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2021 Cadillac Escalade Diesel Has Entered Production, Duramax I6 Produces 277 HP

3 Mar 2021, 21:34 UTC ·
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Mircea Panait

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The fifth-generation Escalade differs from preceding models in many aspects. Now gifted with independent rear suspension instead of a live axle, the pickup truck-based SUV can also be specified with Super Cruise semi-autonomous driving technologies. As the headline implies, customers are further offered a diesel over the gasoline V8.

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According to Cadillac Society, production of the Duramax-engined Escalade is now underway at the Arlington plant in Texas. LM2 is the codename of the inline-six motor, which features 277 horsepower, 3.0 liters of displacement, and a variable-geometry turbocharger. The deep-skirt block is cast from an aluminum alloy that is 25 percent lighter than cast iron. The cylinder liners, however, are constructed from iron to ensure durability.
Priced similarly to the gasoline V8, the Duramax is available on every trim level of the luxury SUV. Be it 2WD or 4WD and the normal or long wheelbase, the diesel-powered Escalade matches the small-block engine with 460 pound-feet (624 Nm) of grunt. Best of all? Peak torque is delivered at 1,500 rpm and it’s maintained until the tachometer indicates 3,000 rpm.
The Duramax-engined Escalade also features a quirky badge on the liftgate, which reads 600D for some reason or another. According to Cadillac, the 600 is an approximation of the torque rating in Newton meters while D stands for diesel. As far as fuel economy is concerned, this motor drinks 23 or 22 miles per gallon (10.2 or 10.7 liters per 100 kilometers) on the combined driving cycle according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
To put those figures into perspective, the 6.2-liter V8 returns 17 or 16 miles per gallon (13.8 or 14.7 liters per 100 kilometers) for the two- and four-wheel-drive versions. The Duramax and the small-block engine are both paired to a 10-speed automatic that was co-developed with Ford.
For the 2021 model year, the Escalade carries a net price of $77,490 for the Luxury trim level with the standard wheelbase and 2WD. At the very top of the lineup, the extended-wheelbase Premium Luxury Platinum and Sport Platinum with 4WD are listed at $107,290 before optional extras.

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2022 Chevrolet Camaro Orders Will Open April 8th, Production Starting June 14th

21 Feb 2021, 12:13 UTC ·
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Mircea Panait

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Based on the Alpha vehicle architecture that's also used by the Cadillac ATS and CTS sedans, the sixth-generation Camaro will reportedly enter the 2022 model year on April 8th according to GM Authority. As for series production, it’s scheduled to start on June 14th at the Lansing Grand River assembly plant in Michigan.
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Not much is going to change over the 2021 Chevrolet Camaro according to GM Authority, but the Golden Bowtie is understood to prepare an update for the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Codenamed LTG, the entry-level motor currently belts out 275 horsepower and 295 pound-feet (400 Nm) of torque, which is not enough to fend off the Mustang EcoBoost.
“A handful of new colors options and a few minor changes to the equipment offered within trim levels” also need to be mentioned, which goes to show that Chevrolet is focused on more lucrative nameplates for the time being. Based on 2020 sales figures, I simply can’t blame the bean counters for it.
Chevrolet sold only 29,775 examples of the pony car last year, which is 38.3 percent worse than the 2019 sales volume for the U.S. if you were wondering. The Mustang and Challenger, by comparison, are down 15.7 and 13 percent to 61,090 and 52,955 units. Alas, the Golden Bowtie couldn’t make a case for a 55th anniversary edition of the Camaro for 2022.
Turning our attention back to the suck-squeeze-bang-blow department, the next level up from the LTG is the LGX 3.6-liter aspirated V6 with 335 horsepower and 284 pound-feet (385 Nm) at the crankshaft. The LT1 small-block V8 ticks all the right boxes with 455 horsepower and 455 pound-feet (617 Nm), and at the very top of the lineup, a blower unlocks 650 horsepower and 650 pound-feet (881 Nm) from 6.2 liters of displacement.
In other words, the most potent Chevrolet Camaro of them all can’t hold a candle to the Shelby GT500 and Hellcat-engined Challenger versions. This condition also explains the woeful sales figures mentioned a little earlier.

