Roadkill Drag Races Coming Back for Woodward Dream Cruise

Posted on June 21, 2021 by admin

The street legal drag racing Roadkill Nights is returning this year as the traditional kick off to the Motor City’s weeklong celebration of classic cars and car culture, revolving around the Woodward Dream Cruise.

The annual ‘Roadkill Nights Powered by Dodge’ draws nearly 50,000 performance enthusiasts to street-legal drag racing on Woodward Avenue.

It features legal street drag racing, a classic and modern muscle car show, interactive experiences and activities at M1 Concourse. It is one of several events that kicks off the cruise, which occurs the following weekend.

“Roadkill Nights — legal street racing powered by Dodge — is back this summer,” said Tim Kuniskis, Dodge Brand Chief Executive Officer — Stellantis.

Emphasis on the Brotherhood of Muscle

“Our Brotherhood of Muscle spoke — screamed, actually — that they were ready for it to return, so we’re doing it. Plus, this year we’re going to take it up a notch with a TV-versus-online build-and-race challenge. The ‘build rules’ are going to be really loose, so we should see some serious hardware being built to find out who’s faster: the TV or the Internet stars,” Kuniskis said.

The muscle-car image has been built into a key part of the Dodge identify and the Roadkill even has become an integral part of the effort to build the brand’s image.

Dodge owners compete against other vehicles in drag races on Woodward Ave. at Roadkill Nights.

Unlike any other event in the world, drivers of the fastest street-legal drag cars in America will have the opportunity to drag race in front of spectators on historic Woodward Avenue as it is transformed from a street into a sanctioned, 1/8-mile drag strip, organizers said.

COVID Pandemic forced cancellation in 2020

The Roadkill event began in 2015, attracting a steadily growing list of participants as well as fans. It was canceled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But with restrictions lifting, the event is back for 2021.

Also returning for 2021 are Dodge thrill and drift rides in Challenger and Charger SRT Hellcats, where participants can go for the rides of their lives as the supercharged Hemi cuts the tires loose on the M1 Concourse skid pad and north loop portion of the track.

Other returning fan favorites include the high-octane virtual head-to-head racing in Dodge Challenger SRT Demon simulators; classic and modern muscle car show; dyno testing; “Roadkill” stunts; flamethrower, wheelstander, pro-mod exhibitions; family-friendly activities; and an eclectic array of food truck offerings (subject to change).

Thousands of Dodge and muscle car fans flocked to Pontiac, Michigan, for Roadkill Nights.

New racing format

Roadkill Nights is shifting gears this year with a new celebrity showdown format providing four popular automotive social media influencers each with a Dodge Hellcat, $10,000 in cash for car modifications and one task: build drag racing machines capable of besting Eric Malone, star of MotorTrend’s series “Fastest Cars in the Dirty South,” in a drag race.

The races and behind-the-scenes happenings will be aired as a one-hour “Roadkill Showdown Special” on MotorTrend’s streaming service and on MotorTrend TV.

“After a COVID-19 hiatus in 2020, we are proud to partner with Dodge and bring back for our fans Roadkill Nights,” said Eric Schwab, MotorTrend Group’s Group SVP, head of Revenue and Partnerships. “If you’ve ever dreamed of watching street-legal drag racing down Woodward Avenue, come to our event! We have Dodge thrill rides, a car show and street-legal drag racing. It’s going to be an absolutely epic day for anyone with a passion for cars,” he said. For those unable to attend in person, Dodge will offer a livestream feed to Roadkill Nights across a variety of channels, Stellantis representatives said.

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Highway Safety Advocates Claim Latest Transportation Legislation Too Lax

Posted on June 15, 2021 by admin

Every five years, the U.S. Congress tackles issues regarding the regulation and safety of the nation’s roadways through the Surface Transportation Act — the latest version is woefully inadequate on multiple levels contends a group of politicians and safety advocates.

The proposed Auto Safety & Surface Transportation Investment Act of 2021, introduced by Senate Commerce Committee fails to address critical areas and could roll back key regulations about the age and working hours of commercial truckers, according to safety advocates.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut), safety advocates, and families affected by truck crashes, faulty child safety seats and child hot car deaths, said during a virtual press conference the proposed legislation to address long-standing issues around the death of children in hot cars with new alarms and the failure of car seats in rear-end crashes where an occupant is thrown forward and then back with new, inexpensive fixes is not acceptable.

Cathy Chase, president of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, which pushes for tighter regulation, also said automatic emergency braking must become mandatory equipment on every vehicle sold in the United States.

With the toll from road accidents rising — 39,000 deaths and 3 million injuries last year — the Surface Transportation Bill should require vehicles to be equipped proven crash avoidance technology that can detect and respond to pedestrians, bicyclists and other vulnerable roads users with a date certain for compliance Clegg said.

Improving truck safety critical

The trucking industry is working to stifle the requirements, while carmakers are looking to protect the business they have developed by “upselling” AEB technology as part of option packages rather than making it available on every vehicle they sell, she said.

In addition, the trucking companies are pushing for longer hours and reducing the age requirement for commercial licenses to 18 from 21.

Stephen Loesche, who works on regulatory issues for Teamster Union, said the effort to increase the hours of service and lower the age of drivers increase the risk to union members. Half of the union 1.4 million members are employed as drivers and driving a truck is already the most dangerous job in America.

