GM’s protocol at that facility is that everyone coming into the building has to wear a mask, and it’s good to see the vice president follow that procedure. GM and Ventec received nearly $490 million from the U.S. government to make 30,000 ventilators by the end of August.
CORRECTION TO OUR TESLA REPORTING
I’ve got a correction to make. Yesterday I reported that Tesla could run out of cash by Christmas, but some sharp viewers noted that I was counting Tesla’s Q1 cash burn as if it were on a monthly basis, not a quarterly one. A shout out to Raymond, Xander and Earl for catching that. Also, a number of you wondered why I didn’t point out that Tesla would have lost money if not for all the money it got for selling ZEV credits to other automakers. And that’s true, it would have lost money if you didn’t count that. But selling credits has always been part of Tesla’s business model, and you can’t criticize the company from hitting those goals.
TESLA REDUCES REAR STRUCTURE FROM 70 PIECES TO 1
Speaking of Tesla, after Sandy Munro finished his teardown of the Model 3 he sent a list of suggestions to Elon Musk on how it could improve and simplify the build and manufacturing process. Looks like Musk took those suggestions to heart. Jump forward to Sandy’s teardown of the new Model Y, which is based on the 3, and Munro has been happy to see that some of his suggestions were implemented. One of those is the rear underbody where numerous parts and components attach. On the Model 3 that section has 70 pieces that are stitched together. But it was reduced to just two parts on the Y with one large aluminum casting. But Tesla plans to reduce the amount of components in the Y even more. You may remember a story we covered on how Tesla is developing a huge casting machine for manufacturing vehicles. And that machine will make that same rear underbody in one shot. There’s a lot more innovation that went into the Model Y and if you’d like to see more check out Munro Live on YouTube to see Sandy’s ongoing teardown.
QUALITY ISSUES LIKELY TO SPIKE
Automakers are implementing new safety rules at their plants to restart production. But Wards quotes experts who say social distancing guidelines will lead to quality issues because every process at the plants will be disrupted. Manufacturing plants have been designed so that employees have to be in close proximity to each other because space is at a premium. But social distancing rules mean workers will need more space, not just on the floor, but also entering and leaving the building. And workers may not have the same dexterity they used to have because of protective equipment they have to wear. And because of that disruption of operations, the experts expect quality issues to pop up. Maybe they need to take a look at the quality system that the company Trumble developed. It statistically monitors every process and machine in a plant and pings workers at every station with a device that tells them exactly how to tweak the equipment to ensure everything is made right. We had Jeff Trumble on our Autoline After Hours show a couple of weeks ago, and you can catch that show and what he invented on our website or YouTube channel.
MERCEDES HOSTS CONCOURS DE ZOOM
With social distancing in place, nobody can get together for a car show. So, Mercedes is hosting its own concours using Zoom, the video communications platform. Celebrities like Jay Leno and Martha Stewart will highlight their prized Mercedes and share a few things they love about their car. The first ever Concours de Zoom kicks off tonight at 5 pm EST or 2 pm Pacific.
BENTLEY OFFERS NEW CARBON FIBER PACKAGE
Bentley owners can now make their vehicles even more exclusive. A new package, called the Styling Specification adds hand made carbon fiber components to the Continental GT hardtop and Convertible and the Bentayga. The components include a front bumper splitter, side skirts with metallic Bentley badges, rear diffuser and trunk lid spoiler. The Bentayga also has the option for front air blades, wing vents and mirror caps. Styling Specification is available for order now and Bentley says it will offer the pack on the new Flying Spur in the future.
