Search the Community
Showing results for tags 'plans'.
Found 238 results
-
Industry News: PSA Group Has 15 States As Possible Entry Points For Return To America
William Maley posted a topic in Industry News
PSA Group has been hard at work on its plan to return to the U.S. by 2026. They already have a brand chosen that will lead the launch (bur aren't saying if it will be Citroen, DS, Peugeot, or the recently acquired Opel/Vauxhall) and has open their U.S. headquarters in Georgia. The next step is figuring out where they'll begin selling vehicles. Larry Dominique, CEO of PSA Group North America told reporters that he has his eyes on 15 states to launch. Among the states mentioned include, Arizona California Florida Georgia Illinois Maryland Massachusetts New Hampshire New Jersey New York North Carolina Texas Virginia Washington "Those states are of the most interest to me at this point in time because they're high volume and import receptive," Dominique told Automotive News. But there is an elephant in the room concerning PSA's plan, tariffs. As we have been reporting for the past couple of months, the U.S. Commerce Department is conducting an investigation into imported cars and car parts as a matter of national security. This could result in vehicles being hit with a 25 percent tariff. “Tariffs are on our minds. Tariffs impact how fast and at what price point we import vehicles into the U.S. I’m crossing my fingers," said Dominique. According to Bloomberg, PSA Group could look into entering the Canadian market first and play the waiting game for the U.S. if tariffs do go into effect. The company may also offer more expensive vehicles to balance out the hit made by tariffs. Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required), Bloomberg View full article -
PSA Group Has 15 States As Possible Entry Points For Return To America
William Maley posted an article in Automotive Industry
PSA Group has been hard at work on its plan to return to the U.S. by 2026. They already have a brand chosen that will lead the launch (bur aren't saying if it will be Citroen, DS, Peugeot, or the recently acquired Opel/Vauxhall) and has open their U.S. headquarters in Georgia. The next step is figuring out where they'll begin selling vehicles. Larry Dominique, CEO of PSA Group North America told reporters that he has his eyes on 15 states to launch. Among the states mentioned include, Arizona California Florida Georgia Illinois Maryland Massachusetts New Hampshire New Jersey New York North Carolina Texas Virginia Washington "Those states are of the most interest to me at this point in time because they're high volume and import receptive," Dominique told Automotive News. But there is an elephant in the room concerning PSA's plan, tariffs. As we have been reporting for the past couple of months, the U.S. Commerce Department is conducting an investigation into imported cars and car parts as a matter of national security. This could result in vehicles being hit with a 25 percent tariff. “Tariffs are on our minds. Tariffs impact how fast and at what price point we import vehicles into the U.S. I’m crossing my fingers," said Dominique. According to Bloomberg, PSA Group could look into entering the Canadian market first and play the waiting game for the U.S. if tariffs do go into effect. The company may also offer more expensive vehicles to balance out the hit made by tariffs. Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required), Bloomberg -
Lexus News: Lexus' Boss Hints At Possible Electrification For F Models
William Maley posted a topic in Lexus
Lexus' F performance sub-brand has relied on V8 power. But the head of Lexus, Yoshihiro Sawa tells Auto Express that F needs to "embrace different powertrain choices" to stay relevant in the future. “F is very important; with F we have to think of our own original way. One solution could be a pure F GT car, which could be a hybrid with an electric motor and a strong engine, giving a different kind of drive feel. We don’t stick to V8, V10, twin-turbocharged; they’re important but we’re looking at the future. We’d like to find a way to connect to the next era,” said Sawa. “I think that now, we’re in a transitional period. At this moment people say EVs are trendy but three years later, who knows? People like the sound, the dynamics [of combustion engines]. I think we cannot stick to the one solution when it comes to providing emotion.” Both BMW and Mercedes-Benz have announced plans to add electrified powertrains to their future high-performance models. Source: Auto Express View full article -