More than 5,000 people now die every year in car truck crashes, he said, and the younger truck drivers are six times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash. Meanwhile, the drivers of the delivery trucks do not even have to meet the physical requirements needed to quality for a Class 8 Commercial license, safety advocates note.

Driver monitoring needed

Safety advocates want vehicles to be equipped with driver monitoring systems by a date certain to prevent automation complacency and curb leading crash causes including distracted, impaired and drowsy driving

The new legislation also should require improvements to hood and bumper standards by a date certain to better protect bicyclists and pedestrians.

Expand protections for issues associated with keyless ignition switches to address rollaways and curb carbon monoxide poisoning. The legislation also requires and update safety databases and an overdue update of the New Car Assessment to Program (NCAP) to adequately address the safety of VRUs. It also should prevent vehicles with unrepaired safety recalls from being sold, leased or loaned.

Honda Teases Next-Gen 2022 Civic Hatchback

Posted on June 10, 2021 by admin

The recently revealed Honda Civic sedan is set to get some company, the automaker set to unveil the next-generation Civic hatchback later this month.

The new Civic will make its global debut on June 23 at 9 p.m. EDT during the Civic Tour “Remix” virtual concert that will be livestreamed on YouTube.

If you squint and apply a little imagination, you can merge this spy shot with the teaser photo. (Photo credits: CarScoops)

But we’re getting a sense of what’s in store thanks to the teaser the Japanese automaker released today. And, beyond the obvious differences in a five-door layout, the 2022 Civic Hatchback appears to pick up on the same, basic mantra of the sedan with a design language Honda has described as “simple,” “clean” and “modern.”

“The Civic Hatchback builds on the sporty and youthful design of the 11th generation Civic Sedan while showcasing European-inspired exterior styling, enhanced five-door versatility, and an available, fun-to-drive 6-speed manual transmission,” Honda said in a statement released today.

Lots in common

One safely can bet the new Civic hatchback will share plenty of new technologies, both for infotainment and safety, with the latest Honda sedan.

The interior of the Civic hatchback is likely to mirror that of the Civic sedan, which debuted earlier.

Based on the teaser — and recent spy shots — we can expect the Civic Hatchback to pick up on key sedan design cues. That includes a “thin and light” body design that adopts a low hood and front fenders. The nose also features a small grille above the front bumper, a larger one below, giving the new Civic sedan a more planted feel — something one can expect to carry over. Subtle flaring around the wheels yield a more aggressive and premium feel, or so Honda designers contend. The windshield pillars, meanwhile, have been moved rearward two inches, the glass flowing into a coupe-like roofline that tapers into a short rear deck.

Even with the windshield pushed back, the new cabin offers reasonable space for both front and back passengers, especially considering competitors in the compact segment. The low instrument panel is accented by a honeycomb mesh and the cabin adopts more premium materials than the outgoing sedan.

We also expect to see the two models to largely align on technology. The sedan’s base trim now gets a 7-inch color touchscreen for an infotainment system that comes with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There’s an upgrade to a high-definition, 9-inch touchscreen that is paired with wireless versions of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The 2022 Civic sedan became the first to offer a 12-speaker Bose premium sound system, and Touring models come with Qi wireless smartphone charging.

Si and Type-R also in the works

Expect to see the 11^th-generation Civic hatchback appear in a variety of different configurations, including Si and Type-R performance packages.

The new Civic sedan’s about to get a stablemate with the debut of the hatchback later this month.

In the base trim, Honda will offer at least one of the two 4-cylinder powertrains now available in the Civic sedan:

A naturally aspirated 2.0-liter package making 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque and paired with an updated CVT;
The other option is an updated 1.5-liter turbo-4 now making 180 hp and 177 lb-ft, up 6 and 15, respectively.

The Type-R not only will get a boost in power but Honda has confirmed a manual gearbox will remain on the option checklist.

U.S. production planned

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback will be produced at the automaker’s plant in Greenburg, Indiana, marking the first time it’s been assembled in the U.S. While the ongoing semiconductor shortage is impacting industry production plans, the 5-door currently is scheduled to reach American showrooms later this year.

We’ll have more to report on the 2022 Civic Hatchback later this month.

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Ford May Sales Rise Due to SUVs

Posted on June 3, 2021 by admin

Most automakers posting May sales results enjoyed massive upticks compared to their year-ago results — except Ford Motor Co.

The Bronco Sport helped the company’s portfolio of SUVs keep its sales numbers positive in May.

Ford saw sales rise just 4.1% as inventories on its highly profitable trucks were very low, while Hyundai, Honda and others revealed triple-digit jumps for some vehicles and double-digit overall increases. No automaker has seemingly been hurt by the ongoing semiconductor shortage like Ford.

In fact, its retail sales results — excluding its fleet sales — were down 11.2% in May, a reflection of just how much Ford dealers are struggling to meet demand for the brand’s F-Series pickups. To be fair, CEO Jim Farley has repeatedly warned the second quarter would be the company’s worst due to the chip issue.

“Ford sales were up 4.1% on tight inventories, while year-to-date sales increased 11.3 percent,” said Andrew Frick, vice president, Ford Sales U.S. and Canada, in a statement. “Ford and its dealers are working harder than ever to match the right mix of inventory to best meet the needs of our customers at the local level.

