+++ GENERAL MOTORS (GM) may name its self-driving vehicle the AV1. Recently, a trademark application GM made for this name for use on motor vehicles was uncovered. It’s reasonable to assume that ‘AV’ stands for ‘Autonomous Vehicle’, and could logically be applied to the first road-going self-driving car from GM’s Cruise Automation unit. The name AV1 also conjures memories of the EV1, GM’s very first production electric vehicle that was introduced in 1996 and sold for 3 years. Despite being an important car in the car manufacturer’s history, just over 1,100 units were made and were available through a lease agreement. When production ended in 1999, GM decided to crush the vast majority of the EV1s it had produced. In March, General Motors announced that it will start production of its first autonomous car in Michigan next year. The vehicle in question has been referred to as the Cruise AV, but the production car could very well bear the AV1 moniker. The Cruise AV will be built without a steering wheel, pedals or any other form of traditional controls. The vehicle is based on the all-electric Bolt and, as of March, more than 200 test vehicles had been produced. The company is investing a cool $100 million into the car’s production. “We’re continuing to make great progress on our plans to commercialize in 2019”, said GM president Dan Ammann. “Our Orion and Brownstone teams have proven experience in building high-quality self-driving test vehicles and battery packs, so they are well-prepared to produce the Cruise AV”. +++
+++ The facelifted MERCEDES GLC will gain Level 2 driver assistance technology, as seen on the C-Class, and a new diesel engine when it arrives on roads next year. The updated SUV will come available with the same suite of driver assist systems as its saloon equivalent, including lane-keeping assist technology that can hold the car in a lane without driver input for up to 15 seconds. The systems will be enabled by Mercedes-Benz’s new electric architecture, the Star 2.3 platform, which is also used by the latest C-Class. In the engine line-up, Mercedes will drop the GLC’s OM651 2.2-litre 4-cylinder diesel engine for a new one, codenamed OM654. This unit will come in the 200d, 220d and 300d models. Cars equipped with the OM651 unit were recalled last year to have their software updated, in a voluntary move that Mercedes said was to “strengthen confidence” for owners by lowering the NOx output of their cars. The OM654 unit is Mercedes’ first all-aluminium 4-pot diesel. It’s of 2.0-litre capacity but claimed to offer enhanced performance and reduced CO2 emissions compared with the old unit. Inside, the updated GLC could get Mercedes’ new MBUX infotainment system. This is also due to be used in the EQ C electric SUV, with which the GLC will share much of its structure. MBUX uses a smartphone-like touchscreen and an advanced voice recognition system that enables control of ancillary functions and infotainment. However, Mercedes may choose to reserve this high-tech system for the next-generation GLC, in which case the facelifted car may retain the existing NTG 5.5 system without touchscreen control. This was the case with the recently facelifted C-Class. Exterior design changes to the GLC are expected to be slight (bumpers and lights). +++
+++ The next-generation RANGE ROVER , due by 2021, is intended to eclipse a new era of rivals in the fast-growing super-luxury SUV segment. With competition from the Bentley Bentayga and Rolls-Royce Cullinan as well as upcoming, more mainstream models such as the BMW X7 and new Mercedes-Benz GLS, Land Rover’s task with the 5th generation Range Rover is to create a vehicle that surpasses all of these rivals. It will attempt do so using not only its unique heritage but also technological advancements in powertrains, autonomous driving systems and infotainment. Land Rover recently confirmed that the upcoming Range Rover, alongside the next Range Rover Sport, will use an all-new architecture. The Range Rover, which turns 50 next year, is due early in the next decade. To prepare for these models, its Solihull plant is going through a major refit to accommodate the advanced technology that will be used in future Range Rovers. As a result, production of the Discovery will move from Solihull to Jaguar Land Rover’s new plant in Nitra, Slovakia, from next year, also freeing up room for the potential production of the first electric Range Rovers. The new Range Rover platform will be significantly lighter than the current model’s D7u architecture, and the lightest of all Jaguar Land Rover platforms. Called Modular Longitudinal Architecture (MLA), the aluminium platform will be used on all future Jaguar Land Rover models ranging in size from the Jaguar XE to the Range Rover. By the middle of the next decade, next-generation versions of Jaguar Land Rover’s transverse-engined