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Runtime: 9:25
– Tesla Considers Steering Wheel & Pedals for Cybercab
– Stellantis, NVIDIA, Foxconn & Uber Partner on L4 AVs
– Lucid to Sell L4 AVs For Private Ownership
– Toyota & Lexus Take Wraps Off Wild Concepts
– Honda Shows Off Hot Hatch EV Concept
– Honda Reveals New 0 Series EV Concept
– Mazda Unveils PHEV w/ Rotary Engine
– BYD Reveals Racoo Kei Car for Japan
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This is Autoline Daily, the show dedicated to enthusiasts of the global automotive industry.
TESLA CONSIDERS STEERING WHEEL & PEDALS FOR CYBERCAB
Tesla would likely hire a new CEO from within the company if Elon Musk were to step down due to his new pay package getting rejected. That’s according to Tesla Chair Robyn Denholm, who says hiring from within would help ensure an “orderly transition.” Shareholders vote on that pay package next week, which would pay Musk up to $1 trillion if he hits all the growth metrics. But even with minimal improvement, Musk would still earn billions, which is why a couple of notable proxy advisors said to vote against the package. While Elon is the face of the company, he recently threatened he wouldn’t be CEO if it is rejected and after speaking with him directly, Denholm said “There’s no question in my mind that if we don’t get this across, there is a high probability” he would step down or become less engaged. We speculated on last week’s Autoline After Hour that if Musk were to leave, Tesla’s stock would take a massive hit, but it wouldn’t necessarily mean the death of the company. It needs to keep innovating and Denholm hinted at a changing of mindset around the Cybercab. She now says Tesla views the Cybercab as its long-promised affordable EV and that it’s willing to make fundamental changes, like adding a steering wheel and pedals, to sell the vehicle in higher volumes.
STELLANTIS, NVIDIA, FOXCONN & UBER PARTNER ON L4 AVs
Stellantis is getting serious about robotaxis. Earlier this month, the automaker partnered with Chinese company, Pony.ai, to test autonomous Peugeot vans in Europe. The eventual goal is to launch services at a later date. And now Stellantis is joining forces with chipmaker NVIDIA, Foxconn and Uber to develop Level 4 autonomous vehicles for robotaxi fleets worldwide. One is a medium-size van that looks like the Peugeot test vehicle, but the other looks brand-new and is based on the STLA small platform. As for the other partners, NVIDIA will provide the autonomous driving software, Foxconn will provide hardware and systems integration while Uber will run the robotaxi service. The companies are aiming to start producing the vehicles in 2028 and will initially launch operations in the U.S. with 5,000 vehicles.
LUCID TO SELL L4 AVs FOR PRIVATE OWNERSHIP
And in somewhat related news, EV startup Lucid says it plans to deliver one of the world’s first Level 4 autonomous vehicles for private ownership. Using NVIDIA technology, the partnership will first develop a point-to-point, Level 2+ advanced driver assistance system that goes into the Gravity SUV and Lucid’s upcoming midsize vehicles. And then to achieve Level 4 driving, Lucid will integrate NVIDIA’s computers and software into its vehicles as well as its sensor suite that includes cameras, lidar and radar. However, Lucid didn’t say when the fully-autonomous vehicles will launch.
TOYOTA & LEXUS TAKE WRAPS OFF WILD CONCEPTS
We’re going to dedicate the second half of the show to a bunch of the vehicles that just made their debut at the Japan Mobility Show. We showed you some Toyota teasers the other day, but now we get a much better look at them all. As we reported, Toyota is going to make Century an all-new luxury brand positioned above Lexus. There’s already a Century sedan and SUV and Toyota just revealed a large, coupe model. The company wants to take on luxury brands like Bentley and Rolls-Royce and it sounds like Century will also be sold outside of Japan. But speaking of Lexus, it’s adopting the philosophy of space and freedom. Interestingly, that even includes a six-wheeled LS van and a three-wheeled, 1-person autonomous mobility pod. And it sounds like LS will kind of become like its own brand with the Lexus lineup. Beyond the 6-wheeled van, it also showed off a 4-door concept, called the LS Coupe. And last, but not least, Toyota showed a wide range of products, including a futuristic Corolla concept. The model is based on Toyota’s new vehicle architecture, which is able to support electric, hybrid and ICE powertrains. The company’s full reveal is over an hour long, so there’s even more to check out, and we’ll provide a link if you want to do that.