Lexus' F performance sub-brand has relied on V8 power. But the head of Lexus, Yoshihiro Sawa tells Auto Express that F needs to "embrace different powertrain choices" to stay relevant in the future. “F is very important; with F we have to think of our own original way. One solution could be a pure F GT car, which could be a hybrid with an electric motor and a strong engine, giving a different kind of drive feel. We don’t stick to V8, V10, twin-turbocharged; they’re important but we’re looking at the future. We’d like to find a way to connect to the next era,” said Sawa. “I think that now, we’re in a transitional period. At this moment people say EVs are trendy but three years later, who knows? People like the sound, the dynamics [of combustion engines]. I think we cannot stick to the one solution when it comes to providing emotion.” Both BMW and Mercedes-Benz have announced plans to add electrified powertrains to their future high-performance models. Source: Auto Express -
Industry News: Report Says Infiniti and Daimler Joint Compact Car Project Has Been Halted
William Maley posted a topic in Industry News
Back in 2010, Renault-Nissan and Daimler announced a new partnership that would see the two share powertrains and work on various projects. Some of those have come to fruition such as the Infiniti QX30, which is a Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class in different clothing and the platform that underpins the Infiniti QX50. But other projects between the two have been halted. Late last week, the Nikkan Kogyo business daily reported that joint development of luxury compact car project has been suspended. The paper cites the change in consumer preference to crossovers and the uncertainties over tariffs. The second reason is important as the new compact sedan was expected to built at a plant in Aguascalientes, Mexico. The plant is 50/50 joint venture between Daimler and the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance. Nissan spokesman Shiro Nagai declined to comment when asked by Automotive News. He did say that Nissan remains committed to the partnership. Source: Nikkan Kogyo via Automotive News (Subscription Required) View full article -
Report Says Infiniti and Daimler Joint Compact Car Project Has Been Halted
William Maley posted an article in Automotive Industry
Back in 2010, Renault-Nissan and Daimler announced a new partnership that would see the two share powertrains and work on various projects. Some of those have come to fruition such as the Infiniti QX30, which is a Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class in different clothing and the platform that underpins the Infiniti QX50. But other projects between the two have been halted. Late last week, the Nikkan Kogyo business daily reported that joint development of luxury compact car project has been suspended. The paper cites the change in consumer preference to crossovers and the uncertainties over tariffs. The second reason is important as the new compact sedan was expected to built at a plant in Aguascalientes, Mexico. The plant is 50/50 joint venture between Daimler and the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance. Nissan spokesman Shiro Nagai declined to comment when asked by Automotive News. He did say that Nissan remains committed to the partnership. Source: Nikkan Kogyo via Automotive News (Subscription Required) -
Rolls-Royce News: Rolls-Royce Isn't Planning To Expand Their Lineup
William Maley posted a topic in Rolls-Royce
With the introduction of the Cullinan "high-sided vehicle", Rolls-Royce now has five models for sale - the rest are Ghost, Dawn, Wraith, and Phantom. But according to Rolls CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös, they aren't planning to expand the lineup with a smaller SUV. “No, definitely not. You need to go with the flow, so for that reason, I’d never say never, never, never – but we don’t currently have any plans to expand our model line-up any further," said Müller-Ötvös. “Our strategy is definitely to maintain our high-end price position and not move the brand just for volume sake into lower-price segments.” It seems to be working as early sales of the Cullinan have exceeded expectations. Source: Autocar View full article -
With the introduction of the Cullinan "high-sided vehicle", Rolls-Royce now has five models for sale - the rest are Ghost, Dawn, Wraith, and Phantom. But according to Rolls CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös, they aren't planning to expand the lineup with a smaller SUV. “No, definitely not. You need to go with the flow, so for that reason, I’d never say never, never, never – but we don’t currently have any plans to expand our model line-up any further," said Müller-Ötvös. “Our strategy is definitely to maintain our high-end price position and not move the brand just for volume sake into lower-price segments.” It seems to be working as early sales of the Cullinan have exceeded expectations. Source: Autocar -