models are even expected to be switched to MLA too. MLA’s weight saving is crucial to allow for the extra heft of battery packs for electric and hybrid models, plus the technology and drivetrains that MLA has been designed to accommodate. It is understood the next Range Rover, codenamed L460, will closely match the size of the current car, which is 4.999 mm long, 1.983 mm wide and 1.920 mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2.922 mm. That is slightly smaller than the Bentayga except in terms of height, where the Bentley sits lower. The exterior design will be evolutionary, given the Range Rover’s iconic look and the company’s keenness to capitalise on this. The current generation is softer and less angular than the third- generation model, and this pattern is set to continue. Luxury rivals such as Rolls-Royce and Lagonda, Aston Martin’s revived marque, are readying electric models for launch, perceiving a perfect synergy between peaceful electric powertrains and luxury motoring. However, even though MLA can accommodate a fully electric drivetrain, as well as petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid variants, it is understood that the next Range Rover will not initially be offered with one. Instead, Land Rover wants the first electric Range Rover to be a stand-alone model. This will be a tall estate with more car-like qualities than other models in the line-up, and more limited off-road prowes. Electric variants of other Range Rovers will ubsequently be offered as part of normal model line-ups, including a version of the full-size Range Rover set for launch before 2022 and aimed chiefly at Asian megacities. While Land Rover readies an electric Range Rover, the new model will continue with plug-in hybrid technology recently introduced in an update to the existing Range Rover. The MLA’s plug-in hybrid set-up is understood to include an electrified back axle alongside a four-cylinder Ingenium petrol engine, with the electric-only range increased above the 50 kilometres of the current P400e. There will also be changes to the pure-combustion-engined line-up. Currently, there are 3.0-litre V6 and 4.4-litre V8 diesels and supercharged 5.0-litre V8 and 3.0-litre V6 petrols; all sourced externally and all set to be axed. Jaguar Land Rover confirmed in 2016 that its Ford-sourced V6 engines will be replaced by straight-6 Ingenium petrol and diesel units, built at its engine plant in Wolverhampton. By the time the Range Rover arrives, these will be in play, mixed with 48V mild hybrid technology in some versions to improve performance and economy. Real-world testing of the straight-6 diesels has shown NOx emissions to be no higher than 80 mg/km; well under the limits of new regulations. Even with all its new electrified technology, the next Range Rover will keep its peerless off-road ability: Land Rover continues to see this as a key differentiator between it and newer rival offerings. The next Range Rover’s infotainment will be an updated version of the Touch Pro Duo system, which was first seen on the Velar last year. That move represented an overhaul for Land Rover, which had long been criticised for having an outdated interior compared with peers. It has two 10.0 inch screens that can be used simultaneously. Some rotary dials remain and this will continue with the next-generation Range Rover, because Land Rover is determined to keep some of the tactility found in manual actions rather than having every single function running through a touchscreen, including for its latest Terrain Response off-road system. The new flagship will also get an advanced version of the so-called Smart settings, revealed on the Jaguar E-Pace last month. The artificial intelligence system pre-empts occupants’ habits (for example, seat and mirror positions and display preferences) as well adjusting air-con according to the weather. Land Rover’s connected car technology will in due course offer features such as being able to unlock your front door, switch on the kitchen lights and even turn on your TV while you’re on your way home. The next Range Rover could also spearhead Jaguar Land Rover’s advanced autonomous driving systems. The company is already well under way with trialling self-driving technology as part of the UK Autodrive project. Technology such as a vehicle being able to drive to an available parking space and self-park is currently being tested on Discovery prototypes. Not only will the next Range Rover set an important precedent for new generations of Land Rovers, remaining the flagship model for the brand, it will also be a vital car to lead affluent customers into Jaguar Land Rover’s growing Special Vehicle Operations division. Earlier this year, the limited- edition 2-door Range Rover SV Coupé, created by SVO, was revealed. Land Rover believes there is the potential to push the price even higher in the future. +++