“We have been receiving a massive number of reservations for our all-electric F-150 Lightning over the last two weeks — totaling over 70,000 trucks. Ford brand SUVs had their best May sales in 18 years, while Lincoln SUVs posted a new May record.”

SUVs carrying the company

2021 Lincoln Corsair Reserve front — Lincoln’s SUV, including the all-new Corsair, posted their best May since 2003.

The travails of truck inventories are well known. Fortunately, the company’s SUVs picked up the sales slack in May showing a 48.6% increase in total sales compared to last May and 27.9% on the retail level — again hurt by the chip problem.

Despite that difference, it was the company’s best May sales result for SUVs at the retail level since 2003. Ford brand SUVs were up 51.8% over a year ago on new product introductions of Bronco Sport and Mustang Mach-E, along with the continued momentum of Escape, Explorer and Expedition.

The Bronco Sport and Escape performed well in the highly competitive small SUV segment, officials noted. Ford’s May retail share is up almost 4 full percentage points in the small SUV segment, with sales of both Bronco Sport and Escape expanding their sales within two very different customer groups. Escape sales were up 51.4%, while the majority of Bronco Sport customers are coming from outside the Ford brand.

Lincoln SUVs did the Ford offerings one better, producing a record result last month. Lincoln SUV sales were up across the entire lineup in May with a total of 7,871 SUVs sold – up 24.3 percent. Perhaps just as impressively, the entire brand was up 5% and is up 15.3% for the year thus far. Those numbers are impacted by the massive drop in MKZ and Continental sales, which are no longer produced and dealers are trying to clear out remaining inventory.

2021 Mustang Mach-E — The Mustang Mach-E is part of the reason why the company’s electrified vehicle sales were up 184% last month.

EVs going crazy

A Mustang Mach-E sits for just 10 days once it gets to a dealer and many are selling upon arrival. Mach-E sales totaled 1,945 in May, and 10,510 year-to-date.

The Mustang Mach-E is performing so well, the company is building more Mach-E’s than the original gas-powered pony car, according to Bloomberg. Ford’s plant in Mexico has produced 27,816 electric Mustang Mach-E models in 2021 while the Flat Rock, Michigan facility building the Mustang has churned out 26,089 vehicles, according to production data the automaker released Thursday.

Erich Merkle, Ford’s sales analyst, told Bloomberg that Mustang production in Flat Rock has been hampered by the chip shortage. However, Farley told a group of journalists after the introduction of the F-150 Lightning the Mach-E is outperforming expectations and its completely sold out of its initial production run.

Strong Mach-E sales doesn’t mean that the Mustang has suffered. The all-new Mustang Mach 1 helped lift performance Mustang sales to more than 13% of retail sales, compared to 10% last year, the news agency noted.

Overall, Ford electrified vehicle sales skyrocketed 184% last month, some of which was driven by the aforementioned Mach-E, but it wasn’t alone, officials noted. F-150 PowerBoost totaled 2,852 for the month, Escape electrified sales totaled 3,617 – up 125% over last year. Explorer Hybrid sales also had a big increase of 132% compared with a year ago on sales of 1,156 SUVs. The future looks bright on that front as well. The previously mentioned F-150 Lightning secured more than 70,000 deposits since its debut about two weeks ago.

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GM Looking at New Vehicle Market: The Moon

Posted on May 26, 2021 by admin

General Motors is looking to go to the moon again.

GM Lockheed Martin lunar terrain vehicle — A new generation of lunar rovers under development by Lockheed Martin and GM could be used by Artemis astronauts in 2024.

The Detroit-based auto company, which produced the lunar rover for the Apollo 15 mission to the moon, is partnering with Lockheed Martin to develop and produce a “lunar terrain vehicle,” or LTV, for use by for NASA’s Artemis program.

The goal is to design and build a vehicle that allows astronauts explore more of the moon’s surface “than ever before,” according to GM officials. The LTV is just the first of several types of vehicles needed to help get astronauts across the moon’s surface.

“General Motors made history by applying advanced technologies and engineering to support the Lunar Rover Vehicle that the Apollo 15 astronauts drove on the Moon,” said Alan Wexler, senior vice president of Innovation and Growth at GM, in a statement.

“Working together with Lockheed Martin and their deep-space exploration expertise, we plan to support American astronauts on the Moon once again.”

EV expertise + experience = LTV job

NASA astronauts at lunar South Pole — NASA needs a vehicle capable of traveling the lunar South Pole.

GM enjoys the advantage of having done this before. It aided NASA in the development of the agency’s Apollo Moon program, having developed, tested, integrated and produced the inertial guidance and navigation systems for the series, in particular Apollo that put astronauts on the moon for the first time in 1969.

Additionally, it helped to develop the Apollo Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV) for Apollo 15-17. The all-electric LRV never drove farther away from NASA’s based than 4.7 miles during its time on the moon’s surface. Fortunately, GM’s electric vehicle technology has advanced substantially since then.

The new vehicles aim to travel “significantly farther distances,” including the moon’s South Pole, which is cold and dark with severely rugged terrain. The vehicles will also need to be able to haul plenty of equipment in addition to people. NASA, according to reports, is looking for a vehicle to be able to travel about 600 miles on a charge and about 6,000 miles in a 42-day period.

