Author: Tabitha
Volkswagen’s battery-powered entry driven by veteran racer Romain Dumas didn’t just break the Pikes Peak “Race to the Clouds” record in Colorado on June 24, they flat-out shattered it, breaking the eight-minute barrier in the 14.4-mile (19.9-kilometre) climb to 14,110 feet (4,300 meters) above sea level. That’s more than 16 seconds faster than anyone else. Now paved to the summit, the course allows electric powertrains with extreme downforce aerodynamics to excel. Dumas drove the VW I.D. R racecar to the summit in a time of 7:57. Since Sebastien Loeb set a record of 8:13 in 2012, only one other driver…
Audi is testing an application system that allows it to paint vehicles more than one color at a time in one pass, without any overspray between different-colored panels. Unique to the industry, it’s being tested at a pilot paint shop in Ingolstadt, Germany, painting vehicle roofs black to contrast other body colors. Painting a car in different colors at once is both economical and environmentally friendlier than having to make multiple applications, the automaker said in a statement. Eliminating time-consuming and material-intensive masking off would no longer be necessary, “saving time and money.” A robot-controlled, high-precision instrument measures the laser-braised…
Convertibles are mostly about fun-in-the-sun touring, but they’re not much fun when your hair is constantly blowing in your face or you’re forced to wear a ball cap. Then there are the wind gusts that force you to shout at your driving partner and/or crank up the audio-system volume to be heard. A solution is to install a wind deflector, such as the ones available from Love the Drive. The company makes them for a variety of models, including the first-generation Ford Mustang, the 1967 Chevrolet Camaro and Pontiac Firebird, the newer Chrysler Sebring/200, as well as several import-based brands.…
Finding yourself with a flat tire and no spare — or without the means to install one — can be a serious, perhaps even life-threatening problem. FlatterUP can get you going again by taking air from the three inflated tires and equalizing their pressure in all four tires. This is done by connecting the product’s polyurethane hose to the four valve stems. Provided the flat tire doesn’t have a hole that simply drains the air from the other three tires, this could allow you to safely reach the closest service station or your home. Inflation takes about two minutes and…
The death of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ CEO at age 66 on July 25 has shocked the automotive world. It was the sweater-wearing Marchionne, a Canadian at the helm of Fiat, who engineered a turnaround strategy that restored the former Chrysler Corporation from bankruptcy to profitability. This, after seeming indifference under Mercedes-Benz’s control, followed by years of ineffective ownership by private-investment firm Cerberus. Marchionne’s aggressive, no-nonsense stewardship was just what the ailing Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram divisions needed, but it was Jeep and Ram that became the most profitable, by far. Although not everything Marchionne touched turned to gold —…
The market for luxury pickups is booming these days, along with the sky-high prices being charged for them. To that end, The Sleuth is not that surprised that Ford will make available the 450-horsepower twin-turbocharged V-6 from the off-road Raptor model in the premium four-door F-150 Limited SuperCrew for 2019. The engine was originally introduced in the 2017 Raptor and makes the same 510 pound-feet of torque. Of course the F-150 Limited SuperCrew won’t have the Raptor’s off-road-capable suspension, underbody protection and knobby 31-inch tires. Instead, the Limited gets the full-on luxury treatment, including dual sunroofs, ventilated two-tone leather seats,…
The Spy Guy’s sources are hearing that the rumored project that would have seen both automakers collaborate on the creation of a compact sedan using the same platform and engine(s) has been shelved. Apparently the main reason is said to be a major shift in buyer interest toward tall wagons. The cancellation shouldn’t affect the current sharing going on with the Infiniti QX30 and the Mercedes-Benz GLA (they have the same architecture and engines). M-B on its own holds the edge in small-premium-car development with the new 2019 A-Class hatchback that arrives in North America later this year. In this…
Yes, that’s what The Sleuth’s sources have discovered. Apparently the Blue Oval automaker has the popular Subaru Outback wagon in its sights and plans to create a similar model with standard all-wheel-drive and a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, or an optional V-6. Rumor has is that the Fusion name is being retained due to pressure from Ford dealers who believe that it’s is familiar with car buyers. The Fusion wagon is expected in 2020 as a 2021 model. The Fusion sedan is on the way out, but the name might be used for a new wagon model.
The England-based builder of luxury, speed and beauty, said it will increase spending on electrification for future vehicles by 25 percent to US $18 billion, reports the Bloomberg news service. The luxury automaker stated that the catalyst for the increased spending was failing demand for diesel-powered vehicles across Europe. JLR announced in 2017 that all its products would be available in an electric version after 2020. The new investment, announced in late June, will see JLR offer three versions of each vehicle: a gasoline-powered model; a hybrid; and a pure electric version. That could change, however, depending on the public’s…
A pilot program by utility Southern California Edison (SCE), which recently installed its 1,000th charging point in the Golden State, wants to spend an additional $760 million to expand it by another 48,000 outlets. SCE’s Charge Ready program will have as part of its focus making charge points available at apartment buildings and condominium complexes throughout the state, reports Charged Electric Vehicles Magazine. In addition to installing and maintaining the system, the program offers rebates to help reduce costs to EV owners. Hyundai’s Fountain Valley headquarters installed 44 charging stations under the program, exposing more individuals in the local community,…