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2022 Hyundai Tucson for U.S. Market Starts Production at Alabama Plant

24 Feb 2021, 15:44 UTC ·
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Mircea Panait

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May 20th, 2005 is when Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (HMMA) started production of the 2006 Sonata. This week, HMMA has started production of the 2022 Tucson for the American market, a compact crossover that joins the mid-size Santa Fe sport utility vehicle and two sedans: the compact Elantra and mid-size Sonata.
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“Hyundai Motor Company brought Tucson production to the U.S. because we have proven our ability to build world-class automobiles,” declared Ernie Kim, president and chief executive officer at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama. “Today, the Hyundai brand has positive momentum in the marketplace, thanks to the expanding lineup of sport utility vehicles. The new Tucson will continue that momentum in 2021.”
Scheduled to arrive at dealerships in the spring, the fourth-generation model is easy to recognize thanks to a jewel-like grille and full-width LED light bar that brides a pair of vertical taillamps. Even the side profile is a huge departure from the third generation due to geometric angles and hard edges.
The cockpit is seriously impressive, too, if you remember that Hyundai makes relatively affordable vehicles. From the four-spoke steering wheel to the silver garnish lines that stream from the center fascia to the rear doors, the all-new Tucson is definitely posh. The digital gauge cluster, 10.25-inch media system, and minimalist gear selector are highlights in their own right.
The 2022 model is 6.1 inches (155 mm) longer and 0.6 inches (15 mm) wider than the preceding generation, offering up to 38.7 cubic feet (1,096 liters) of cargo volume. One engine will be available in the first instance, namely the 2.5-liter Smartstream four-cylinder motor that comes standard with 187 horsepower.
An idea torquier and more efficient compared to the 2.4-liter GDI from last year, the 2.5-liter GDI is coupled to an eight-speed automatic with shift-by-wire control, hence the minimalist gear selector. Not long now, a hybrid and a plug-in hybrid centered around a 1.6-liter turbo will be added to the lineup.

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Chevrolet Halts 2021 Corvette Production One Week Over Transmission Supply Issue

25 Feb 2021, 11:12 UTC ·
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Mircea Panait

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Six decades ago, suppliers weren’t as prevalent in the automotive industry as they are today. Why did OEMs gain so much popularity over time? For starters, it’s much cheaper for the automaker to get what it wants from a third party instead of making parts on its own.
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Affordable and good aren’t exactly going to work together, and there are tons of examples in this regard. Hyundai and LG Chem? They messed up the Kona Electric's battery cells, which led to the most expensive EV recall thus far. Replacing the batteries of 82,000 vehicles is estimated to cost at least $900 million, almost half of the automaker’s net profit for 2020.
Two more examples from the not-so-distant past come to mind. General Motors cheaped out on ignition switches, leading to millions of recalled vehicles and 124 deaths. As you’re well aware, Takata filed for bankruptcy over faulty airbags that led to the death of 26 people worldwide.
I’m not saying that suppliers are to blame for the worrisome state of the automotive industry today, but OEMs are responsible for bringing the quality down for many automakers. Why? Well, the automakers are beating down suppliers over the lowest price possible for a part or subassembly.
Cheapening out also translates to a weak supply chain, which brings us to the eighth-generation Corvette. For the umpteenth time since it was revealed for the 2020 model year, the mid-engine Corvette will stop production over a supplier issue. This time around, you can blame Tremec, the company that manufactures the TR-9080 DCT eight-speed transaxle.
The Detroit News learned that Bowling Green will go offline for a week from March 1st to March 5th. “Our supply chain, manufacturing, and engineering teams are working closely with our supply base to mitigate any further impact on production, and we expect the plant to resume normal operations on Monday, March 8th,” declared GM spokesman David Barnas.
On a more positive note, the Z06 is getting closer to its supposed reveal. According to Estero Bay Chevrolet sales specialist Marcus Veiga, July 2021 is when the first performance-oriented C8 Corvette will get out of the bag.