+++ France’s capital city and Europe’s leading EV-maker RENAULT have announced their intention to develop new urban electric mobility services in an attempt to combat challenges like public health, climate change, travel issues, accessibility and economics. The result of this joint-venture will be the development of connected and autonomous electric vehicles, as Renault will gradually roll out a commercial offer of electric mobility for Parisians, starting this September. This first offer will feature an electric VTC plan via Marcel from Groupe Renault, a self-service car-sharing Electric Vehicle (EV) plan (accessible 24/7 without stations), and self-service EVs operating in a car-sharing loop aimed at longer journeys (also accessible 24/7). These offers will be based on Renault’s fully electric range, which consists of the Zoé, Twizy, Kangoo van Z.E and Master Z.E. By the end of 2019, these cars will make up a fleet of 2,000 EVs. The second phase of the plan will consist of an open working group, bringing together major cities and companies with a focus on sustained mobility. “As the European leader in electric vehicles, Groupe Renault has also been a player in mobility services for several years, notably through Renault Mobility and the Zity car-sharing system in Madrid. Today, we are delighted to be part of the City of Paris’ desire to develop electric mobility for all, which is safe and respectful of the environment. This shared vision launches an ambitious model that can inspire many cities in France and around the world”, stated Renault VP Thierry Bolloré. +++
+++ America’s love affair with crossovers, pickups and SUV models is having devastating consequences and we’re not talking about their environmental impact. According to an investigation, SUVs are 2 to 3 times more likely to kill pedestrians compared to cars. Government officials have reportedly known about this for years but have “done little to reduce deaths or publicize the danger”. The number of pedestrian deaths in the United States has climbed 46 % since 2009 and the report says SUVs are largely responsible for the increase. This is having deadly results as nearly 6,000 pedestrians were killed in America in 2016. Unsurprisingly, most of the fatalities occur in major cities. Among cities with populations of at least 200,000 residents, Detroit ranked as the most deadly with a pedestrian fatality rate of 34.5 people per every 100,000 residents. Other major cities that ranked high on the list include Newark, Miami, Tampa, St. Louis and Phoenix. SUVs aren’t entirely to blame as many of the pedestrians that were killed, were either jaywalking or had alcohol in their system which could have impaired their judgment. Smartphones have also exploded in popularity since 2009 and it’s likely that a number of drivers and pedestrians, involved in fatal accidents, were distracted by the high-tech devices. While a number of factors go into fatal accidents, the connection to crossovers and SUVs is pretty clear. There is some debate over the exact number, but experts say there was a 69 % increase in single-vehicle pedestrian fatalities involving SUVs between 2009 and 2016. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration mentioned a connection in a 2015 report which said “About one-third of pedestrians who are injured are stuck by an SUV or pickup, which corresponds closely to the make-up of SUVs and pickups in the U.S. vehicle fleet. However, SUVs and pickups account for closer to 40 % of pedestrian fatalities, which suggests that injuries may be more severe when sustained in collisions with these vehicles”. An analysis of 12 different studies showed that pedestrians are 2-3 times more likely to be killed when struck by a pickup or SUV than when hit by a car. This pushed the agency to propose a new ratings system to include a vehicle score for pedestrian safety. The rating was slated to go into effect for the 2019 model year but it hasn’t. The NHTSA declined to say what caused the delay but some automakers are reportedly opposed to the new rating. The news isn’t all bad as a number of automakers offer advanced driver assistance systems which can help to prevent or lessen accidents with pedestrians. These include forward collision warning and autonomous emergency braking systems. +++
