+++ BMW has created a specialist task force to prepare for a worst-case Brexit scenario, one in which the UK leaves the customs union and the single market, as well as the EU, with no trade deals in place. BMW’s Brexit task force is preparing the company for lengthy border queues and their associated supply delays, and is also considering safeguards against job losses. The company builds around 200,000 Mini cars a year at its Cowley plant in Oxford, and crafts 20 Rolls-Royce cars a day at Goodwood in West Sussex. BMW purchasing chief Markus Duesmann said the company’s Brexit strategy prioritised : “reliable deliveries to the factories” and “safeguarding jobs”, adding: “Brexit is saddling us with a huge expense”. Painting a picture of the company’s current supply model, Duesmann told that: “A number of components cross the English Channel as many as 4 times before a vehicle is fully built and reaches dealers. With every border crossing, a customs clearance and duty will be due”. Duesmann explained that the creation of fresh trade boundaries between the UK and the EU meant BMW would be “expecting a bottleneck at the border” and that it had to “anticipate delays in the supply chain”. The company will need “far more goods on the road” to counteract such delays and keep its UK factories running. He went on to say: “Even if we are paying zero customs duties, we have to go through the processing at the border”. EU trade agreements mean supply trucks coming into the UK from Europe effectively pass through borders without hindrance at present, something that is likely to change following Brexit. Duesmann also suggested jobs held at UK BMW factories by non-UK workers could present difficulties: “We have many BMW employees in the country who do not hold British citizenship. It would be hard to replace them”. Not all the potential effects of a hard Brexit would be negative for BMW though. Duesmann said as the company built 220,000 cars in the UK last year and sold 243,000, there was “room to manoeuvre”. While the models built and bought in the UK are different, the close sales-to-manufacturing numbers mean BMW could, in theory, make its UK operations partially self-sufficient, preventing some delays and costs tied to exporting and importing goods. Asked if the company could switch it’s Mini plant at Oxford to produce BMWs, Duesmann said such a move “would be expensive, but it could make sense at some point”, particularly for front-wheel drive models like the BMW X1, X2 and 2 Series Active Tourer. +++
+++ CADILLAC recently deep-sixed the 4-door ATS and I expect the CTS isn’t long for this world, but it’s not giving up on the sedan segment. Far from it. The New York-based brand is investing $175 million into its Lansing Grand River assembly plant to build its next-generation sedans. The factory currently builds the ATS, the CTS, and the Chevrolet Camaro. Workers have already started installing the tooling and equipment needed to build Cadillac’s next-generation cars. The investment builds on an earlier $211 million injection that helped the company expand the body shop. Details about the 2 models are beginning to trickle out. Sources close to Cadillac suggest they’ll be called XT4 and XT5, respectively. They’ll replace the ATS, the CTS, and the XTS and they’ll ride on a common platform in a bid to save money during the development process. Both will fall in line with the design language seen on Cadillac’s recent concept cars like the Escala. CT5 production will begin in 2019, meaning we could see it make its debut at a major auto show (or, as is becoming increasingly common, another type of event) either late this year or early next year. The CT4 will follow shortly after. +++
+++ The new third-generation KIA Ceed hatchback will be joined by 2 all-new body styles, as well as the already revealed Sportswagon. A shooting brake will be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in October. This new version will take the Proceed name, previously used on the old Cee’d 3-door model and also used for the shooting brake concept shown at last year’s Frankfurt Motor Show. And like the new hatch, it’ll lose the apostrophe and the underscore from its name. Following on from the new Proceed will be a further variant of the Ceed family, which is likely to be an SUV. Kia will position these new models as more premium than the standard hatch, to bridge the gap towards models such as the Audi A3, Mercedes A-Class and BMW 1 Series, as well as their associated spin-off models. Kia has also confirmed that 48 volt hybrid technology will shortly make it into the new Ceed range, while plug-in and full hybrid versions are also likely. All Ceeds will be based on the new K2 platform, with similar dynamic benefits to the recently-launched hatchback. Expect only the more powerful petrol and diesel models (with hybrid tech, too) to make it into the Proceed and SUV, while they’ll only likely to be available in top spec trim levels, too. That will now include Level 2 autonomous technology as well as the latest connectivity and advanced safety systems. Expect the Proceed shooting brake to go on sale on 2019 with the SUV likely to follow in 2020. +++