August 30th was going to be a momentous occasion for Audi. It would be unveiling the long-awaited e-tron crossover at an event in Brussels. Invitations to journalists had been sent out. But Automotive News reports that the event has been cancelled. Audi made the announcement yesterday, citing "organizational reasons". The event would now take place in the U.S. at a later date. Those "organizational reasons" are most likely due to the arrest of Audi CEO Rupert Stadler last week. Prosecutors took him into custody over concerns of evidence tampering. According to Bloomberg, Stadler will be spending another week in prison as he continues to be interviewed by prosecutors into his involvement in the diesel emission scandal. This is a big blow for Audi as they would have been the first German automaker to introduce a Tesla fighter. Mercedes-Benz will now get to be the first one with the introduction of the EQC crossover on September 4th in Stockholm. An Audi spokeswoman told Automotive News that the delay to the e-tron's unveiling will not affect the sales launch of the model, expected to happen later this year. Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required), Bloomberg (Subscription Required) View full article
-
August 30th was going to be a momentous occasion for Audi. It would be unveiling the long-awaited e-tron crossover at an event in Brussels. Invitations to journalists had been sent out. But Automotive News reports that the event has been cancelled. Audi made the announcement yesterday, citing "organizational reasons". The event would now take place in the U.S. at a later date. Those "organizational reasons" are most likely due to the arrest of Audi CEO Rupert Stadler last week. Prosecutors took him into custody over concerns of evidence tampering. According to Bloomberg, Stadler will be spending another week in prison as he continues to be interviewed by prosecutors into his involvement in the diesel emission scandal. This is a big blow for Audi as they would have been the first German automaker to introduce a Tesla fighter. Mercedes-Benz will now get to be the first one with the introduction of the EQC crossover on September 4th in Stockholm. An Audi spokeswoman told Automotive News that the delay to the e-tron's unveiling will not affect the sales launch of the model, expected to happen later this year. Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required), Bloomberg (Subscription Required) -
Jeep News: FCA Dealers Worried About Grand Wagoneer Missing Its Opportunity
William Maley posted a topic in Jeep
Since 2014, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles CEO Sergio Marchionne proclaimed that Jeep needed a three-row luxury SUV to better compete with the likes of the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator. But this SUV, known as the Grand Wagoneer hasn't materialized. Numerous delays and debates about the design has caused the launch to be pushed time and time again. These delays have a number of dealers concerned that Jeep may miss its opportunity with this new model. "I think our window of opportunity is closing. We could have killed with [the Grand Wagoneer] if it had been available when they first told us about it, but it's a much tougher sell with interest rates and gas prices going up," said an unnamed FCA dealer to Automotive News. John Murphy, research analyst at Bank of America Merrill Lynch said last week at a meeting of the Automotive Press Association that the "Goldilocks" era in auto retailing was coming to a close. Murphy said the next five years would be tough on auto sales due to a number of factors, especially for those trying to sell high-end models. Higher interest rates Increasing gas prices Raw materials becoming more expensive Increasing competition in the light-truck sector The current plan is to launch the Grand Wagoneer in 2019, but production could be pushed back till late in the year or even into 2020. This is due to FCA's plan to keep building the current Ram 1500 at their Warren Truck Plant until the end of year. But depending on demand, this could extend production into 2019, pushing back the time needed to retool the plant for the Grand Wagoneer. Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required) View full article -
FCA Dealers Worried About Grand Wagoneer Missing Its Opportunity
William Maley posted an article in Jeep
