Friday, 10 January 2020

AutoWriter

Volkswagen to Launch 34 New Models This 2020

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2020 Volkswagen ID 4 - camouflaged prototype

Volkswagen will launch 34 new models globally in 2020 – including the first two models in its electric ID range, alongside six other electrified vehicles.

The company will launch the ID 3 in the summer, and Volkswagen says it will “soon be followed” by what it refers to as the ID Next. That is the mid-size SUV that was revealed in concept form as the ID Crozz, and is likely to use the ID 4 moniker when it reaches production. It is set to be offered in Europe, China and North America.

The six other electric and hybrid models will include the new Golf GTE, which is due to go on sale shortly after regular versions of the family hatch hit showrooms in the spring.

Volkswagen has yet to specify every model it will launch this year, but it says that the 34 machines will include 12 SUVs, a category that has been key to the firm’s success in recent years.

Volkswagen ID family rendering
As it ramps up its ID electric car programme, the firm is midway through a major restructuring project that and has made 2.6 billion euros of cost-savings to date.

While final figures are not set yet, Volkswagen says it is on track to post a record operating profit this year, despite its overall sales slipping slightly. While the global car market has shrunk, Volkswagen has increased its market share, largely thanks to the higher operating profit it can command from SUVs.

Ralf Brandstatter, Volkswagen’s chief operating officer, said that 2019 was “a very successful year” for the firm.

He added: “In a shrinking overall market the Volkswagen brand has won market shares worldwide and significantly improved its operating result. Ongoing restructuring of core business, including the positive effects of the pact for the future, and the success of the worldwide SUV offensive, have been key to this achievement."
Brandstatter also played down any concerns over meeting the forthcoming tough EU fleet CO2 targets coming into force next year, following reports that rival Mercedes-Benz might have to restrict offerings from performance arm AMG.

Asked if VW would face problems in 2020, Brandstatter said: “We don’t anticipate problems, we prepare solutions,” adding that selling emission-free electric vehicles would be a key part of that. He said that Volkswagen has committed to investing £16.1 billion in future technology by the end of 2024, including £9.3 billion in electric technology.
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Volkswagen T-Cross gains new range-topping petrol engine

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Volkswagen has added a new, range-topping turbo petrol engine to its T-Cross compact SUV.

The 1.5 TSI 150 is the most powerful unit yet available in the Nissan Juke rival. Transmitting its power through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, it enables the T-Cross to cover 0-62mph in 8.5sec.

This represents a significant 1.7sec gain on the previous range-topping variant, the 1.0 TSI 115. The 1.5-litre engine also has an improved top speed of 124mph. Despite this extra swiftness, the new model matches the 44.0mpg fuel economy of the 1.0-litre engine.

The new engine will be offered with SEL and R-Line trims, priced at £24,910 and £26,810 respectively.

The T-Cross 1.5 TSI 150 is Volkswagen's latest attempt to expand its offerings in the SUV class, following the 296bhp T-Roc R. These will soon be complemented by the T-Roc Cabriolet.
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Hummer Revival As Electric SUV Could Actually Happen

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We’ve heard rumors about Hummer’s return to the automotive landscape for a few months now. Specifically, the rumors involve the big-and-bold SUV returning as an electric vehicle. Those rumors have taken a big leap forward today in a new report from The Wall Street Journal that says an EV Hummer is coming. Perhaps more importantly, the report says we’ll hear about it in just a few weeks during the Super Bowl.
 
All These Rumors:

WSJ cites unnamed sources as stating GM will have a Super Bowl ad campaign that includes NBA legend LeBron James. We obviously don’t have any details on this arrangement, but with the average cost of a 30-second Super Bowl commercial running about $5 million – plus whatever cash might be involved with landing a superstar spokesperson like James – it would seem GM is very keen to make a big splash with its Hummer revival. That is, if the rumors and this latest report are true.

Gallery: Mil-Spec Automotive Hummer H1



The report also supports previous rumors that the resurrected brand will offer an EV pickup truck, but it suggests that, for now at least, a truck will be the only Hummer offering and it will actually be part of GMC's lineup. Early rumors from June 2019 indicated Hummer might offer a range of electric SUVs, sold alongside other GM vehicles through the automaker’s existing dealership network.