+++ The TESLA Model 3 will make its European debut at next week’s Goodwood Festival of Speed. The car to be shown on the Duke of Richmond’s front lawn will be of US specification and will remain a static display, meaning it won’t be driven up the famous hillclimb. But it will provide people in Europe with their first chance to get up close to the new electric car. Deliveries are now predicted to arrive 12-18 months after orders are placed, although only left-hand-drive cars are currently in production. The car is claimed to be capable of covering 500 kilometres on a single charge, according to official tests carried out by the US’s Environmental Protection Agency. This figure applies to the Long Range variant. The car is available with 50 kWh or 75 kWh batteries. The 50kWh model has a claimed range of 350 kilometres, hits 100 km/h in 5.8 seconds and has a top speed of 210 km/h. The Long Range model isa 25 % more expensive and can do 0-100 km/h in 5.3 seconds and has a 225 km/h top speed. The Model 3 will be pitched against the likes of the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series, Jaguar XE and Mercedes-Benz C-Class in terms of pricing and size. A Performance variant is due later, but Musk has previously said a more powerful 100 kWh battery (which is the standard battery for Tesla Performance models) will not fit into the Model 3’s smaller structure. This suggests Tesla might only slightly increase the battery size of the 75 kWh Model 3 for the Performance version. The Model 3 is more than 400 kg lighter than the Model S, so it could be quicker than the Performance version of that car. Model 3 owners will not get free access to the Tesla Supercharger high-speed charging system, with the company planning to charge for electricity as demand grows and it requires more investment to build up the network of chargers. However, if Tesla hits its planned production of 500,000 cars a year (something it has faced an uphill struggle to achieve until the recent 5,000 car per week milestone) analysts predict that it will outsell BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Lexus in the US. Tesla launched its Semi lorry and a new Roadster in prototype form last year, following an injection of $1 billion worth of investment into the company; something Musk has previously said would help the company meet high demand for the Model 3. Tesla has raised capital to help production and ease the financial risk associated with the production run. This has led to a rise in its share price and has been further boosted by reports of its future model plans, including the Model Y compact SUV, according to New York financiers. However, some analysts still question Tesla’s ability to ramp up production to meet its demand. The brand is yet to make a profit, although the latest reports suggest it could do so later this year. +++
+++ In the UNITED STATES , auto sales in the first 6 months of 2018 appear to be a trend toward equilibrium in an industry which has seen erratic swings over the past 2 years. The first 2 reporting manufacturers were Toyota and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA). The former managed a slight bump in sales over June of last year, with a strong performance from its core brand and a lukewarm month from Lexus. FCA, by comparison, is on a tear. After some fits and starts early in the year, the company’s Jeep and Ram brands seem to have hit their strides, which pushed the automaker to its best June retail numbers since 2004. Yes, retail. Jeep Wrangler remains the second-best-selling vehicle in FCA’s entire portfolio with more than 23,000 units sold in June and more than 133,000 for the year. Only the Ram pickup line does better. It has been a couple of years since we’ve speculated regarding Jeep’s ability to clear 1 million units sold in a single year. 6 months in, the brand is at 495,000 and change. Keep an eye on that. Honda checks in with good months from both its core brand and luxury subsidiary Acura, the latter appearing to finally benefit from the new RDX hitting the retail pipeline. RDX set a record not just for June, for the model, or for 2018, but for Acura-badged SUV sales period with 7,292 units sold. The MDX held the previous top slot, and that record had stood since 2014. Nissan’s shift away from volume has cost it year-to-date, but June was good to Yokohama, with a 2.5 % bump over last June. Infiniti, however, continues to slump. Mazda reported another fantastic month, up more than 20 % compared to last June on strong sales from (you guessed it) its entire CX lineup. It’s also worth noting that Mazda6 had a bit of a boom month, though its YTD sales haven’t budged in either direction. Some may call that a win in a sales climate this hostile to sedans. Speaking of hostility and climate, Volkswagen also reported an uptick in June, with a 5.7 % monthly increase and total sales just under 29,000. All of Volkswagen’s gains are attributable to Atlas and Tiguan, as has been the trend for the year. Every other vehicle family is down significantly. Audi, as has become the expectation, manage to wring just enough volume out of its network to keep its streak alive. While the Mazda-VW bout may interest some of you, it’s worth noting that Subaru outsold them both in June. Yes, combined. With Ascent on the lots, expect Subaru to put up more silly numbers as 2018 goes on. Subaru is now within 