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2021 Ford Bronco Production Starting March 29th, Tipster Suggests

26 Feb 2021, 21:50 UTC ·
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Mircea Panait

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Resurrected after a 25-year hiatus, the Bronco is eating the Jeep Wrangler alive as far as demand is concerned. The Blue Oval has amassed more than 200,000 reservations to date, an amount that mirrors the sales volume of the two-door JL and four-door JLU in the U.S. last year.
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This kind of reception also means that Ford will have a hard time delivering that volume of vehicles in the first year of production, which is why some reservations will be fulfilled next year. Speaking of production, March 29th is when the first dealer demonstrators and press cars will be manufactured.
Bronco6G forum member PREMiERdrum is responsible for this date, citing “a few contacts from my old days as a freelance auto industry journalist.” He also highlights that Ford earned the last federal certifications for the Bronco last week. In other words, every Bronco manufactured at the Wayne assembly plant from here on in is theoretically sellable to the general public.
“After a week or two of final downtime to prepare for both shifts of full production, the Bronco is set to enter 'Phase 1 Mass Production' on March 29th,” said the tipster. These vehicles can be shipped to dealerships as demonstrators after quality control gives the OKTB (OK-to-buy).
These being said, we must go through the available configurations and options at launch. Excluding the First Edition, which sold out even though Ford doubled the production run, there are six trim levels to choose from. The Badlands is the one you want for off-roading, the Base is pretty well equipped for its price, and the Wildtrak is up there at the top of the range.
Most of the trim levels feature a 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder turbo as the standard engine, connected to a seven-speed manual with a crawler gear. A 2.7-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6 can also be had as long as you’re okay with the 10-speed automatic transmission codenamed 10R80 by Ford.
At the start of the 2022 model year, which is expected to start production in December 2021, the Sasquatch Package will be available with the stick shift. 2022 is also when the Bronco family will be joined by the Warthog, and with a bit of luck, the plug-in hybrid powertrain will launch then as well.

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Mercedes-Benz Celebrates Production Milestone With All-New Maybach S-Class

12 Feb 2021, 15:41 UTC ·
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Mircea Panait

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Precisely 2,164,186 passenger cars were sold by Mercedes-Benz last year across the world, which makes the Stuttgart-based manufacturer one of the top dogs in the luxury segment. The BMW brand and BMW Group as a whole, by comparison, finished 2020 with 2,028,659 and 2,324,809 sales.
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Including the smart micro-car brand, Mercedes-Benz is now celebrating the 50-millionth passenger vehicle produced in the past 75 years. The anniversary car is the first example of the all-new Maybach S-Class and was built at Factory 56 in Sindelfingen, Germany. The three-pointed star is very proud of this milestone, but something appears to be odd with the following quote from Jörg Burzer, member of the Board of Management responsible for the Production and Supply Chain.
“Mercedes-Benz has always been synonymous with luxury. That’s why I’m very proud of this very special production anniversary. I would like to thank the colleagues in the plants around the world for their work and their commitment. Their expertise and passion in the production of our stars make the wishes of customers all over the world come true day after day.”
What’s missing from this corporate gibberish, you ask? Well, let us rewind to October 2020 when chief executive officer Ola Kallenius said that “we went a bit too far to cover each and every space into each and every segment. Compact particularly comes to mind.” He is completely right, and the Three-Pointed Star has made this mistake in the early 2000s as well.
The C-Class SportCoupé comes to mind, introduced in the United States for the 2002 model year and discontinued after the 2005 model year. It was the most affordable Merc in the U.S. back then, but the nasty interior and uninspiring powertrain left much to be desired compared to the brand image created by proper Mercedes nameplates such as the S-Class and SL.
Going forward, the German manufacturer is going to pour a lot of resources into EV development because no legacy automaker can ignore the meteoric rise of electric vehicles any longer. A total of six new EQ models will be introduced by 2022, including the EQS that is lovingly nicknamed the S-Class of EVs.