Manufacturing is said to take place at GM’s Detroit-Hamtramck facility, which will be retooled at the cost of $3 billion to produce electric trucks, vans, and batteries. That last bit is not a rumor – GM’s $3 billion investment into the Hamtramck plant for EV purposes was part of its new contract with the UAW, which was ratified last October.

As for the rest, a GM representative declined to comment on a Motor1.com request for more information. At the very least, Super Bowl LIV will take place on February 2 so if the WSJ report is accurate, we should know the truth by then. 

Source: The Wall Street Journal via Reuters
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Sony Claim to Be Part of the Electric-Car Future By Revealing the Vision-S Concept

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Sony’s appearance at the CES technology show was highly anticipated mainly in the hope its new PlayStation 5 gaming console would be revealed—not because the company was expected to show a Sony electric vehicle. Nobody anticipated that turn of events for the manufacturer that, last year at CES, focused on 8K TVs and audio technology.

As it turned out, Sony only showed a logo to tease PlayStation 5, but the Vision-S, Sony's electric concept car, was rolled out onto the stage near the end of the company's presentation, surprising just about everybody. Sony said the Vision-S is part of a new initiative to put on display its technological prowess and capabilities in the area of mobility; the company made no suggestion that the car was destined for production.


The all-wheel-drive concept sits on a newly developed EV platform that Sony says would be adaptable to coupe, sedan, and SUV body types. It is powered by a dual-motor system and weighs 5180 pounds. Sony's specs estimate a zero-to-60-mph time of 4.8 seconds and a maximum speed of 149 mph. The company didn't offer details about battery capacity or range.

"This prototype embodies our contribution to the future of mobility and contains a variety of Sony's technologies," Sony CEO Kenichiro Yoshida said at the unveiling. The car features a panoramic screen that stretches the length of the dashboard, making the instrument panel and center screen into one contiguous screen. There are also rear-facing screens on the backs of the front headrests.


Yoshida said the project involved input from other companies such as BlackBerry and Magna. The design is not groundbreaking; in fact, it bears similarities to other EVs. Notably, the headlights and portions of the front end look a bit like the Porsche Taycan, and the large windshield and squared-off back end are reminiscent of the Tesla Model 3.

The point of Sony's concept is to show what it can do inside and outside a car, so there are 33 sensors, including radar, lidar, and cameras. The car also integrates Sony's immersive 360-degree audio technology, 360 Reality Audio, which features speakers in each seat. Sony also built the capability for continual over-the-air updates into the car.

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Inside Story Before the Official Reveal Of the 2021 Ford Bronco

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It's been 24 years since the last Ford Bronco rolled off the assembly line, giving zealots plenty of time to ruminate on the iconic nameplate and what it means to them. Bronco nostalgia is arguably more powerful now than it's ever been. The name carries so much weight that Ford cannot afford to apply it to just any SUV. There are certain elements that simply must be part of the package, or else the new Bronco's legacy will be about as respectable as George Lucas's godawful prequel trilogy.

Since word of a Bronco revival leaked a few years ago, we haven't been all that optimistic. The Ranger pickup's anticlimactic return to the U.S. wasn't a good omen. The truck we got was a mildly warmed-over version of the global Ranger that had been on sale elsewhere for years. We worried that the upcoming Bronco, too, might turn out to be a lame repurposing of one of Ford's global SUVs, such as the outdated Everest.

Based on spy photos, parts guides, and our sources within Ford and its suppliers, that doesn't seem to be the case. While we await Ford's official unveiling, everything we know about the new Bronco suggests it will be exactly what everyone wants it to be: a body-on-frame, two- or four-door SUV with legitimate off-road capability and a removable roof. It Will Look Like a Bronco

While it is based on Ranger/Everest underpinnings, its look will be a clean-sheet design with careful consideration (read: pandering) paid to all the things that make a Bronco a Bronco. It's no coincidence that Ford's carefully crafted modern-era Bronco will be similar in scope to the Jeep Wrangler, which has gained popularity in the years since the Bronco began its hibernation in 1996. Despite a few upstarts that briefly made waves, including the Nissan Xterra and the Toyota FJ Cruiser, Jeep has owned this off-road-SUV space for more than two decades. Remarkably, for two years now, FCA has sold more Wranglers than Nissan sold Altimas or Ford did Fusions. The Bronco, which will debut this spring as a 2021 model, will certainly look to make a dent in those numbers, although it isn't likely to be a volume seller like the Escape, the Explorer, or even the upcoming Escape-based Bronco Sport crossover.