HONDA SHOWS OFF HOT HATCH EV CONCEPT
Honda took the wraps off a couple of concepts. First up, is a compact EV called the Super-One Prototype. It features a setting called “Boost Mode” which was developed exclusively for the model. It increases the power output while synchronizing a simulated 7-speed transmission with the Active Sound Control system to mimic engine noises and gearshifts. Honda says it has already started road tests of the Super-One Prototype in Japan, the UK and other Asian countries and it’s aiming to launch a production version in Japan next year followed by other countries.
HONDA REVEALS NEW 0 SERIES EV CONCEPT
The other concept Honda revealed is the next model in its 0 Series of electric vehicles, the Honda 0 a (alpha). The automaker revealed the 0 Saloon and 0 SUV at CES earlier this year, and this new model is being added as an entry model for the 0 Series. The production version of the Honda 0 a (alpha), will go on sale globally starting in 2027, mainly in Japan and India.
MAZDA UNVEILS PHEV W/ ROTARY ENGINE
Mazda also unveiled a couple of concept vehicles. First up, is the Vision X-Compact (X is pronounced as cross). Mazda didn’t share many details about this model but says it represents its vision of smart mobility and features AI technology that is capable of natural conversation and suggesting destinations. The other concept Mazda revealed is the Vision X-Coupe, (X is pronounced as cross). It’s a plug-in hybrid that features a turbocharged two-rotor Wankel engine paired with an electric motor and battery. The system produces a total of 503-horsepower and delivers 160-km or nearly 100 miles of electric range and a total range of 800-km or just under 500 miles.
BYD REVEALS RACOO KEI CAR FOR JAPAN
And lastly, BYD officially revealed the kei-car it teased last week. Called the Racco, it features a 20-kWh LFP battery, which is expected to deliver 180-km or about 112 miles of range. The Racco goes on sale next year in Japan, with an expected starting price around $17,000. BYD is gradually growing its lineup in Japan, the Racco will be its fifth model on the market after the Atto 3, Dolphin, Seal and Sealion 7.
And that brings us to the end of today’s show. Thanks for making Autoline a part of your day.
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Stellantis, Nvidia, Foxconn and Uber had all better get a move on Tesla already has one extremely large AI center in Austin up and running doing AI for largely visual data plus another one coming online with enough electricity to power both by the time it is finished.
We after all see all the super geniuses having geek out sessions to just devastate the self driving competition out there [sarcasm intended]
However in saying all that it still is News to keep informed of what is out there. Great work Autoline.
I’d recommend Toyota to study MB’s experience with the Maybach. It restarted with separate models, then switched to being trim series. Simply, it makes no sense to me to debase the Lexus brand by putting a more premium brand above Lexus. It makes more sense to place Century within the Lexus umbrella.
@BYD Racco: based on that design the Wacko name would have been more appropriate 🙂
Hands up anyone that’s surprised the new small robotaxi Tesla will now have steering wheel and controls. They spent all this money on a new design that is years away from being sold because of the robotechnology. When they are allowed to sell it, it will only be in special urban markets. Better to get the car into the general market, generating some sales. It won’t take away from the robotaxi version.
Toyota seems to be spending too much money on silly concepts, especially the 6 wheeled thing. Do these drive, or are they “gliders”? I assume the wheels turn, so they can be rolled on and off of trailers.
Lexus has moved down market over the years, but has remained successful. They started with the “better S-Class at a bargain price” LS, but now have the C-HR/Corolla related UX. It seems to be working for them. The UX, and RAV4-related NX seem to be selling pretty well. My condo parking lot is crawling with NXs. If Toyota wants to compete with Rolls-Royce and Bentley, it would seem to need another brand, but I’m not sure Century is the right name, at least for the US and Canada, where Century brings thoughts of Buick Century, the ultimate old person’s car of the 1990s-early 2000s.
Google says Racco means “sea otter,” and ChatGPT says it means “raccoon.” Elon’s Grok agrees with Google. ChatGPT seems to give a lot of wrong information, and I’m inclined to think it did in this case.
The Century sedan and SUV that were introduced earlier this year, were pretty impressive. That Century concept holds some promiss, but that grill leaves me cold! The SUV concept is a nice looker, but, again, the no grill gives the impression to me that its not finished. While most did not like Lexus spindle grill, to me, it looked okay on the ALS sedan and on most of their CUV/SUVs (all but the RZ and TX). While the no face may work for the Model S, IMHO, for legacy luxury brands like Mercedesand BMW, the grill is a big part of the aesthetic/styling of the vehicle! Even when you consider Alpha and Maserati, take away the grill and they might a well be vehicles from different automakers. After all this time you would think that they would have had this nailed down, for even Genesis has a grill and styling features that identity themselves better then Lexus does.