+++ LAMBORGHINI is determined to stick with naturally aspirated engines for its super-sports models despite many of its rivals switching to turbocharging to enhance performance and reduce emissions. The company’s technical director, Maurizio Reggiani, also said that he is intent on resisting any pressure to reduce the number of cylinders in its next generation of supercars. “Every car has a mission, and based on that mission you have to choose the right engine”, Reggiani said. “For the Urus the decision was turbo, but we will continue to choose natural aspiration for the super-sports cars. In the future, we will need to take account of fuel consumption and emissions. I am convinced the naturally aspirated engine coupled with a hybrid system can be the right answer”. The Huracán replacement, due in 2022, is likely to become a plug-in hybrid, but Reggiani hinted that the Aventador arriving before then will also switch to part-electric power. He said: “We need to reinvent this icon without losing the characteristics of the current car: carbonfibre, the V12 naturally aspirated engine and other components. Looking forward, if it is a hybrid then in what ways can we compensate for its weight?” Reggiani admits that he sees battery density, and the need to accommodate a significant number of cells, as being nearly as much of a problem as weight for sports cars. Lamborghini is working on a project with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Boston to develop carbonfibre bodywork that can act as a storage battery as well as superconductors. Last year, the Italian car maker revealed the electric Terzo Millennio concept, created with MIT, which showcased next-generation energy storage systems and innovative materials. Reggiani also said that an electrical drivetrain may help to civilise a version of the current Aventador’s sometimes aggressive single-clutch transmission: “You could use the electric motor to ensure that you don’t have torque interruption”. As well as his commitment to a naturally aspirated V12 for the Aventador replacement, Reggiani is planning for the next Huracán to stick with a non-turbo 10-cylinder engine. “The reaction you have to a 10-cylinder engine you cannot have from any other kind. This is what our customers love”, he said. “Why do I need to do something different? If I trust in the naturally aspirated engine, why downgrade my powertrain to a V8 or V6? I am Lamborghini, I am the top of the pinnacle of super-sports cars. I want to stay where I am”. +++
+++ The upcoming MCLAREN 600LT, a hardcore version of the 570S that forms part of the firm’s entry-level Sports Series, will be revealed this month. It will follow suit of the 675LT and recieve a ‘long tail’ (hence the name) to enhance aerodynamics. This change harks back to the McLaren F1 GTR ‘long tail’ that was produced for endurance racing in 1997. Along with a modified body, the 600LT will use a more potent version of the 570S’s 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged V8 producing 600 hp and breathing through a lighter and less restrictive exhaust system. The tailpipes for this exhaust will come through the car’s engine cover. McLaren confirmed that it has reduced the 600LT’s kerb weight (the standard 570S weighs 1.440 kg) but it has yet to reveal a figure. The 675LT shed 100 kg from the 650S it is based on, suggesting the 600LT could tip the scales at less than 1.350 kg. The harcore Sport Series model will make its public debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, when it will be driven up the famous hill climb. Production of customer cars will be “limited to the few”, suggesting the 600LT will be made in similar numbers to the 675LT Super Series model, of which just 500 were made. Because it belongs to the Sports Series, the new car is unlikely to receive quite the same extent of obsessive attention as the 675LT on which it is based and included 110 component changes or deletions just to save weight. Expect lighter wheels, reduced sound deadening, the titanium exhaust that’s already available through McLaren’s MSO department, thinner glass and perhaps a Perspex rear screen. The 600LT is also said to be slightly more road-oriented in focus than the track-honed 675LT and therefore a usable everyday machine that should nevertheless acquit itself with honour on the circuit. The 675LT offered 3 times the downforce of the 650S and McLaren will no doubt be looking for substantial gains on the 600LT, too. Don’t expect huge changes to acceleration or top speed figures, because the 570S is already traction limited and whatever additional power the car receives is likely to be largely offset by the drag created by that additional downforce. The real performance gain is likely to be best measured in a lap time. The 600LT is likely to follow in the footsteps of the 675LT by offering limited-edition models of both coupé and spider variants. +++