Since 2014, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles CEO Sergio Marchionne proclaimed that Jeep needed a three-row luxury SUV to better compete with the likes of the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator. But this SUV, known as the Grand Wagoneer hasn't materialized. Numerous delays and debates about the design has caused the launch to be pushed time and time again. These delays have a number of dealers concerned that Jeep may miss its opportunity with this new model. "I think our window of opportunity is closing. We could have killed with [the Grand Wagoneer] if it had been available when they first told us about it, but it's a much tougher sell with interest rates and gas prices going up," said an unnamed FCA dealer to Automotive News. John Murphy, research analyst at Bank of America Merrill Lynch said last week at a meeting of the Automotive Press Association that the "Goldilocks" era in auto retailing was coming to a close. Murphy said the next five years would be tough on auto sales due to a number of factors, especially for those trying to sell high-end models. Higher interest rates Increasing gas prices Raw materials becoming more expensive Increasing competition in the light-truck sector The current plan is to launch the Grand Wagoneer in 2019, but production could be pushed back till late in the year or even into 2020. This is due to FCA's plan to keep building the current Ram 1500 at their Warren Truck Plant until the end of year. But depending on demand, this could extend production into 2019, pushing back the time needed to retool the plant for the Grand Wagoneer. Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required) -
Audi News: As the Diesel Emits: Audi Is Forced To Recall 127,000 TDI Vehicles Over Software
William Maley posted a topic in Audi
Audi finds itself in hot water once again with Germany's federal transport authority over illegal emission software fitted to TDI vehicles. According to Reuters, the KBA has found illegal emission-control software in Audi’s latest Euro-6 diesel engines. The authority has ordered Audi to recall 127,000 vehicles fitted with these engines (the majority in Germany) or face punishment which may include the withdrawal of an approval for the new A8. In a statement sent to Reuters, Audi said the vehicles were part of "a voluntary recall of 850,000 diesel vehicles with V6 and V8 TDI engines" back in July. “The engine control software for the vehicles in question will be completely revised, tested and submitted to the KBA for approval,” the company said in the statement. Audi did not comment further on the KBA's request. Source: Motor1, Reuters View full article -
As the Diesel Emits: Audi Is Forced To Recall 127,000 TDI Vehicles Over Software
William Maley posted an article in Audi
Audi finds itself in hot water once again with Germany's federal transport authority over illegal emission software fitted to TDI vehicles. According to Reuters, the KBA has found illegal emission-control software in Audi’s latest Euro-6 diesel engines. The authority has ordered Audi to recall 127,000 vehicles fitted with these engines (the majority in Germany) or face punishment which may include the withdrawal of an approval for the new A8. In a statement sent to Reuters, Audi said the vehicles were part of "a voluntary recall of 850,000 diesel vehicles with V6 and V8 TDI engines" back in July. “The engine control software for the vehicles in question will be completely revised, tested and submitted to the KBA for approval,” the company said in the statement. Audi did not comment further on the KBA's request. Source: Motor1, Reuters -
Porsche News: Porsche Cayenne Coupe Is Go, Expected To Arrive Next Year
William Maley posted a topic in Porsche
There have been rumors for the past few years of Porsche building a coupe-like version of the Cayenne. Those rumors are coming to fruition as Autocar reports that the Cayenne Coupe has been given the green light. Porsche CEO Oliver Blume has given the go-ahead on the project which is expected to launch in the fourth quarter of next year. Like key competitors such as the BMW X6 and Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe, the Cayenne Coupe will adopt of a liftback tailgate. Other design changes include a taillight shape and rear side windows. The model will be positioned as a performance model, which likely means no 3.0L turbocharged V6 from the base Cayenne. Instead, expect to find the twin-turbo 2.9L V6 and twin-turbo 4.0L V8. Source: Autocar View full article -
Porsche Cayenne Coupe Is Go, Expected To Arrive Next Year
William Maley posted an article in Porsche