The GMC Hummer SUT, which is set to debut later this year, recently went through some extreme winter testing, which may lend the company’s engineers some much-needed insight into how their current battery technology will fare in the far-colder reaches of space.

Hyundai TIGER X-1 on the moon — A rendering shows how the Hyundai TIGER X-1 could maneuver across the moon.

Not the only automaker with lunar plans

GM isn’t the only auto company working on lunar vehicles, in fact, it may be described as the latest to prepare a vehicle to be driven on the moon. Earlier this year, Hyundai unveiled its autonomous, all-electric TIGER X-1, which it claimed could be used on the moon.

However, Toyota’s been working diligently with the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, to develop a new lunar rover for its moon mission in 2030. The automaker started the project in 2019 and proceeded quickly enough that it expressed hope that NASA would use its vehicle for the 2024 mission to the moon.

The Lunar Cruiser, as Toyota calls it, is a six-wheeled, hydrogen-powered rover, and it made it clear that while the project began as a JAXA-inspired vehicle, it hoped the U.S. space agency would take notice.

“We have now found a new ‘road,’ which is the moon. And for this new road, we will be able to make a new vehicle,” Takao Sato, project head of Toyota’s Lunar Exploration Mobility Works and a former interior design engineer who worked on the Prius hybrid, told Automotive News. “This is a dream for us.”

Toyota is developing a lunar land rover that the company hopes NASA will use for a 2024 lunar mission.

Audi also prepared a remote-controlled buggy to be used on the moon in 2016. The German maker supported a team of scientists chasing the Xprize, hoping to launch their mobile lab atop an Indian rocket. The goal was to have it travel nearly a quarter-million miles before landing on the Taurus Littrow Valley — which just happened to be the last place an Apollo moon mission landed nearly 50 years ago.

GM’s first lunar models

The company’s first LRVs were battery-powered four-wheelers that they stripped down as much as possible to permit them to be loaded onto a Saturn V rocket for launch. They also folded so they could be loaded in the cargo back of the Apollo mission’s Lunar Excursion Module, or LEM.

Power was provided by what was, for the time, a highly sophisticated 36-volt silver-zinc potassium hydroxide batteries. They weren’t rechargeable, which didn’t matter on a one-way mission like Apollo — that’s likely to change this time around. The key was the battery pack’s durability in the moon’s devastating environment. Maximum range was 57 miles, though the longest distance driven was 22.3 miles on Apollo 17 – with the astronauts never getting more than 4.7 miles from their LEM base.

The first vehicles were somewhat purpose-built models, but GM is expected to develop — in concert with Lockheed Martin — a variety of vehicles. Autonomous, self-driving systems will allow the rovers to prepare for human landings, provide commercial payload services, and enhance the range and utility of scientific payloads and experiments.Lockheed, which will be leading this effort, has produced vehicles used for every Mars mission thus far, including the 11 spacecraft that has carried the rovers used on the Martian surface to the Red Planet.

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CEO Tavares Giving 14 Stellantis Brands a Chance to Prove Their Worth

Posted on May 17, 2021 by admin

The merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and the PSA Group created an automotive powerhouse now called Stellantis, but it’s also produced a jumble of 14 individual brands. And CEO Carlos Tavares says each of them will have to prove their worth — though he’s giving them time to do so.

Stellantis sign Auburn Hills — Stellantis’ North America offices in Auburn Hills, Michigan, house Chrysler, Dodge and Ram — which may not make the final cut.

Even before the merger there was widespread speculation that some FCA brands might be on the chopping block due to declining sales. But the merger adds a layer of complexity, especially at a time when Stellantis must pick up the pace of its electrification and mobility services programs.

As an executive known for moving quickly, Tavares seems to be in no rush, however. Instead, he appears to be willing to let all 14 of the Stellantis brands lay out plans and prove they’ll work.

Showing the love

“For the time being, we love them all,” the Portugese-born executive said during a webinar sponsored by Automotive News.

“Each (individual brand) CEO has 10 years for which I am telling him or her that he has the funding, the ability to build his long-term business plan and plan for the different product launches and technologies to make the brand grow or rebound and create value for the company.”

Smoke and mirrors won’t help the Dodge brand make the cut in the long term.

Post-merger, Stellantis has more individual automotive brands than any other company, even Volkswagen’s dozen. The list includes a handful of truly global marques, such as Jeep, but most focus on specific markets or regions. Ram is largely limited to the Americas, while Peugeot and Citroen abandoned North America back in the 1990s. Some, like Jeep, have posted dramatic growth in recent years. Others, including both Fiat and Chrysler, are struggling.

A troubled future for two namesakes

In fact, the two namesake Fiat Chrysler marques have been teetering on the edge almost since the day FCA was formed a decade ago. Former CEO Sergio Marchionne had largely shifted focus — and resources — to two Italian brands, Alfa Romeo and Maserati. But the grand plan the late Marchionne laid out has yet to pay off despite billions of dollars spent on new products.

When the FCA-PSA merger plans were announced in 2019 many analysts thought that a retrenchment was inevitable. And they pointed to Tavares, who was designated to become Stellantis CEO, as someone unwilling to tolerate ongoing losses.

2021 Chrysler Pacifica Limited AWD S front — The Pacifica is currently one of only two offerings from the once iconic Chrysler brand.