+++ The OPEL Astra will benefit from a variety of cosmetic and engineering tweaks next year to keep it competitive against fresher rivals from Ford, Kia and Mercedes. It will be one of the last models from the German firm to be based on old GM underpinnings as the entire model range becomes electrified thanks to new owners PSA by 2024. By the time the updated Astra lands in dealers during the second half of 2019, its competitors will have been strengthened significantly; an all-new Ford Focus will be in showrooms, as will the 8th generation Volkswagen Golf. Opel isn’t planning on beating its rivals with a radical redesign. There’ll only be minor cosmetic tweaks to the headlamps and front bumper, while a minor update around the back is expected. Despite Opel now being under the stewardship of PSA, the Astra will remain on the same GM-developed platform and stick with the same range of engines from the existing model. The cost of developing PSA parts and engines to fit in the current Astra would require too much investment. That means the existing 1.0-litre 3-cylinder turbo petrol will be offered alongside the larger 1.4-litre turbo petrol and 1.6-litre diesel engines; all are expected to benefit from a range of performance and economy tweaks. However, there is the possibility of a warmed-up GSi version of the Astra to broaden the hatch’s appeal and further bolster the GSi brand, which is currently limited to the Insignia and Corsa. If Opel goes ahead with a GSi-badged Astra, the 1.6-litre turbo is the most likely engine for it. Opel is also keen to stress that the flagship OPC is not dead and will return at some point in the future, but not on the current generation of Astra. There will be a more radical overhaul of the Astra when the updated 7th-generation model is phased out in around 2023. The platform, engines, software and hardware will all switch from GM to PSA parts, although question marks remain over whether the car will continue to be produced at its current home of Ellesmere Port in the United Kingdom. A decision on the future of the plant will be made in 2020; 2 to 3 years ahead of the next-generation Astra going on sale. The time is needed to allow Opel to prepare whichever site is selected for production. To date there have been 2 rounds of job losses at Ellesmere Port; 650 employees have taken voluntary redundancy as the site moved from two shifts to one earlier in the year. Wherever it is built the all-new Astra in 2023 will use a new mild hybrid powertrain, which is being developed by Opel for the entire PSA family (that includes Peugeot, Citroen and DS). There’s also the possibility of a plug-in hybrid Astra, too. +++
+++ POLESTAR boss Thomas Ingenlath says that the brand’s future range of performance-tuned Volvo cars, starting with the new S60, won’t dilute Polestar’s identity. Established as a racing team, Volvo bought Polestar to be an in-house tuner of hot variants, but last year spun it off as a separate brand to focus on electric cars. Polestar will start with the plug-in hybrid 1, with subsequent vehicles all full EVs. However, Polestar will continue to produce Polestar Engineered versions of select Volvo models, although these will now exclusively feature electrified powertrains. The S60 Polestar Engineered uses the same T8 hybrid engine as that featured elsewhere in the range, tuned to give 415 hp and 640 Nm of torque. The biggest change is the car’s suspension tuning, in particular the use of Ohlins dampers, designed to offer a more engaging drive. Asked at the launch of the S60 if the Polestar Engineered line could dilute the identity of the Polestar stand-alone brand, Ingenlath admitted: “The danger is there”. However, he added: “From what we do content wise, it’s not something that contradicts. Moving from the previous S60 Polestar Engineered to the new S60 Polestar Engineered matches what we do with the Polestar brand: it’s a commitment to electrification and a premium performance attribute. In the future, the core business and our main business is the Polestar brand, and what we produce to give to the customers with Polestar cars is a base on what we’ll give to Volvo as a spice with Polestar Engineered”. +++