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2021 Polestar 1 Final Build Slots Now Open, Production Will End Later This Year

12 Feb 2021, 11:07 UTC ·
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Mircea Panait

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Inspired by the Volvo Concept Coupé from 2013, Polestar took the veils off the 1 plug-in hybrid grand tourer in October 2017. The most exciting PHEV will number 1,500 units by the end of 2021, when production will grind to a halt. A few build slots are still available but do remember that pricing starts from $155,000, excluding destination charge and extras.
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Produced in Chengdu, China, even though Polestar is the performance division of a Swedish automaker, the halo model packs two electric motors on the rear axle, an integrated starter-generator unit at the front of the car, and a 2.0-liter turbocharged and supercharged four-cylinder engine. Based on the Scalable Product Architecture that debuted in 2014 with the second-generation XC90, the 1 utilizes an eight-speed automatic transmission and a 34-kWh battery for the longest EV range of any PHEV.
That would be 124 kilometers WLTP and 60 miles EPA, to be more precise, which is very impressive given the performance you’re offered and the vehicle’s curb weight. More to the point, Polestar quotes 609 horsepower, 737 pound-feet (1,000 Nm) of torque, and 5,180 pounds (2,350 kilograms) before options.
Dressed to impress in carbon fiber, the 1 blends long-distance comfort with an engaging driving experience thanks to go-faster bits and bobs that include Akebono six-piston brake calipers, Ohlins Dual Flow Valve dampers, a torque-vectoring rear differential, e-controlled suspension, and Pirelli P-Zero summer-only performance tires wrapped around 21” wheels.
Described as “a car unlike any Volvo you have ever seen before” by Doug DeMuro, the 1 isn’t going to receive a successor, at least not in the near future. Polestar is currently doing its best to get the 2 all-electric fastback to customers, and in the background, the Precept Concept will morph into a series-production vehicle that will be probably named… wait for it… the 3.
Expected to be manufactured at a facility in China, the Precept-based 3 should feature a seriously large battery thanks to a 3.1-meter (122-inch) wheelbase. The Sino-Swedish brand hasn’t mentioned the number of motors, but just like its predecessors, the newcomer is likely to feature e-AWD.

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2022 Volkswagen Taos SUV Enters Production in Mexico for the U.S. Market

10 Feb 2021, 16:44 UTC ·
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Mircea Panait

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The final example of the Beetle rolled off the assembly line in Puebla, Mexico, in 2003. The modern-day Beetle ended production at the same factory in 2019, and both lovely bugs will be replaced by the new Taos, which has just entered production in Puebla.
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“The what?” Named after a town in New Mexico, the compact crossover is specifically designed for the North American region according to Volkswagen. What’s more, the Taos will replace lesser variants of the Golf in the United States, as in every single Golf except the go-faster GTI and R.
Scheduled to arrive in showrooms for the 2022 model year, the Taos is offered with front-wheel drive as standard and 4Motion all-wheel drive if you need the extra grip and traction. Slotting directly under the long-wheelbase Tiguan, the CUV challenges the likes of the Chevrolet Trailblazer because it’s 9.3 inches (23.6 centimeters) shorter than a Tiguan.
Just a little roomier than the Golf, the Taos isn’t too shabby in terms of looks either because of the light-up strip that connects the headlights with the badge in the grille. Arteon-like headlights, a clean profile, and the aggressive rake to the D-pillar make this fellow a tantalizing proposition for many demographics. The interior is pretty clean, too, thanks to a digital instrument cluster joined by an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system.
What comes as disappointing for prospective customers and level-headed people like you and me is the aggressive cost-cutting approach to standard equipment. More to the point, active safety features won’t be available as standard, not even basic stuff such as automatic emergency braking.
Shortcomings aside, the Taos one-ups the Nissan Rogue Sport with a 1.5-liter TSI four-cylinder turbo that belts out 158 horsepower and 184 pound-feet (250 Nm) of torque. This engine is paired to either an eight-speed automatic if you settle for FWD or a seven-speed DCT for 4Motion AWD.
No fewer than three grades will be available to purchase for the 2022 model year: S, SE, and SEL. As for the starting pricing, you can look forward to an MSRP of $3,000 less than the Tiguan, give or take a few bucks. The Taos will arrive in U.S. dealerships by the end of this year's second quarter.

