Automotive Reporter Biz News for Wk of 10-19-15

This is the week that Back to the Future arrives from the past.
October 21, 2015—the date that lives in infamy in the futuristic genre.  Toyota is capitalizing on the theme with a series of “Back to the Future” television ads. One of them features a futures recap, starring “Doc Brown” and Marty McFly, a.k.a, Christopher Lloyd and Michael J. Fox, discussing which technologies from their 1985 hit have actually come to pass.

For those of you keeping score, “Back to the Future-II” did get a few things right, although McFly is still waiting for self-tying sneakers. But video chats, large screen TV’s, fingerprint scanners, and wearable devices are in the here and now.  In an interesting exercise, a group of teens were asked to review some of the gadgets from the film, and rate how 2015 has kept up with expectations from 1985.

Toyota’s tease includes a promised reveal of a tricked-out Toyota Tacoma 4 x 4, Marty McFly’s truck of choice in the future. Watch for multiple sightings around the country on October 21, 2015.
Great Scott!

What’s that in your rear-view mirror? Red and blue flashing lights? Odds are, that’s a Ford Motor Company police pursuit vehicle that’s giving chase. Ford’s Interceptor sedans and utility vehicles are the best-selling cop cars on the market, with a staggering 61% share, as of the end of June. 

License and registration, please, and keep your hands on the wheel.

The saga of Volkswagen is still being written, but if someone doesn’t make a movie out of this, I’ll be surprised. The board of the beleaguered automaker continues to tweak its strategies on how best to move forward from the “diesel-gate” fiasco, even after replacing its CEO, and shuffling a few other execs.

The company is reorienting its diesel technology stratagem, and pushing for a more standardized electrical architecture for both passenger and light commercial vehicles. Look for a new iteration of the popular Phaeton series, as VW’s efficiency program is accelerated (no pun intended.)

Sales numbers are in for the first three Quarters of 2015. Volkswagen Group says it delivered 7.43-million vehicles to customers globally in the period. Of that number, 4.35-million were passenger cars. General Motors counted 7.2-million vehicles delivered.  BMW Group’s deliveries are up 7.5% for the first nine-months of the year, totaling more than 1.6-million units sold. 

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Automotive Reporter Biz News for Wk of 9-14-15

What do you get when you cross a dirt bike with a Nissan 240-Z? Take a peak.
 

This week’s Frankfurt Motor Show will reveal the latest Frankensteinian creation from the Skunkworks in Yokohama, Japan as Nissan’s Gripz Concept Crossover is rolled out for the first time.

The automotive rumor mill is guessing the Gripz might be a replacement for the Juke, but why change what’s already working well for Nissan? 

The company’s press office says the Gripz represents “a new sporty direction for a Crossover concept and was conceived to create an innovative new driving sensation.”
 

Can’t wait to get my hands on one!

Your next new automobile could be more like an automaton than you think. Volvo is among ten manufacturers which are voluntarily adopting Forward Collision Warning and Automatic Emergency Braking as standard features on their products within the next five years. General Motors is also jumping on the bandwagon in committing to calls from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Institute for Highway Safety for such improvements in automobile safety.

Volvo wants regulators to include the safety system in the 5-Star Crash Rating system that compares new cars’ relative safety rankings. GM offers the Forward Collision Alert system in 32 of its vehicles, and  in 19 also offers Automatic Emergency Braking. 

Volvo first introduced Automatic Emergency Braking on the the XC60 in 2009, and made the feature standard on all of its models in 2014. Volvo’s “Vision 2020 Statement” sets a standard of having no one killed or seriously injured in a new Volvo vehicle by 2020.

General Motors is joining the ranks of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI)—the only US automaker to be so listed. The Index grades companies for environmental, economic, and social sustainability performance and disclosure. 

Volkswagen Group is also listed in the DJSI this year, and is considered the top performer with a score of 91 out of a possible 100-points.The grading is conducted by sustainability investment firm RobeccoSAM, which recognizes companies which are best-equipped for long term success as measured against sustainability risks and opportunities. RobeccoSAM analyzed over 1,800 companies this year.

While achieving great marks for sustainability, Volkswagen also produced some winning vehicles, including a new Golf GTI to commemorate the car’s 40^th anniversary. The Golf GTI ClubSport will be introduced this week at the Frankfurt International Motor Show, with a 265 PS Special Edition.

Volkswagen says the ClubSport is the most powerful production Golf ever, with an overboost function that pushes horsepower from 265- to 290-PS for up to ten seconds. That translates into a zero-to-62/mph time of 5.9-seconds. Hence the snappy decal on the side of the car. The 6-speed automatic version promises 34.8/mpg. Those innovative Germans!

Never underestimate the value of product placement in a movie. But not just any movie. Aston Martin continues its 50-year association with the James Bond movie franchise, and is teasing us with a few scenes from the upcoming “Spectre” installment.

The YouTube clip features “Spectre” stunt driver Mark Higgins behind the wheel of an Aston Martin DB-10. His wheelwork is most impressive…if not artistic.