5,000 units of Hyundai year-to-date, and well ahead of Kia. That said, Hyundai came out of nowhere with a big June. Kona is no doubt contributing to that and Tucson had a decent month, but it was a relatively gangbuster performance by Elantra that pushed up our eyebrows. Since June marked the end of the second quarter, we get to include GM sales in this month’s story. Unfortunately, given the lack of granularity in its results, it’s difficult to talk about trends. A few noteworthy things do stick out. For starters, Buick Regal sales are up, which is good news given the expansion of its lineup for 2018. The bad news? They’ve still only sold just over 8,000 of them so far this year. That makes it a slightly stronger seller than the Chevrolet Bolt EV. In the luxury segment, Mercedes-Benz lead Lexus in June with more than 26,000 sales. BMW lead the pack with 29,407. Elsewhere in the luxury space, it’s safe to say that Jaguar and Land Rover have again become rooted in reality, with the former under-performing and the latter selling at a rate that reflects a market that is heavily infatuated with pickups and SUVs. Remarkable sales results in June were: Alfa Romeo (up 121 %), Bentley (down 24.3 %), Chrysler (down 32 %), Fiat (down 36 %), Genesis (down 50.7 %), Hyundai (up 19.6 %), Infiniti (down 12.8 %), Jaguar (down 20.1 %), Jeep (up 19 %), Land Rover (up 21.2 %), Mazda (up 20.4 %), Mitsubishi (up 46.2 %), Smart (down 44.2 %), Subaru (up 15 %), Tesla (up 36.4 %), Volvo (up 35.1 %). +++
+++ VOLKSWAGEN ’s Golf R has followed suit of the Seat Leon Cupra by having its power output downgraded due to changes forced by the new Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP). Output from the turbocharged 2.0-litre 4-cylinder engine is now rated at 300 hp, down from 310 hp in the pre-WLTP car. A VW spokesman told: “In the context of new homologations, there are adaptions for the exhaust gas treatment and for the power output. From now on, all Golf R models will feature a 300 hp engine”. Although VW refrained from revealing technical details that show why the power output has changed, it’s thought that the more stringent emissions limits of WLTP (which uses real-world testing rather than the lab-based process of the outgoing New European Driving Cycle, NEDC) has forced the company to fit a more restrictive exhaust system that reduces its real-world nitrogen oxide output. The move will affect cars currently on order. VW said it will contact those awaiting their cars to be built to inform them of the changes. The Golf R range has also been slimmed down to just the 5-door bodyshape and DSG gearbox, meaning the 3-door and manual models are no longer offered; a move that is linked to customer demand. VW and Seat are 2 of several manufacturers racing to change the specifications of their cars ahead of the introduction of WLTP in September. Some models are even being culled ahead of the deadline, such as the BMW M3, which is being axed because, as a BMW spokesman said, it doesn’t make economical sense to re-engineer a model that is relatively close to the end of its production cycle. BMW recently confirmed that it had retested its range to WLTP standards, with increases in CO2 and reductions in fuel economy shown across the line-up. This is expected to be true of all retested cars with combustion engines due to the tougher requirements of the new procedure. +++
+++ VOLVO has announced the launch of a mobility brand called M, aimed at providing customers with on-demand access to cars through a new app. The service will do more than map available cars and pick-up points. It will learn about its users, to deliver what Volvo says will be a more personalised service. It’ll launch in Sweden and the United States in 2019, with a Dutch roll-out likely early next decade. Mobility brands are becoming more and more a part of future plans for many carmakers. Volkswagen is currently plotting a launch for its MOIA brand, which will approach ride sharing and on-demand vehicles through the use of specially built all-electric and autonomous minivans. The PSA Group has revealed a car-sharing scheme called Free2Move, while Ford is working with ride-hailling app Lyft to develop a fleet of on-demand autonomous taxis, with the brand aiming to launch by 2021. Volvo already has 20 years experience when it comes to running a car sharing service. The firm’s Sunfleet sub-brand has been operating in Sweden in 1998, with a fleet some 1,700 vehicles strong. This service will be rolled into newly established M in 2019. Public Beta testing begins this autumn. M will become another non-traditional revenue stream for Volvo, lining up alongside the firm’s On-Call and Care by Volvo services. According to Volvo CEO Hakan Samuelsson, the brand is aiming to build “more than 5 million direct consumer relationships” through services like these by 2025. +++