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Production Hennessey Venom F5 Finally Ready for Prime Time, Launches December 15

9 Dec 2020, 8:07 UTC ·
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Aurel Niculescu

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It’s been a very long and arduous road, but Hennessey Performance (HPE) is finally getting to the finish line with the upcoming introduction of the Venom F5 hypercar in production guise. Everything seems to be ready, including the company’s all-new logo, for the reveal scheduled for December 15th, 2020.
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According to the tuning company, which is gearing up to become a low-volume manufacturer once again (they did it with the Venom GT, too), complete with new corporate branding and all – we're going to be treated to the global debut of the Venom F5 on December 15th at 12:00 (CT)/18:00 (GMT).
Naturally, with all the commotion surrounding the (botched – according to some) record attempt made by fellow American company SSC with its Tuatara hypercar, there’s just one question to be asked: does Hennessey have a surprise lined up for the introduction?
First showcased back in November 2017, Hennessey’s Venom F5 was just a prototype at the time, and the car slowly unraveled over time. This year, for example, we got to check out its expressive carbon fiber chassis. Sure, HPE kept themselves busy with their tuning side of the business but still had time to add another Venom to the line, their new supercharged Venom 800 based on the 14th-generation 2021 Ford F-150 truck.
Back on point, the Venom F5 featured in the gallery is apparently outdated, as the company says their “all-new model features significant exterior changes over the concept shown at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show.”
It’s all set to arrive with “enhanced aerodynamics, pioneering use of carbon fiber and an aerospace-inspired interior.” Best of all, Fury is also there – for those who forgot, that’s the codename for the bonkers, Hennessey-built 6.6-litre twin-turbo V8 engine making 1,817 hp that will allegedly power the “100% bespoke hypercar” to speeds in excess of 500 kph (311 mph).
Let us rephrase the initial question, then: will it thunder above 316 mph, or not?

Editor's note:

Gallery also includes pictures of the 2018 Hennessey Venom F5 concept.

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2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe Enters Production, Starting Price Still Unknown

11 Dec 2020, 20:56 UTC ·
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Mircea Panait

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Ford may have stolen the Wrangler’s thunder with the Bronco, but Jeep fought back with a couple of new engine options. One of them is the 4xe that boasts 25 miles of EV range and nearly 400 miles of total range.
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“The most technologically advanced Wrangler ever” is offered with four doors and a long wheelbase that isn’t as capable off the beaten path as the two-door JL. Be that as it may, Jeep has gifted the 4xe with the Trail Rated badge that dates back to the 2004 Grand Cherokee, Liberty, and Wrangler.
Now in production at the Toledo Assembly Complex, the eco-friendly utility vehicle combines a 17-kilowatt battery with two electric motors, a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, and a TorqueFlite eight-speed transmission. The 375-horsepower rating isn’t too shabby, but torque is of the essence at 470 pound-feet or 28 pound-feet more than the EcoDiesel.
Wrangler 4xe customers have three drive modes to choose from, starting with Hybrid and Electric. The third – called eSave – is designed to save the battery charge for later use. Regenerative braking happens at all four corners when four-wheel drive is engaged, and all-electric modes will be available in every drivetrain mode, including 4 Low. The Rubicon is the one to have if you plan on taking this bad boy off-road thanks to a 77.2:1 crawl ratio.
One of the biggest mysteries of the 4xe is the price. Jeep isn’t ready to confirm how much greenback you’ll have to pony up for the entry-level trim, but $40,000 would be my guess. By comparison, the four-door Rubicon with the Pentastar V6 retails at $42k excluding freight.
As for the second of two new engine options for model year 2021, the Wrangler Rubicon 392 is rocking a 470-horsepower HEMI V8 with 470 pound-feet of torque. Available with four doors just like the Wrangler 4xe, this fellow is rumored to cost in the mid-to-high $70k range.

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