But the 62-year-old executive has also shown a willingness to give struggling brands a second chance. That became apparent when PSA completed the acquisition of long-struggling Opel-Vauxhall in 2017. The German-based manufacturer had lost billions under the ownership of General Motors during the prior two decades. Yet Opel wound up back in the black within the first year it was run by Tavares.

By the brand

Whether he can pull off a similar turnaround with the other Stellantis brands is far from certain. Fiat and Chrysler are clearly going to be the most trouble, according to analysts. The U.S. marque now offers only two models, the aging 300 sedan and the Pacifica minivan, not much on which to base a brand. Fiat’s U.S. turnaround fell flat and it is barely hanging on there. It’s continued to lose ground in its home European market, as well.

Dodge isn’t in much better shape. It does have a loyal following for its Charger and Challenger muscle cars, as well as the Durango SUV. But it will have to adapt to a world in which electric drivers, rather than supercharged Hellcat V-8s, rule the road.

2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4xe white climbing — Jeep’s new plug-in hybrid only continues to expand the brand’s global popularity, making it virtually assured of surviving long term.

Alfa and Maserati are still works in progress but have yet to deliver the sort of sales and earnings numbers Marchionne predicted at an FCA investors seminar shortly before his untimely death in July 2018. Both brands are making major changes to their product programs, among other things, increasing focus on electrification.

Only Jeep and Ram, of all the FCA brands, have a strong and clearly identified path laid out for them. But both must also adapt to an electrified future.

Europe has its own issues

The French Stellantis brands appear to be a bit better positioned than their Italian and American counterparts, but Peugeot, Citroen and DS have their own challenges, especially when it comes to entrenching themselves in China, the world’s largest automotive market. And, shortly after the FCA-PSA merger was completed this year, Tavares called off plans to return Peugeot to the American market.

Stellantis instantly became the world’s fourth-largest automaker based on vehicle sales once the deal was completed. But it lags behind its three largest competitors, Volkswagen Group, Toyota and the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, in some key categories. That includes not only a weak presence in China, but also a slow push into both battery and autonomous vehicle technologies.

It appears that Tavares is looking to give each Stellantis brand enough time to define the path forward, rather than racing to cut them out of the family.

Aston Martin’s New CEO Takes the Wheel

Posted on May 14, 2021 by admin

Having been owned by any number of automakers and industrialists, Aston Martin Lagonda is once more getting a new lease of life.

The crisis-prone automaker barely skirted bankrupt for the eighth time last year, thanks to a cash infusion by Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll and an increase in Daimler AG’s equity stake to 20%, up from 2.6 percent.

New Aston CEO Tobias Moers came over after leading Mercedes-AMG.

This was followed by the August arrival of the firm’s newest CEO, Tobias Moers, the former chief executive officer of Mercedes-AMG.

A new chief executive and new goals

Moers came to Aston Martin Lagonda after more than 25 years at Daimler AG, most recently as Chairman of the Management Board, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Technical Officer of Mercedes-AMG. During his tenure, Mercedes-AMG more than doubled its product portfolio and quadrupled the number of AMG units sold as part of a financially successful brand management strategy.

The move comes as Stroll, now Aston Martin Lagonda Executive Chairman, is looking to attain annual sales of 10,000 units, and achieve earnings of 500 million pounds, or $704.6 million, on annual revenues of 2 billion pounds, or $2.8 billion, by 2025. For now, merely securing a profit would be notable.

Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll bailed out Aston Martin and is now executive chairman.

Aston Martin posted a first-quarter loss of 42.2 million pounds, or $59 million; that’s down from the 110-million-pound loss, or $153 million, from the same period last year. But revenue increased to 244 million pounds, or $340 million, a 153% increase year-over-year.

Action plan

The improving financial picture comes as Moers puts his plans into action by selling excess inventory, simplifying production, revising its product strategy, and entering into a technology agreement with Mercedes-AMG, which already supplies engines to Aston Martin, a point of contention with some brand enthusiasts, even though Aston Martin hasn’t designed and built its own engines from scratch since the 1960s.

“It is our obligation to fix the business and the company to get on a much more efficient level to produce and manufacture cars,” Moers said, during a recent interview with TheDetroitBureau.com from the company’s Gaydon, Warwickshire headquarters.

“A company like us, you cannot run your own electrical architecture, it’s impossible. You’re not going to be able to be pay the bill for that. A Vantage could give a good margin, but we have to fix the business around us.”

This snarling V-12 puts out 1,000 horsepower and 11,000 rpms and it powers the new Aston Martin Valkyrie.

Moers is looking for the company’s production to be driven by demand, rather than wholesale supplying dealers with cars. “We started into the year close to 3,000 cars in stock,” Moers said, “and this is not good.”

This explains why Moers will be keeping its two production facilities, in Gaydon, England and Saint Athan, Wales, but closing Gaydon’s paint shop. Saint Athan’s shop is new and can handle 10,000 units a year — more than enough to accommodate the 4,000 vehicles a year Moers sees as the brand’s natural demand.

Looking ahead

Beyond what’s on the ground, Moers is streamlining future products by cancelling the hybrid V-6 planned for the Valhalla mid-engine supercar, and replacing it with a Mercedes-AMG hybrid electrified powertrain that will produce 1,000 horsepower.