There have been rumors for the past few years of Porsche building a coupe-like version of the Cayenne. Those rumors are coming to fruition as Autocar reports that the Cayenne Coupe has been given the green light. Porsche CEO Oliver Blume has given the go-ahead on the project which is expected to launch in the fourth quarter of next year. Like key competitors such as the BMW X6 and Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe, the Cayenne Coupe will adopt of a liftback tailgate. Other design changes include a taillight shape and rear side windows. The model will be positioned as a performance model, which likely means no 3.0L turbocharged V6 from the base Cayenne. Instead, expect to find the twin-turbo 2.9L V6 and twin-turbo 4.0L V8. Source: Autocar -
Ever since Ford announced that it would cutting most of their passenger car lineup, questions arose as to what would happen to the subsequent Lincoln models. The Contiental and MKZ share platforms with Ford models that will be cut - Fusion and Taurus. Thankfully, we have gotten an answer to this. A Lincoln spokesperson told Automobile Magazine they are "committed" to both the Contiental and MKZ. No other information was provided. But there arises the question as to how long Lincoln is "committed" to both models. The MKZ has seen sales decline from 34,009 in 2014 (the year it was redesigned) to 27,387 units last year. The Continental hasn't been faring any better with only 12,012 units sold in 2017. The Cadillac XTS outsold it by 4,263 units. As we reported last month in the rumorpile, plans for a next-generation Continental have been canned. Source: Automobile Magazine View full article
-
Ever since Ford announced that it would cutting most of their passenger car lineup, questions arose as to what would happen to the subsequent Lincoln models. The Contiental and MKZ share platforms with Ford models that will be cut - Fusion and Taurus. Thankfully, we have gotten an answer to this. A Lincoln spokesperson told Automobile Magazine they are "committed" to both the Contiental and MKZ. No other information was provided. But there arises the question as to how long Lincoln is "committed" to both models. The MKZ has seen sales decline from 34,009 in 2014 (the year it was redesigned) to 27,387 units last year. The Continental hasn't been faring any better with only 12,012 units sold in 2017. The Cadillac XTS outsold it by 4,263 units. As we reported last month in the rumorpile, plans for a next-generation Continental have been canned. Source: Automobile Magazine -
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles announced their latest five-year plan at an investor meeting in Italy. This is important as it will be the final plan presented by CEO Sergio Marchionne who will retire next year. Aside from news about Sergio actually wearing a tie (I'm being completely serious here -WM), there were some interesting bits to come out. We're going to breaking down what is in store for each brand along with intriguing information that was presented. Jeep: Four new models are expected to launch by 2022. They include the Wrangler pickup, Wagoneer/Grand Wagoneer, a smaller model to sit underneath the Renegade, and a three-row crossover to sit next to the Grand Cherokee. By 2021, Jeep is planning to have an electrification option on each nameplate by 2021, along with Level 3 autonomous capability - basically a car can drive itself in limited situations, but requires a driver to jump in at a moment's notice. Diesels will be gradually dropped from the various models, but no timetable was provided. A new 'hawk will be joining the Jeep family. Deserthawk will be models setup for "high-speed sand running". Think Ford Raptor as an SUV. This will launch in the first quarter of 2020. Production capacity will increase to keep up with the demand for SUV and crossovers around the world. Jeep will also introduce Jeep Wave. It's part 'loyalty program' and connected car services, and part subscription service. The loyalty part grants owners of the Hawk models and Wranglers 'Jeep Coins' when purchasing. The coins can be used to borrow other FCA products. Additional coins will be available for purchase. A pilot program will begin in 2019. A more traditional subscription service will launch in 2019. Subscribers pay a monthly fee for access to a fleet of FCA vehicles. Three tiers - Good, Better, and Best - determines vehicle selection, insurance, and concierge services. Jeep will also launch a in-car payment pilot program in 2019 as part of Wave. Ram Trucks: A new Ram Heavy-Duty will be arriving in 2019. By 2022, Ram will have three new/redesigned models: A midsize pickup, redesigned ProMaster City, and the high-performance Ram 1500 TRX. The TRX will compete