The IMS museum should have plenty of money to update their museum. The two priciest cars sold at auction this year were from the IMS. They are downgrading their collection, but they can do a lot with that money.
https://www.autoweek.com/car-life/g69172267/top-10-collector-cars-sold-at-auction/?source=nl&utm_source=nl_aut&utm_medium=email&date=102925&utm_campaign=nl01_102925_AUT42235818&oo=&user_email=80a1e0f6bdd0b3295b9c3326868f496e2c85d9b7700b0bd4b09c7d811f009a52&GID=80a1e0f6bdd0b3295b9c3326868f496e2c85d9b7700b0bd4b09c7d811f009a52&utm_term=Daily%20Drive%20Sending%20Audience
Tesla would do better, and I appears that management is being to see, if they followed Ford and GM by offering both a vehicle customers can buy, along with a version to use a robotaxi. By letting the public purchase a version, it allows them to spread the investment cost over a wider group, with this being the least expensive Tesla model. Then they have a wide network of replacement parts for repairs of their taxis. Ford and GM did this for years with their caprice and crown victorias and there is no reason this couldn’t work for Tesla.
Victor Wouk had an hybrid 1972 Buick Skylark powered by a Wankle engine doing 30mpg instead of 8 but was rejected by the EPA. What a tragedy for the American industry.
I remember GM doing some work with Wankel engines, but hadn’t heard about a ’72 Skylark getting 30 mpg with hybrid Wankel powertrain. Interesting. That would have been a very early hybrid, and probably would have done even better with a piston engine.
In production car use, Wankels were gas hogs, for the size of the car. The last Mazda with a one, RX-8, got worse mpg than the heavier, much faster Corvette with a 6.2 liter V8.
https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/Find.do?action=sbs&id=28557&id=28527
Kit, regarding your 2:33 comments… MB also moved down market (A-class, et.al.), then thought they needed a separate Maybach to take on the ultra prestigious market. I believe the Maybach initiative was a case of crosstown envy… BMW has RR and VW has Bentley. I’d rather see Lexus re-establish their “premiumness”.
I find it disappointing the Lexus has so seriously downgraded the LS from the original. As far as the lesser Lexi, a friend bought an NX, mainly for the nicer interior than a RAV4, and to get memory seats. It is peppy with the 2.4 turbo, but is kind of noisy, especially on acceleration, for a “premium” car.
Yeah, I can imagine M-B having envy with BMW and VW having Rolls and Bentley.
I find it disappointing that Lexus has so seriously downgraded the LS from the original. As far as the lesser Lexi, a friend bought an NX, mainly for the nicer interior than a RAV4, and to get memory seats. It is peppy with the 2.4 turbo, but is kind of noisy, especially on acceleration, for a “premium” car.
Yeah, I can imagine M-B having envy with BMW and VW having Rolls and Bentley.
As a result if Trump’s trade war with Canada, Subaru will now import Outbacks for the country from Japan, rather than Indiana.
I don’t know that Lexus downgraded their LS series. To me it seems that they never really upgraded it to the latest luxury standards. It is the Lexus version of the Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham. From 1990-92 the brougham was a very reliable and extremely comfortable cruiser with the 5.0L and the 5.7L engines. It was no longer considered a luxury vehicle though as it only had 1970s era luxury features and not 1990s era features that were found in lesser/cheaper cars like the Pontiac Grand Prix. That is where I see the LS, stuck in the 2000s. Reliability/Comfort was not enough to save the Fleetwood and it is not enough to save the LS either. Their new Century is what the LS should have been all along.
With all that said, the lack of features made the 1990-92 brougham an absolute hidden gem on the used market as you got comfort/reliability/premium vehicle for pennies. The same is true with the current LS. You can pick up a pretty nice LS for cheap on the used market. Not helpful for Lexus, but great for consumers looking to have a reliable premium car on a tight budget.
The LS went from a glassy smooth V8 to a turbo V6, the ride got worse than earlier generations, and the controls, as with many cars, are unfriendly. Also, the current LS is less roomy than earlier versions. The interior has become more gimmicky than elegant in “style,” at least to me. The new, better S-Class is probably a Hyundai, Genesis G90, but it isn’t cheap, and as the LS, was downgraded from a V8 to a turbo V6.
I wish Cadillac and Buick still offered a full-size sedan. I have a 2018 Buick LaCrosse and it rides great, very dependable, and gets 34 MPG on the highway. I read somewhere that Buick stills sells them in China. I dont know if that’s true. If so, why not in the US?