Top Automotive News & Stories: October 1-7
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Every week we collect the best announcements and events from the world of cars. Here are the unmissable topics from October 1st to 7th.
BMW i5 leaked into patent applications
BMW made a splash with its futuristic i3 and i8 plug-in hybrids. Now, if new patent filings are to be believed, BMW is working on expanding the i range with the new i5.
The images in the applications show a vehicle that clearly matches the styling of other BMW i vehicles. It's a crossover-like four-door with BMW's signature double grille and i3-like rear suicide doors. Details have not been confirmed, but it is possible that BMW will offer an all-electric i5 in addition to the standard plug-in hybrid version.
Aimed squarely at the Tesla Model X, the i5 should provide the size, capability and performance that consumers expect from the daily driver. This is all part of BMW's strategy to become a major player in the electric vehicle market. Expect full disclosure within the next two years.
Bimmerpost was the first to break the news.
Is the $140 ultra-luxury Jeep on its way?
Jeep is best known for its utilitarian SUVs that replace earthy comforts with off-road capabilities. While the higher trim levels on some of their vehicles add leather seats and chrome details, it would be hard to argue that they are meant for luxury vehicles. However, a future model with a starting price well over $100,000 could take Jeep into the luxury SUV segment.
Designed to revive the Grand Wagoneer nameplate, the car will target rivals such as the Range Rover, BMW X5 and Porsche Cayenne. Jeep CEO Mike Manley said, "I don't think there's a price ceiling per se for Jeep... If you look at the top of the segment in the US, for me, a well-made Grand Wagoneer can compete all the way through that segment."
Jeep would have to go all out to create a car that costs three times as much as a good Grand Cherokee - no doubt it would need to put a lot more emphasis on refined luxury than off-road readiness. It is possible that the car will be built on the same platform as the Maserati Levante crossover and equipped with special engines not found in other Jeep models. What remains to be seen is whether the car will have exterior wood trim like the one that helped the original Grand Wagoneer become a classic.
Auto Express has more details.
Chevrolet unveils hydrogen military truck
The United States military is constantly looking for new technologies to help soldiers, and a new truck co-developed with Chevrolet brings hydrogen fuel cell power to the battlefield. Dubbed the Colorado ZH2, the truck looks like something straight out of a sci-fi movie and will provide military operators with numerous benefits.
The vehicle is based on the Colorado truck available to consumers, but has been heavily modified for military use. It is over six and a half feet tall, seven feet wide, and fitted with 37-inch off-road tires. The front and rear have been extensively redesigned and now feature light bars, skid plates and tow hitches to improve its rugged performance.
Most important, however, is the hydrogen fuel cell transmission it is equipped with. This allows for near-silent operation, which is critical in tactical applications, and features an export power take-off that allows auxiliary equipment to be connected to fuel cells for power. Hydrogen fuel cells emit water as exhaust, so ZH2 can also keep soldiers hydrated in remote areas. In the near future, the car will begin real tests.
Green Car Reports details the ZH2.
Henrik Fisker back in business
You may have never heard of Henrik Fisker, but you have almost certainly seen the design of his cars. He was instrumental in the development of the BMW X5, and as Design Director of Aston Martin, he wrote the beautiful DB9 and Vantage models. He also founded his own car company to create the Karma sedan, one of the world's first luxury electric sedans. Although the company went out of business in 2012, Fisker says he has been hard at work designing and building a completely new electric vehicle.
Nothing is known about the car other than a rough sketch, and Fisker promises the car will have proprietary batteries with a range of hundreds of miles, as well as better interior space than the competition. All this remains to be proven, but if Fisker continues his track record of making beautiful cars, his next product is sure to be beautiful.
Read more at Carscoops.com.
Best Electric Vehicle Sales Month
If there's any uncertainty about electric vehicles being the future, just take a look at their recent sales numbers - September 2016 set an all-time record for plug-in electric vehicles sold in a month in the United States.
Nearly 17,000 plug-ins were sold, up 67% from September's 2015 in 15,000. This number also exceeds the previous monthly record of circa 2016 7,500 in June XNUMX. The Tesla Model S and Model X were the top sellers, with about XNUMX,XNUMX units sold, a record monthly figure. sales data for those cars too.
What's more, plug-in sales are expected to improve further, with the Chevrolet Bolt and Toyota Prius Prime launching in December, so two new players in the EV game should help fully electrify our roads even faster.
Inside EVs breaks down full sales data.
Zero road deaths in 30 years?
Due to the record high rate of road traffic deaths, the NHTSA announced its ambitious goal of achieving zero deaths on US roads within 30 years. “Every death on our roads is a tragedy,” said NHTSA chief Mark Rosekind. “We can prevent them. Our commitment to zero mortality is more than just a worthy goal. This is the only acceptable target."
This will be achieved through various initiatives and campaigns. Spending resources on marketing and educating motorists about the dangers of distracted and aggressive driving will help reduce this number. Improved roads and improved truck safety regulations will also help.
According to NHTSA, human error is the cause of 94% of car accidents. Thus, completely removing the human from the driving equation will help improve safety. As such, NHTSA is implementing programs to accelerate the development of autonomous driving and autonomous vehicle technologies. While this may be disappointing news for motorists, everyone can make our roads safer.
Read the official NHTSA statement.
Review of the week
Defective Takata airbags have led to the recall of some BMW models. Around 4,000 X3, X4 and X5 SUVs must go to a local dealership to have airbags repaired with faulty welds that could cause the airbag inflator to separate from the mounting plate. The result can be a detached airbag or metal components being thrown into the driver in a crash. Airbag testing is still ongoing, so BMW drivers with affected vehicles should temporarily contact their dealer for a rental car.
Mazda is recalling over 20,000 3 Mazdas to fix their gas tanks that could catch fire. Some 2014-2016 vehicles have gas tanks that were damaged during production and normal vibrations from driving can cause the weld to fail. Doing so may allow fuel to drip onto hot surfaces, resulting in a fire. On some 2016 year old cars, poor quality control resulted in deformed gas tanks, which can also cause fuel leaks. The recall will start on November 1.
If you've ever watched a drifting competition, you've seen oversteer when the car's tail is out of the driver's steering. Generally, controlled oversteer is a desirable feature in performance cars, which makes the recall of the Porsche 243 Macan SUV a bit ironic. The anti-roll bar can fail, causing the rear of the vehicle to suddenly spin out of control. While knowing how to handle oversteer is part of being a skilled driver, it's not something you want to be surprised at in normal driving situations. Porsche doesn't know when the recall will start, so Macan drivers must hold the steering wheel with both hands until then.
Car Complaints has more information about these reviews.