The Valkyrie, powered by a Cosworth-built V-12, is expected later this year, along with a mild hybrid version of the DBX, followed next year by a high-performance variant. And look for the Vantage, DB11 and DBS to receive mid-cycle facelifts. Further out, the company is planning to produce a fully electric Aston Martin, as well as vehicles based on the DBX platform.

The Aston Martin Valkyrie takes the British brand into a new realm of performance.

“It is not a challenge to bring all these products to life, that’s not the challenge,” Moers said. “But rebuild the brand and get a clear definition of what Aston Martin stands for? That’s one of the challenges, but we have a clear plan to do that.”

The new CEO said that the company’s IPO amidst crumbling finances caused consumers to doubt the firm’s continued existence, which is now assured, he said.

“The ultimate goal for us is turning Aston Martin into a self-sufficient company, a self-maintaining company. You can see the strength of the brand. Everybody knows what Aston Martin is; but what does Aston Martin stand for? For sure we could be Ferrari competitors, but I don’t want to talk about being a competitor. We have to define our own path.”

However, that path doesn’t include a takeover by Daimler.

“There is no hidden agenda. I’m not here because they’re going to the buy whole company; that’s not the reason I’m here,” Moers said. “There are some cars out there which we count as a true competitor; their life is a bit too easy at the moment.”

Look for that to change.

Stratospheric Values for Used Cars May Mean Now is the Time to Buy a New Vehicle

Posted on May 6, 2021 by admin

The trade-in value of cars sky high right now — something for consumers who are considering getting a new vehicle to think about.

Used car values are at unprecedented highs making now a good time to buy a new vehicle.

According to Kelley Blue Book, thanks to a shortage of new-car inventory caused by, among other things, the ongoing semiconductor shortage coming at a time when consumer demand for new cars is growing, used-car trade-in values are better than they’ve been in years.

Kelley’s figures show used-car prices are 18% higher than a year ago, said Kelley spokeswoman Brenna Bueller.

That’s quite an advantage enjoyed by consumers who are also facing higher new-car prices. Simply put, vehicles that kept 55% of the original value are now going for 60% or 65%. Kelley figures indicate that these values are being driven by a relative lack on used vehicles in the marketplace.

Fewer used cars available

The rise is simple supply and demand economics. There are about 2.34 million used cars available in the U.S. While that sounds like a lot, it’s about 530,000 vehicles fewer that just a year ago, according to data from vAuto.

auto shipping new york — Production levels are down, which drives used car prices up.

And that number is about 430,000 less than during the same time in 2019.

Kelley analysts claim these numbers present a big opportunity for people thinking of selling or trading in their current vehicles.

“There has never been a much better time to sell or trade in your car than right now during this strong seller’s market,” said Matt DeLorenzo, senior managing editor for Kelley Blue Book. “Dealerships are seeking more used-car inventory, and prices are reaching sky high.

“If you’re in a position to sell, it’s a great time to command top dollar for your old car. And if you’re trading in your vehicle to purchase a new one, the increased value of your used car will help take some of the sting out of the higher price you’re likely to pay when purchasing a car in these market conditions.”

Consumer leverage

Full-size pickups may be hard to find exactly the way a buyer wants one — and they’re pricey.

All this gives consumers who want to buy a new vehicle a bigger advantage.

Prices of new vehicles are high right now. In fact, Edmunds.com analysts noted that 12.7% of all new vehicle buyers in April, paid more than the sticker price for their vehicle — the highest number the organization’s seen since it started recording the data in 2002.

Thanks to COVID and the chip shortage, the supply on dealers’ lots is expected to remain low, keeping prices high. According to Edmunds data, new vehicle inventory at dealerships nationwide was down 48% at the end of April compared to a year ago: Inventory of trucks was down by 64%, SUVs by 44% and passenger cars by 42%.

Ford and General Motors officials warned during their recent earnings calls that the second quarter would likely be the most difficult of the year due to the chip shortage. This is going to test the resourcefulness of the most dogged buyer.

“At the rate we’re going, it’s going to be a lot tougher for car shoppers to find exactly what they want this summer, so doing extra research online before you even set foot in the dealership is highly recommended,” said Ivan Drury, Edmunds’ senior manager of insights. “You might pay above list price and drive a bit farther to get the car that you want, but if you know you’re going to need a new vehicle in the next few months, definitely pull the trigger now before this situation gets any worse.”

Production cuts at places like Ford’s Chicago assembly plant due to the chip shortage may crimp inventory levels.

But, as Winston Churchill once said, all things are in motion all the time.

Change is coming — it always does

But things will change. Those almost-completed vehicles sitting in automakers’ storage areas awaiting computer chips will eventually be completed.

Then consumers will see a different situation, particularly OEMs with plenty of product they will want to move. So buyers who, right now, are considering good used cars — something they won’t normally do — will go back to looking only at new vehicles.

Among the factors that will affect future demand is the COVID vaccination rate. As more people get vaccinated, more people will go out and about to buy new cars. Add to that government stimulus money. This will have an effect on the relative value of used cars in the marketplace.But knowledge is power. So before buying a new vehicle, Kelley analysts urge consumers to take the time to find out just what their current vehicles are worth in this particular time and place. Fortunately, there are resources available online, including Kelley’s own Blue Book website.

For GREAT deals on a new or used Chevrolet check out George Chevrolet TODAY!