Aston Martin developed the DB-10 exclusively for the newest 007 film, making only ten examples to commemorate the automaker’s 50-year association with the genre. 

The first Aston Martin featured in a James Bond flick was the iconic DB-5.
“Spectre” opens November 6.

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Automotive Reporter Biz News for Wk of 8-24-15

The design team at Ford Motor Company has created a combination of beauty and brawn in the all-new 2015 Shelby GT350 Mustang that can only be described as knee-weakening. Ford’s PR peeps prefer to describe the newest pony car as “the most athletic Mustang ever.” That’s acceptable.

The Shelby GT 350 boasts a 5.2-Liter V-8 with the flat-plane crank, creating 526-horsepower and 429 pound-feet of torque, driving a 3.73 Torsen limited-slip differential, sprung on MagnaRide suspension.

That last feature you have to say in your “Dr. Evil voice.” MagnaRide.

Spoiler alert: next week I will be driving a Mustang with half the cylinders, which might seem to be a travesty on the surface. I am told it is an experience to behold. Stay tuned.

There is a shifting trend in used-car sales, with the average model getting younger—and more expensive. Edmunds.com’s most recent Used Vehicle Market Report says that’s because used car inventories are being inflated by newer off-lease vehicles and certified pre-owned (CPO) programs.

Pardon my wonkiness as I quote from the report: “Average used car prices hit a record high of $18,800 in the second quarter, up 7.6 percent — or $1,300 per vehicle — from the second quarter of 2014. Meanwhile, the average age of used cars sold in Q2 2015 was 4.5 years, down from an average of 4.9 years the same time last year.”

But there’s also more value in what you’re paying more for. Edmunds.com Director of Industry Analysis, Jessica Caldwell, says "Three-year old used cars have more bells and whistles than older used cars, and they're actually selling for less than they did just one year ago.” Caldwell says that’s in contrast to vehicles aged eight and over, whose prices are up an average of 11 percent over last year. “There's undoubtedly a growing value proposition these days in newer used cars," she says.

It’s back to school season, and for the college bound, that may mean a new(er) gently-owned hooptie. Which one is the best value? Analysts at Edmunds.com have chosen 11 standout cars and SUV’s for your consideration.

The data suggests collegiate car buyers want more than just a dependable ride. Game-day tailgate capability and smart phone connectivity are also must-have features.

“We left out ‘sensible’ used car choices like the Honda Civic, Toyota RAV4 or Ford Fusion," said James Riswick, Used Car Editor for Edmunds.com. "While these are all great options, they are generic enough to appeal to anyone, and we wanted to craft a list specifically based on what matters most to today's students."

Herewith we present Edmunds.com’s Top 11 Used Cars for College Students:

• Mazda 3 (2004-'09): $4,000-$15,000
• Honda CR-V (2002-'06): $4,900-$13,000
• Scion tC (2005-'10): $5,000-$15,000
• Acura TSX (2004-'08): $6,500-$15,500
• Ford Mustang (2005-'09): $7,000-$30,000
• Toyota Prius (2006-'09): $7,000-$15,000
• Kia Soul (2010-'13): $8,000-$17,000
• Honda Fit (2009-'13): $8,500-$18,000
• Hyundai Tucson (2010-'15): $11,000-$26,000
• Toyota FJ Cruiser (2007-'11): $11,500-$28,000
• Subaru Impreza (2012-'15): $12,900-$26,000

Nissan continues to roll out refreshed brand introductions, following up its successful 2014 Rogue and 2015 Murano. That back-to-back achievement helped drive Nissan to a record 1,269,565 units in 2014 calendar year sales—a gain of more than 12% in the United States.

2016 promises to continue the trend with Nissan’s presentation of its’ eighth-generation Nissan Maxima "4-Door Sports Car," and a Cummins diesel-powered Nissan Titan XD pickup. The new Maxima arrived at Nissan dealerships in June. The Titan XD rolls out later in the year. Nissan’s Altima and Sentra will also see significant refreshing in the 2016 model year. 

Nissan says the new Titan XD design combines the "capability of a heavy-duty hauler with the drivability and affordability of a light-duty pickup." The truck is anchored by a Cummins 5.0L V8 Turbo Diesel, rated at 310 horsepower and 555 pound feet of torque. It is mated to a heavy-duty 6-speed Aisin automatic transmission. Nissan’s gasoline-powered version of the Titan XD will come out in the Spring of 2016.

The jury is still out on what will happen to Houston’s historic Astrodome, the first enclosed stadium in the world. Down here, folks would rather tear down old buildings and put up new ones, to our cultural detriment, in my opinion. 

So I am pleased to share with you that General Motors’ historic Durant-Dort Factory One in downtown Flint, Michigan, will be converted into an archive and research center as part of a renovation project connecting the site’s  manufacturing history with ongoing developments in the automotive industry.

GM still owns the former carriage factory, and is planning to invest several million dollars to create a modern archive to house the automotive collection currently located at nearby Kettering University. 