against the Ford F-150 Raptor. Both the Ram 1500 and redesigned ProMaster City will come with Level 2 autonomous capability in 2021. Maserati: The Alfieri, which was first shown in 2014 as a concept will finally launch it as the replacement for the GranTurismo by 2022. The platform has been designed in such a way that allows for three different powertrains - including a plug-in hybrid and fully-electric version. Maserati claims a 0-100 kph time of two seconds for the electric version. The Alfieri EV will serve as the flagship for Maserati's new Blue lineup. This is the designation for any Maserati model equipped with a fully-electric powertrain comprised of three motors, new battery tech, and all-wheel drive with torque vectoring. The Levante, Ghibli, and Quattroporte will also have Blue models. Redesigns of the Ghibli, Levante, and Quattroporte will arrive by 2022. All of them will have a plug-in hybrid option. A new, smaller crossover will sit alongside the Levante. It is expected to possibly use the platform that underpins the Stelvio. Maserati is hoping to sell 100,000 vehicles by 2022, double the current sales volume. Alfa Romeo: Remember those rumors about the Giulia Coupe? It is real and will be named GTV. Alfa is promising more than 600 horsepower thanks to electric boost, all-wheel drive with torque vectoring, and 50:50 weight distribution. 8C will also be making a comeback as a mid-engine coupe. With a twin-turbo gas engine and electric drive system for the front axle, the combined output will be 700 horsepower. It will also feature a carbon fiber monocoque chassis. Alfa looks to getting out of the subcompact game as there is no product listed for 2022. They'll be sticking in the compact realm with a new Giuletta. Two new crossovers will be joining the lineup. One will sit underneath the Stelvio and the other will sit above. We know a little bit more about the larger model as it will be the first model to debut a new mild-hybrid system. It will be underpinned by a stretched version of the Giulia's platform. Also in the cards are long-wheelbase variants for the Giulia and Stelvio (most likely for China) and plug-in hybrid models. Other Details: Fiat got a brief mention during the meeting. There will be a new 500e and a wagon variant known as Giardiniera. Both models will get a new electric powertrain built for small vehicles. The 500L and 500X will come with hybrid powertrains. No time frames were revealed. "Chrysler is going to continue to be a relevant brand in the United States," said Marchionne when asked about the brand. No mention of Dodge during the conference. FCA will be working a number of partners on developing autonomous vehicles. This includes an expanded partnership with Waymo, along with new partnerships with Aptiv and BMW. Diesel will be phased out from all passenger cars in Europe by 2021. Source: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles -
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles announced their latest five-year plan at an investor meeting in Italy. This is important as it will be the final plan presented by CEO Sergio Marchionne who will retire next year. Aside from news about Sergio actually wearing a tie (I'm being completely serious here -WM), there were some interesting bits to come out. We're going to breaking down what is in store for each brand along with intriguing information that was presented. Jeep: Four new models are expected to launch by 2022. They include the Wrangler pickup, Wagoneer/Grand Wagoneer, a smaller model to sit underneath the Renegade, and a three-row crossover to sit next to the Grand Cherokee. By 2021, Jeep is planning to have an electrification option on each nameplate by 2021, along with Level 3 autonomous capability - basically a car can drive itself in limited situations, but requires a driver to jump in at a moment's notice. Diesels will be gradually dropped from the various models, but no timetable was provided. A new 'hawk will be joining the Jeep family. Deserthawk will be models setup for "high-speed sand running". Think Ford Raptor as an SUV. This will launch in the first quarter of 2020. Production capacity will increase to keep up with the demand for SUV and crossovers around the world. Jeep will also introduce Jeep Wave. It's part 'loyalty program' and connected car services, and part subscription service. The loyalty part grants owners of the Hawk models and Wranglers 'Jeep Coins' when purchasing. The coins can be used to borrow other FCA products. Additional coins will be available for purchase. A pilot program will begin in 2019. A more traditional subscription service will launch in 2019. Subscribers