Huge sales numbers are not the reason you roll out a niche model like this. The Bronco is mostly meant to get people excited about Ford SUVs again, so the styling will have to make an impact. As previewed by the Bronco R off-road race prototype, a squared-off hood and imposing Raptor-style grille that says "Bronco" in giant block letters will leave no doubt as to the identity and attitude of this model. We anticipate it'll have round headlights, lending a retro touch, and 35-inch all-terrain tires with plenty of wheel clearance for off-road capability. A chunky full-size spare tire will likely hang off the back.

"In a departure from Jeep's approach, Ford is envisioning the Bronco as more of a high-speed desert runner than a low-speed rock crawler."


As previously mentioned, both two- and four-door versions will have doors that can be taken off for open-air fun, complementing a removable hardtop. The Bronco's side mirrors will be mounted on the A-pillars, and the doors will be stowable in the cargo area. Patents for the door-removal system show a set of latches, a far simpler solution than the hinges on the Wrangler's doors, which require tools to take off. Expect extradurable interior parts that will stand up to the elements, as one engineer let slip to us that waterproofing sensitive components, such as the power seats, was a challenge.

In a departure from Jeep's approach, Ford is envisioning the Bronco as more of a high-speed desert runner than a low-speed rock crawler (though the Bronco R race truck failed to finish the Baja 1000 this past November). This means the Bronco won't adopt an old-school live axle up front like the Wrangler and will instead have a long-travel independent suspension. The rear will be a live-axle setup with leaf springs, and both axle designs will be supplied by Dana. We expect the most hardcore Bronco will offer electronic anti-roll-bar disconnects and borrow the locking rear differential from the Ranger Raptor (not sold in the U.S.) and possibly the Torsen limited-slip front diff from the F-150 Raptor.
 
Under the Hood

 
If any element of the new Bronco is primed to piss off traditionalists, it's the turbocharged 2.3-liter inline-four that will serve as the base engine. Either that or the rumored hybrid powertrain that Ford may put in the Bronco. While die-hards won't be truly satisfied with anything less than a naturally aspirated V-8, we think most people will be just fine settling for this mill's 270-ish horsepower and 310-ish pound-feet of torque. If that's not good enough, a twin-turbo 2.7-liter V-6 will be optional, likely increasing those numbers to around 325 horsepower and 400 pound-feet. And here's the really juicy bit: In addition to Ford and GM's co-developed 10-speed automatic, word is that a manual transmission is in the works.

The cherry on top of all this nostalgia is the fact that the new Bronco will roll off the same assembly line in Wayne, Michigan, where its predecessors were built for decades. Ford built the Focus there in the 2010s before dropping it from the U.S. lineup. The current obsession with trucks and SUVs among the buying public and within Ford has taken a toll on sedans and hatchbacks. The Bronco isn't your average utility vehicle, though. It's shaping up to be a rare SUV with as much character as utility, with niche capabilities and broad appeal. It's Ford giving people, enthusiasts included, exactly what they want.


New Ford Bronco Officially Debuts in Spring 2020

History of the Ford Bronco

Ford Bronco Prototype Spied Testing in Detroit
2021 Ford Bronco Sport: What We Know So Far

Ford Bronco Sport Spy Photos  
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Recon Edition - 2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon

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The latest special-edition Jeep Wrangler Rubicon is coming, first spotted by the JL Wrangler Forums website, and it packs a lot of equipment for not much money.


The iconic Jeep Wrangler is getting yet another special edition, this time for the Rubicon trim level, named the Recon Special Edition and spotted by the keen types at JL Wrangler Forums, it adds even more off-road equipment to the already capable Wrangler Rubicon, plus Jeep's eTorque hybrid 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. The Recon package comes at $2755, compared with $5630 that the set of options would cost if selected à la carte.