Q&A: Green Car Pioneer Ron Cogan Offers Sage Insights

Posted on May 3, 2021 by admin

Green Car Journal Publisher Ron Cogan at the 2020 Green Car Awards. He’s been covering the shift to environmentally friendly vehicles for three decades.

The automobile has transformed we live, work and play. Unfortunately, it’s also had a seriously detrimental impact on Planet Earth. And now, as it becomes more crucial to address issues like climate change, the automobile is in the crosshairs.

That’s a message many have come to just lately. Not Ron Cogan. The veteran automotive journalist was among the first to recognize the need to clean up the car, in 1992 launching Green Car Journal. Where some have focused exclusively on electrified vehicles, pure battery-electric models, in particular, Cogan and his magazine have looked at all the various green car technologies that have come — and, in many cases, gone — during the past three decades.

The latest issue of Green Car Journal focuses specifically on battery-electric vehicles. But, as is Cogan’s style, it takes a pragmatic, even somewhat skeptical, look at this potentially game-changing technology, recognizing there are still many challenges to be overcome before BEVs can clearly replace the time-tested internal combustion engine.

Cogan spoke to TheDetroitBureau.com about his years covering the green car world and what he sees coming in the years ahead.

Cogan’s enjoyed a front-row seat, watching and writing about the shift from ICE-powered vehicles to electrified models in the U.S.

TheDetroitBureau: These days, everyone is writing about electric vehicles but you’ve been at this for a long time, haven’t you? And don’t you take something of a broader look when it comes to environmentally friendly vehicles?

Ron Cogan: Green Car Journal, which launched in 1992, has been all about options, everything that’s happening in the green space, whether it’s methanol, ethanol and natural gas, even high fuel-efficiency gasoline. Now, there’s a huge push towards electrification. It wasn’t our call to tell people what to drive. With our 30^th birthday coming up we wanted to let people read different opinions from industry leaders.

TDB: We now have General Motors CEO Mary Barra setting a transition to all-electric vehicles and announcing a second battery plant. Is this the year of the tipping point for battery-electric vehicles?

Cogan: I would agree there’s a tipping point going on in the sense that there’s a major commitment by a lot of automakers. It’s gone beyond lip service. For the industry, the tipping point is here. The question is whether it is a consumer tipping point yet. Only so many people are willing to step up to pure electric vehicles. More see a hybrid as the way to go because it’s so seamless, and some to plug-in hybrids. But have we reached a tipping point for consumers? I’m not so sure.

Cogan notes that hybrids provide a level of convenience that pure EVs cannot.

TDB: Yet BEVs do seem to be gaining a lot of momentum.

Cogan: Well, the range issues is being overcome to a large degree, But even with 250 miles, on a long trip you have to plan ahead (to find places to charge), which is why I think plug-in hybrids are going to be pretty huge. When you can’t plug in you’re not limited, so I think that category is really going to expand. With a plug-in you can do everyday driving in electric but switch to internal combustion when you have to go farther. I think it’s a win-win. And it will get more people into buying electric vehicles.

TDB: I find that the best way to promote electric vehicles is to get people into electric vehicles. They’re often surprised by the performance, for one thing.

Cogan: Yeah, today’s electric vehicles are pretty amazing given what they offer — everything a combustion vehicle can offer and more. The launch in an electric vehicle can be pretty exciting and some companies, like Tesla, are keying in on that, talking about how they can beat a Ferrari on track and all that. I think that’s surprising a lot of people.

Cogan is quick to note that EVs are not the only way to improve the efficiency of vehicles. His publication’s honored several diesels.

TDB: I have more and more people asking if this is the right time to buy an electric vehicle. Many worry that, like with an iPhone, if they buy today something better will soon come out and they’ll regret it. What would you tell them?

Cogan: The technology, the range, all of that will improve over time, as will the cost which will continue to go down incrementally. So, it’s a tough question. If you find the right vehicle that appeals to you, it makes sense, go ahead and buy the vehicle. There are some great choices out there now and there are going to be more coming up. The jump to 250 miles (which most new BEVs are offering) is huge and there are going to be more and more charging stations coming online. True, the nature of it is that there’s always going to be something better. But do you never buy an electric vehicle because of that?

TDB: Doesn’t that make an argument for leasing, rather than buying? You can move to something newer and better in a few years — and not worry about trade-in values.

Cogan: I think leasing is the ideal way to go with electric vehicles. It means you don’t have to take as much of a risk. You know what your payments are. You know when you’re going to turn it in. And then, you can move on to the next generation of electric vehicles. Leasing takes the risk out.

Green Car Publisher Ron Cogan, Chevy Marketing Director Steve Mojoras and the 2016 Volt, which was honored by the Green Car Awards.

TDB: Let’s talk about batteries — in particular, next-generation batteries. Honda, Ford and others are all talking about solid-state batteries (which supposedly will be lighter, deliver longer range and shorter charging times and even reduce the risk of fire). Are they real? And will they live up to expectations?

Cogan: It seems that if solid-state comes close to all the promises it would put BEVs over the top, making all the difference in the world. Solid-state, from what we hear, is the ideal technology.

TDB: What would you estimate will be the BEV share of the market by 2030? And could it be even bigger than people are forecasting now?