ENGINES OF NOT UNUSUAL SIZES
Two days ago I suggested that GM, Ford and FCA ought to merge their powertrain operations. They’re all making so many engines and transmissions that are almost the exact same size. Let me give you one example. They all make a 2-liter turbo four. Ford’s displaces 1999cc, GM’s 1998cc and FCA’s 1995cc. So, almost the exact same size. Ford’s bore and stroke is 87mm x 83 millimeters, GM’s 86mm by 86mm, and FCA’s 84mm by 90mm. So they’re only millimeters apart. I think this is the perfect application for all three to decide on one design and go with that engine. So how do you figure out which one to go with? Look, an engine is a box that sits under the hood. It’s a given size, a given weight, a given cost and produces a specific power and consumes a specific amount of fuel. It shouldn’t be too difficult to decide which one does the best overall, and I would throw in warranty costs to seal the deal. Now imagine applying this to every engine and transmission these three companies make, with the exception of iconic engines like the Hemi, LS2 and 5.0 liter that help define a brand image. Those engines should never be shared. But if GM, Ford and FCA would consolidate their powertrain operations they could save billions, and the vast majority of their customers would never know the difference.
NASCAR GETTING BACK TO REAL RACING
NASCAR is getting back to real racing and what an extravaganza it will be. Between its three series, Cup, Xfinity and Truck, NASCAR will hold 7 races in 10 days, starting on May 17th. There are a couple of changes. All practice has been eliminated for this opening round of races as well as qualifying except for the Coca-Cola 600. And there will be no fan in attendance.
GALE HALDERMAN, MUSTANG DESIGNER, DIES
Sad news for Mustang fans. Gale Halderman, one of the designers of the original Ford Mustang died from liver cancer at the age of 87. He’s credited with being the first to propose long, side vents on the car. It must have been an amazing experience to see the popularity of the Mustang take off like a rocket ship because no one could have really expected it.
HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID IMPRESSIONS
I’ve been test driving a 2020 Hyundai Sonata hybrid this week and I’ve got a lot to say about it. The styling is quite well done with some particularly striking details. In its side silhouette it’s quite swoopy, with a slight wedge stance. I think the grille looks too wide, but I like how low the leading edge of the hood drops, which has got to be great for aerodynamics. And the chrome strips that start at the headlamps and run up the front fenders make the Sonata instantly distinguishable from just about every other car on the road. The front part of those strips are backlit and they really pop at night. The rear and rear ¾ is where I think this car looks its best, especially the light bar that stretches across the rear of the trunk lid and wraps up into the tail lamps. It pulls the whole design together. The trailing lip of the trunk lid is an aerodynamically sculpted piece that not only adds a crisp end to the car, but imbues it with a smart high tech look. The interior shows how Hyundai is bringing a high degree of refinement to its lineup. This car is very well put together, with impeccably exact gaps and flush fits.I did find one small quirk. There is a fuel economy readout in the instrument cluster behind the steering wheel, and another fuel economy readout on the center stack that you can call up. But they never quite agreed with each other. The cluster was always more optimistic. As you can see here it reads 45.1 miles per gallon, while the one on the center stack reads 44.8 I don’t know why you need two gauges and why they can’t agree with each other, but what the hey, the fuel economy is fantastic! One reason it’s so good is that this hybrid comes with a solar roof, which generates 205 watts under ideal conditions. Hyundai says it can add 2 miles of range a day, but I wonder. Hyundai also thought the Sonata hybrid would be rated at 52 miles per gallon, but the EPA didn’t quite agree. It rates it at 47. Don’t read too much into the numbers that I got. Most of my driving these days are just short hops from home to the office. I’m sure if I drove longer distances I’d hit the EPA rating. This Sonata is one of the most pleasant hybrids to drive. It’s powered by a 2-liter engine coupled to a 39 kilowatt electric motor, which is about 51 horsepower. All together they produce 192 horses. The throttle responds well, largely thanks to the fact it uses a 6-speed automatic, instead of a CVT. And now for my biggest disappointment for this review. Hyundai still hasn’t released the price of this car. I’m dying to know what they charge for that solar roof. The model I drove was a fully loaded Limited, and I’m going to guess the price will come in somewhere around $36,000 including the photovoltaic panel on the roof. If you’re in the market for a mid-size sedan that’s a hybrid you owe yourself a test drive before you go out and buy.
And that wraps up all our reporting for this week. Thanks for joining us and we invite you back here again on Monday.
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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.