pay a monthly fee for access to a fleet of FCA vehicles. Three tiers - Good, Better, and Best - determines vehicle selection, insurance, and concierge services. Jeep will also launch a in-car payment pilot program in 2019 as part of Wave. Ram Trucks: A new Ram Heavy-Duty will be arriving in 2019. By 2022, Ram will have three new/redesigned models: A midsize pickup, redesigned ProMaster City, and the high-performance Ram 1500 TRX. The TRX will compete against the Ford F-150 Raptor. Both the Ram 1500 and redesigned ProMaster City will come with Level 2 autonomous capability in 2021. Maserati: The Alfieri, which was first shown in 2014 as a concept will finally launch it as the replacement for the GranTurismo by 2022. The platform has been designed in such a way that allows for three different powertrains - including a plug-in hybrid and fully-electric version. Maserati claims a 0-100 kph time of two seconds for the electric version. The Alfieri EV will serve as the flagship for Maserati's new Blue lineup. This is the designation for any Maserati model equipped with a fully-electric powertrain comprised of three motors, new battery tech, and all-wheel drive with torque vectoring. The Levante, Ghibli, and Quattroporte will also have Blue models. Redesigns of the Ghibli, Levante, and Quattroporte will arrive by 2022. All of them will have a plug-in hybrid option. A new, smaller crossover will sit alongside the Levante. It is expected to possibly use the platform that underpins the Stelvio. Maserati is hoping to sell 100,000 vehicles by 2022, double the current sales volume. Alfa Romeo: Remember those rumors about the Giulia Coupe? It is real and will be named GTV. Alfa is promising more than 600 horsepower thanks to electric boost, all-wheel drive with torque vectoring, and 50:50 weight distribution. 8C will also be making a comeback as a mid-engine coupe. With a twin-turbo gas engine and electric drive system for the front axle, the combined output will be 700 horsepower. It will also feature a carbon fiber monocoque chassis. Alfa looks to getting out of the subcompact game as there is no product listed for 2022. They'll be sticking in the compact realm with a new Giuletta. Two new crossovers will be joining the lineup. One will sit underneath the Stelvio and the other will sit above. We know a little bit more about the larger model as it will be the first model to debut a new mild-hybrid system. It will be underpinned by a stretched version of the Giulia's platform. Also in the cards are long-wheelbase variants for the Giulia and Stelvio (most likely for China) and plug-in hybrid models. Other Details: Fiat got a brief mention during the meeting. There will be a new 500e and a wagon variant known as Giardiniera. Both models will get a new electric powertrain built for small vehicles. The 500L and 500X will come with hybrid powertrains. No time frames were revealed. "Chrysler is going to continue to be a relevant brand in the United States," said Marchionne when asked about the brand. No mention of Dodge during the conference. FCA will be working a number of partners on developing autonomous vehicles. This includes an expanded partnership with Waymo, along with new partnerships with Aptiv and BMW. Diesel will be phased out from all passenger cars in Europe by 2021. Source: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles View full article
-
Nissan To Cut Production In North America By As Much As 20 Percent
William Maley posted an article in Nissan
Nissan's goal in the U.S. for quite some time was increasing its market share. To do this, the company piled on the incentives and sold more vehicles to rental car fleets. While fine in the short-term, the long-term effects would hurt profitability and brand image. This isn't helped by sales declining 6.5 percent this year and a growing supply of vehicles on dealers - Kelly Blue Book reports an 88-day supply of Nissan vehicles. Nissan is changing its plan for the U.S. Back at the 2018 NADA Show in April, Nissan's U.S. sales chief Dan Mohnke told dealers the company would focus on boosting profitability by reducing inventory. One way to do that is cutting back on production. The Nikkei Asian Review reports Nissan is slashing production as much as 20% at their North American plants. The cuts are already taking place at Nissan's two plants in the U.S. (Canton and Smyrna, TN) and three in Mexico. No layoffs are expected, instead, workers will have an extra day or two off of work. The cuts are expected to end in the fall when production of the next-generation Altima kicks off. It is expected that the production cut will drop Nissan's U.S. sales for the year by three percent. Source: Nikkei Asian Review -