Cogan: It’s tough to make a prediction, and I try to avoid that. But automakers and other interests are pushing for them and there’s a lot of interest in setting up a nationwide rapid charging network. All of that takes us in the direction where we know there’s going to be significantly more electric vehicles sold by then. But many things could influence the fate of gasoline vehicles. How’s the price of gas? If gas prices stay low there’ll be less incentive for electric vehicles. Technology will influence things. A recession could, as well. Legislation clearly will have an influence, especially if it’s a disincentive to drive on gasoline.

Honda has been at the forefront of fuel-cell vehicles with the Clarity.

TDB: On the subject of politics, the Biden administration wants to have 500,000 charging stations in place by 2030. Could that mean a faster growth rate for electric?

Cogan: If we get the range to drive on battery like you would on gasoline and you have a network of rapid chargers, suddenly, your functionality is increased exponentially. But there’s no way yet to know if the government is going to create (that public charging network). Administrations change. Agendas change. So, I don’t put stock into what you can count on as far as legislation matters.

TDB: But the Biden administration is clearly making a lot of proposals to promote electric vehicles. Do you like what you’re seeing?

Cogan: Yeah, as far as I can tell. I mean, we’re going to see how this all unfolds. This administration has a more proactive agenda for environmental issues in general and clean cars, specifically, than the previous administration. But I have to say you can’t always count on that. Back under the Obama administration, he wanted a million electric vehicles by 2015. It was never going to happen because there weren’t enough vehicles to make it happen. (But) I look at all of these things (Biden is proposing) as positive … a direction that seems to make sense for electrified vehicles.

Cogan drove a GM EV1 for a full year.

TDB: You started publishing Green Car Journal in 1992. Looking back on the last three decades, what were biggest surprises, the things you didn’t count on early on?

Cogan: One of the milestones was the debut of the GM Impact prototype and then the actual production of the GM EV1, I drove one of those for a year. It was an amazing car to be in on the evolution of electric vehicles. It was also interesting to note how hydrogen was big and then (see automakers) backpedaling, Now they’re interested in hydrogen again. It’s gaining momentum again.

One of the (other) things that surprises me is that we’re seeing such a push for electrification, at the extreme high end of both luxury vehicles and sports cars and exotics.

TDB: To wrap up, is the age of the internal combustion engine coming to an end?

Cogan: I don’t think you can discount internal combustion because it keeps getting better and better. And I don’t think you can discount hybrids and plug-in hybrids and focus just on battery-electric vehicles. Those are all a big part of the solution. It may have narrowed from when we started publishing. It’s no longer really about ethanol and natural gas and propane. It’s really about electrification and significantly more efficient internal combustion engines — and a combination of the two. It’s going to be even more exciting in the years ahead seeing how it will play out.

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SEC Investigating VW Due to the “Voltswagen” Stunt

Posted on April 30, 2021 by admin

The “Voltswagen” April Fool’s Day prank has led to an investigation by the SEC.

What started out as a “humorous” advertising and marketing ploy could land German automaker Volkswagen in serious trouble with the federal government.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is apparently looking into VW’s “Voltswagen” marketing stunt to determine if it hurt company stock prices and may have broken any U.S. securities laws, according to German news outlet Der Spiegel.

The incident in question dates back to March 29. As a sort of early April Fool’s Day prank (and marketing ploy), VW “accidentally” released a rough draft of a press release declaring the company was going to change its name to “Voltswagen” as part of a larger effort to promote its ever-growing line-up of electric vehicles (EVs).

This action was picked up by the worldwide automotive press and on March 30 VW issued an official press release to several news outlets, including the Associated Press, confirming the leaked statement from the day before.

This action resulted in VW’s stock price going up. At one point it was 12.5% above its price before the whole incident.

SEC looking at jump in stock price

VW of America President Scott Keogh took responsibility for the poorly received April Fools’ prank that wasn’t on April 1.

This is what caught the attention of the SEC, taking what many considered a fairly unfunny publicity ruse to a possible federal offense.

After the April Fool’s stunt failed in the eyes of the media and the public, VW issued a press statement saying the releases were actually part of a larger tradition in which companies often issue prank statements.

This one just meant to also focus the world’s attention on VW’s growing EV portfolio.

But public statements that affect stock prices usually don’t get an “April Fools” immunity. An SEC investigation could result in charges against the company.

Several news organizations, including The New York Times and Reuters, have asked for a comment from VW. So far, the company has declined to issue one.

Just one of many VW legal scandals

This is not the first time VW has gotten into trouble for the way it conducts its business.

Oh those wacky Germans!! As quickly as it got here, VW took it away: Voltswagen is the company that never was.

In October 2015, as Volkswagen struggled to deal with its diesel emissions scandal, new data raised questions about whether the automaker properly reported death and injury claims to U.S. regulators during the past decade.

A study by the financial advisory firm Stout Risius Ross Inc., found that Volkswagen of America reported nine times fewer deaths and injuries than the average of the 11 largest automakers operating in the U.S. market. Significantly, VW reported less than half as many incidents as either Fiat Chrysler or Honda, both of which have been fined for underreporting their own death and injury data.

Back in September 2015, the EPA accused the German maker of using a so-called “defeat devices,” software designed to fool government emissions tests, on a variety of luxury models from the Audi and Porsche brands. The feds charged VW took steps to cover up excess emissions on 482,000 vehicles sold in the U.S. during a 7-year period.

The end result was VW paying billions of dollars in fines to various governments around the world. The company also faced numerous consumer lawsuits that further cost the company money.

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