As first reported by JL Wrangler Forums, the Recon Edition is yet to be officially released by Jeep; who doesn’t love leaks? For all Jeep Wrangler enthusiasts, which JL Wrangler Forums is full of, this special edition is worth getting excited about since it adds a boatload of optional equipment for $2755.
 
The package is only available on the top-end Rubicon trim, which comes standard with all-terrain tires, locking front and rear Dana 44 axles, and a low 4:1 transfer case. The changes that come with the Recon Edition start under the hood, where the standard naturally aspirated 3.6-liter V-6 and six-speed manual transmission are replaced by Jeep's torquey turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four mated to the optional eight-speed automatic. The exterior sees a plethora of upgrades: LED headlights and taillights, a red and black hood stripe decal, Moab rock rails, new wheels with a black paint finish, a gloss black grille, body-color fenders, a Recon fender badge, front and rear steel bumpers with bumper loops, and a black hardtop roof. The interior gets red seatbelts and seat bolsters with red stitching.
 
The Jeep Wrangler is known for two things: for having serious off-road chops and for having more special editions than you could possibly remember. The JK Wranglers had a fair few special editions, and it appears as though the current JL Wrangler will be the same. So far, there have been Black and Tan, Willys, and Freedom Editions. The latest special edition model for 2020 is the Wrangler Rubicon Recon Edition.
2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon.

If you separately purchased all the listed equipment that comes standard in the package, you could expect to pay $495 for body-color fenders, $1195 for the black three-piece hardtop roof, $1045 for the LED light upgrades, $1395 for front and rear steel bumpers, and $1500 for the engine change from the standard 3.6-liter V-6 to the 2.0 turbo four, according to the Jeep Wrangler configurator. This is also the only way to get Jeep's eTorque hybrid engine on a Rubicon model. The total for these stand-alone options would have come to $5630.

So far, the only news we have on the Rubicon Recon Edition is from the post on JL Wrangler Forum, so when we hear more from Jeep, we'll be sure to fill in the little details.
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Thursday, 9 January 2020

AutoWriter

Volkswagen Up GTI relaunched in UK for 2020

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Volkswagen has relaunched the Up GTI hot city car in the UK, eight months after its production allocation was fulfilled and it was withdrawn to coincide with the transition to WLTP emissions testing.

The Suzuki Swift Sport rival’s return to the market comes as Volkswagen gears up to begin deliveries of the revised e-Up, which, unlike its new Seat Mii Electric and Skoda Citigo-e iV siblings, will be sold alongside petrol variants

Given the Up GTI's relatively short time off sale, it returns largely visually unchanged, save for the addition of the redesigned Volkswagen logo and a new set of 17in alloy wheels with low-profile tyres. As before, the seats are trimmed in Jacara checked fabric, which first featured on the original Golf GTI, with a flat-bottomed steering wheel and GTI-badged gear stick further differentiating it from the rest of the Up range. 

2020 Volkswagen Up White Edition
Power output from the transversely mounted turbocharged 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine remains 113bhp - nearly double that of the standard Up - and drive is still sent to the front wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox. The car achieves 53.3mpg on the WLTP combined cycle, emits 120g/km and remains capable of accelerating from 0-62mph in 8.8sec and on to 122mph.

The most significant change for prospective Up GTI buyers is a price increase from £13,750 to £15,895 before options, which represents an £3445 premium over the standard Up. Prices rise to £16,295 for the five-door variant.

Joining the Up GTI in showrooms will be a new Up R-Line, available from £14,280. This brings styling features inspired by Volkswagen's top-rung performance models, 16in black alloy wheels, black trim elements, lowered suspension and heated front seats.

There are changes further down the Up range as well, with added equipment on the £12,440 entry-level model now including 15 inch alloy wheels, a 5.0 inch infotainment display with smartphone compatibility and a DAB radio. The 74bhp mid-range engine option has been discontinued, leaving just the 59bhp three-cylinder unit.

Starting from £13,125, the new White and Black special editions bring larger 16in alloy wheels with colored highlights, as well as a color-coded roof, wing mirror housings and dashboard. Unlike the standard Up and Up GTI, these models are available exclusively in five-door form.

All petrol versions of the Up are now available to order, while the electric e-Up is expected to go on sale in the coming months.
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