Nissan News: Nissan To Cut Production In North America By As Much As 20 Percent
William Maley posted a topic in Nissan
Nissan's goal in the U.S. for quite some time was increasing its market share. To do this, the company piled on the incentives and sold more vehicles to rental car fleets. While fine in the short-term, the long-term effects would hurt profitability and brand image. This isn't helped by sales declining 6.5 percent this year and a growing supply of vehicles on dealers - Kelly Blue Book reports an 88-day supply of Nissan vehicles. Nissan is changing its plan for the U.S. Back at the 2018 NADA Show in April, Nissan's U.S. sales chief Dan Mohnke told dealers the company would focus on boosting profitability by reducing inventory. One way to do that is cutting back on production. The Nikkei Asian Review reports Nissan is slashing production as much as 20% at their North American plants. The cuts are already taking place at Nissan's two plants in the U.S. (Canton and Smyrna, TN) and three in Mexico. No layoffs are expected, instead, workers will have an extra day or two off of work. The cuts are expected to end in the fall when production of the next-generation Altima kicks off. It is expected that the production cut will drop Nissan's U.S. sales for the year by three percent. Source: Nikkei Asian Review View full article -
Mitsubishi is starting to find its footing thanks to the alliance it formed with Nissan towards the end of 2016. The company last year that it plans on "launching 11 new and redesigned models" for the U.S. Two of the models have go on sale this year, the Eclipse Cross and Outlander Plug-In Hybrid. But what about the other nine? Motor Trend has learned some details on a fair number of vehicles in the cards. Outlander: Redesign coming in 2021 and will use the underpinnings of the Nissan Rogue, Outlander Sport: To be redesigned in 2022. Will be based on the platform that is used on the Nissan Rogue Sport and upcoming Kicks. Hybrid/Electric Models: Mitsubishi is planning to offer a plug-in hybrid or pure electric powertrain for all of their models. Possible Midsize Truck: The number one request of Mitsubishi's U.S. dealers is a midsize truck. Mitsubishi is reportedly studying a truck for the U.S. But for the truck to get approval, it needs to make sense for the alliance to move forward. If approved, the truck would likely be built in the U.S. to avoid the chicken tax. Source: Motor Trend -
Mitsubishi News: Mitsubishi is Ramping Up Their U.S. Lineup
William Maley posted a topic in Mitsubishi
Mitsubishi is starting to find its footing thanks to the alliance it formed with Nissan towards the end of 2016. The company last year that it plans on "launching 11 new and redesigned models" for the U.S. Two of the models have go on sale this year, the Eclipse Cross and Outlander Plug-In Hybrid. But what about the other nine? Motor Trend has learned some details on a fair number of vehicles in the cards. Outlander: Redesign coming in 2021 and will use the underpinnings of the Nissan Rogue, Outlander Sport: To be redesigned in 2022. Will be based on the platform that is used on the Nissan Rogue Sport and upcoming Kicks. Hybrid/Electric Models: Mitsubishi is planning to offer a plug-in hybrid or pure electric powertrain for all of their models. Possible Midsize Truck: The number one request of Mitsubishi's U.S. dealers is a midsize truck. Mitsubishi is reportedly studying a truck for the U.S. But for the truck to get approval, it needs to make sense for the alliance to move forward. If approved, the truck would likely be built in the U.S. to avoid the chicken tax. Source: Motor Trend View full article -
Nissan is joining Toyota in gradually ending the sale of diesel vehicles in Europe. “Along with other manufacturers and industry bodies we can see the progressive decline of diesel but we do not anticipate its sudden end in the short-term. At this point in time and for many customers, modern diesel engines will remain in demand and continue to be available within Nissan’s powertrain offering,” a Nissan spokeswoman told Reuters. “In Europe, where our diesel sales are concentrated, our electrification push will allow us to discontinue diesel gradually from passenger cars at the time of each vehicle renewal.” Sales of diesel vehicles have been on a sharp decline for the past year due in part to rising taxes and possible bans looming. Analysts believe this trend will continue in 2018. Last month, a source revealed to Reuters that Nissan is planning to lay off hundreds of workers at its Sunderland plant due to falling diesel vehicle sales. Source: Reuters