The archive and research center will occupy the first floor of the east wing of Factory One. The second floor of the east wing will become a flexible meeting area for GM, community and educational groups to conduct STEM-related classes, seminars and  research. The high-bay area in the west wing of the facility will be renovated to house classic vehicles and other artifacts from Flint’s carriage-building era.

Located on the Flint River, Factory One got its start in 1880 as part of the Flint Cotton & Woolen Mills company. In 1886, the then-empty facility was leased by William Crapo Durant and Josiah Dallas Dort, who formed the Flint Road Cart Company.

Durant later took control of Buick Motor Company and leveraged his Durant-Dort resources to grow the fledgling automaker into one of the most successful car companies in the country. Durant used Buick’s success as the cornerstone on which he built General Motors, and, a couple of years later, he again turned to his friends from Flint’s carriage industry to form Chevrolet. 
And the rest is history.

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Automotive Reporter/Biz News Wk of 8-17-2015

When is the best time to release bad news? Friday’s…after 5p.
That’s what Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV did ahead of the weekend, announcing the recall of more than 85,000 new cars because their engines could stall.

At issue is the 2015 Chrysler 200 midsize sedan, where it’s been determined some electrical connectors were damaged. The discovery came during routine post-production testing. Chrysler says no crashes or injuries have been reported.

FCA has not yet announced an owner-notification schedule.
You can call the automaker at 800-853-1403, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's vehicle-safety hotline at 888-327-4236, or go to www.safercar.gov for more info.
That sounds like fun on a Monday.

Acura has been teasing us about three all-new NSX models, and finally showed off two of them at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, for the very first time last week. 

These are the first build-to-order vehicles for Acura. The NSX will feature plenty of factory-installed options, including carbon-fiber front, side and rear body elements, carbon-fiber engine covers, and a carbon roof.  If your model has a roof.

General Motors’ Lansing Delta Township Assembly Plant has a achieved another milestone. The automaker’s newest factory just turned out its 2-millionth vehicle—a 2016 Buick Enclave large crossover.  
 

Since starting production on May 24, 2006, the Lansing Delta Township plant has manufactured the Saturn Outlook, Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia, Acadia Denali and Buick Enclave. 

3,200 employees operate three shifts at the plant, into which GM has invested more than $580-million. It also doesn’t hurt that sales numbers for Enclave continue to swell. 2014 production was 39-percent higher than its first year of production. 

GM says it's already sold more than a half-million of the crossovers globally.

Baby, it’s hot outside.
That’s the perfect time to test Ford Motor Company’s fleet for extreme weather performance at the McKinley Climactic Laboratory at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. Only they’re dialing-down the thermostat, and testing Ford’s global prototypes for extreme cold weather performance. 

The Air Force test chamber can produce temperatures as low as -40-degrees Fahrenheit in ten-hours. The chamber can accommodate up to 75 vehicles. The practical benefit of such testing is creating a Ford F-150 Pickup truck, for example, that can become a safety cocoon for an injured employee on the frozen slopes of Alaska’s Prudhoe Bay oil field.

Ford also uses the facility to test fuel grades’ characteristics at temperatures as cold as -22 degrees. Know why Ford F-Series Super Duty engines have spark plugs with ceramic gold plugs? Not for the extra bling. Engineers discovered replacing the metallic plugs in the 6.7-liter engine enabled a quicker warm-up and more robust starts, a trick they learned in the super-cooled lab.

Speaking of cool…
How’d you like a ’55 Chevy Coupe…brand new, factory fresh?
Woody’s Hot Rodz in Bright, Indiana, can build you one—or sell you the kit—for the Tri-Five’s of Chevrolet’s glory years, 1955, 1956, and 1957.

The cars are hand crafted by a team of ten workers in Woody’s shop. The cars are powered by a 2016 Cadillac CTS 680-hp V8, running through an 8-speed automatic, with adaptive suspension. Just because the cars look like they’re from the ‘50’s doesn’t mean they have to run like they’re 60-years old!

Chris Sondles is the man behind the machines, of which he’s already sold about 125 copies. He expects demand to increase as the Tri-Five’s reach their 60^th anniversaries. 

Chris Sondles

Sondles' creations are licensed, and so come with a full warranty. He can build one for you in about six months’ time…but there’s a one-year waiting list now. Prices for the shop-built cars start at $75,000.

 
Back to the future…
Hyundai Motor America is giving the automotive press a sneak peek at its “Vision G" Concept Coupe, the automaker’s inspiration for future premium products…and it’s a dandy. 

Interestingly, Hyundai engineers centered their design around the concept of the word, “chivalry,” in crafting their dream car—meaning, the car doesn’t have to shout to be noticed.
Word.

Among the technology features in the Vision-G, a valet system that opens the car’s doors for you as you approach. 

The Vision-G would be powered by a 5.0-liter Tau V8 engine, producing 420 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 383 lb. ft. of torque at 5,000 rpm. The Tau V8 engine family has been named to Ward’s prestigious Ten Best Engines list three times.

 Listen to the Automotive Reporter Radio Show every weekend on Stitcher.com, or from our webpage.