+++ TOYOTA has reaffirmed its promise to make the revived Supra unique in its driving characteristics when compared to its platform mate, the BMW Z4. Toyota wants its car to be a raw sports car with no regard for a luxurious or plush driving experience. The company apparently took a much different approach than the mere badge swap on the Toyota GT86 / Subaru BRZ twins, giving engineers more leeway to adapt the platform for each brand. “Both cars have completely different suspension and software calibration, for example”, Tetsuya Tada, chief engineer for the new Supra and the GT86, told in a recent interview. “Practicality and comfort were almost not considered”. Another Toyota executive recently warned that the new Supra will “not be a cheap car,” with a pure performance focus targeting a different customer than the GT86. Additional details will likely surface ahead of an expected unveiling before the end of the year. +++
+++ VOLKSWAGEN is reviewing whether to seek damages from former Chief Executive Martin Winterkorn, who was at the helm when it emerged the carmaker had cheated on emissions tests, supervisory board member Stephan Weil told. “Damages against former management board members are under serious consideration, I’m not just saying that”, he told in an interview when asked whether Volkswagen (VW) would seek damages from Winterkorn. “Once we know the outcome of investigations, we will make a decision”, said Weil, who represents the German state of Lower Saxony, a VW shareholder, on the company’s board. VW has for years said only lower-level managers knew of the emissions cheating, but U.S. authorities filed criminal charges against Winterkorn earlier this year. This month, Münich prosecutors widened their probe into VW’s premium brand Audi. They said they were investigating Audi Chief Executive Rupert Stadler for suspected fraud and false advertising and for his alleged role in helping to bring cars equipped with illegal software on to the European market. This week they arrested Stadler, citing concerns he might try to interfere with the investigation. The arrest prompted the supervisory board to suspend him and name Bram Schot to take over as interim Audi CEO. Asked why Stadler was suspended rather than removed entirely, Weil said many questions remained unanswered. “It is a matter of fairness to wait until the matter is cleared up. Any normal employer would do that”, he said, adding he could not predict whether Stadler would return to his post. Stadler remains remanded in custody but has not been charged with a crime. VW and Audi have said that Stadler should be presumed innocent unless proven otherwise. +++
+++ VOLVO ’s self-driving car plans will reach a milestone come 2021. The Swedish luxury brand told that it will sell a Level 4 self-driving SUV in 2021. The brand’s Senior Vice President Henrik Green said the next-generation XC90 will offer the advanced self-driving technology as a “4-figure” premium add-on. Green added that the SUV will be able to transport “sleeping passengers” to their destinations on designated roadways with an initial goal to semi-automate drivers’ commutes. A Level 4 self-driving system from Volvo would be a major step forward in the automotive industry. Thus far, Audi has come closest with Level 3 self-driving technology; Level 4 technology does not default back to the driver in case of an emergency. However, Audi has faced regulatory trouble in implementing its system. Volvo said it will work with state and federal regulators to approve the technology. Volvo has recently focused more on the self-driving car segment. Last December, the brand delivered its first self-driving cars for the “Drive Me” project in Gothenburg, Sweden, the automaker’s hometown. Since then, three additional families have received self-driving Volvos to collect precious data and define the technology based on the driver’s role. Volvo has also supplied thousands of cars to Uber for its self-driving car testing. The news of Volvo’s commitment to sell a self-driving XC90 in 2021 also comes after the Volvo invested in Silicon Valley-based Luminar last week. Luminar, which makes an advanced lidar system, will now help Volvo’s research and development process to bring self-driving cars to market with safety at the forefront. Lidar is a key technology to ensure self-driving cars “see” the road ahead. The next-generation XC90 will be built at the company’s new manufacturing plant near Charleston, South Carolina, where the automaker will also build the new S60. +++