Volkswagen Pulls The Plug On The Scirocco, Mk4 Reportedly In The Offing As An EV

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Volkswagen Pulls The Plug On The Scirocco, Mk4 Reportedly In The Offing As An EV

15 Oct 2017, 8:34 UTC · by Mircea Panait
/ Home / News / Car Profile

Previewed by the IROC Concept in 2006, the Scirocco is officially dead. Produced in Portugal since 2008, the sports compact hatchback had it coming for a long time now. So what gives?
25 photosWell, bear in mind the Scirocco shares the Volkswagen Group A5 (PQ35) platform with the fifth-generation Golf. And as a brief refresher, the Golf Mk5 entered production in 2004, so yeah, the underpinnings are obviously old. But that’s not all there is to the downfall of the Scirocco Mk3. Far from it, in fact.
The Scirocco R may be the crowning achievement of the range, but in comparison to the Golf R, the go-faster model didn’t feature 4Motion all-wheel-drive. With 276 hp (280 PS) and 258 lb-ft (350 Nm) sent to the front wheels, you can bet your sweet bippy it’s hard to push the R to its limits.
Volkswagen didn’t offer a formal announcement about the Scirocco’s demise, though confirmation comes from the German configurator of the 3-door hatchback. “The Scirocco can no longer be ordered with individual equipment. However, finished vehicles are available for you,” and that’s basically that.
Volkswagen offers the remaining Scirocco inventory in three trim levels, with prices starting at 24,950 euros for the entry-level specification. Der Scirocco “Sound” is 28,250 euros, while the range-topping Scirocco GTS is 31,825 euros. That’s right, ladies and gents, the most powerful Scirocco currently on sale has 220 ponies to play with, which is 10 less than the Golf GTI offers.
To make matters worse, the Golf GTI is €2k cheaper than the Scirocco GTS. Particularly in an SUV-driven market, the Scirocco didn’t make sense anymore from a commercial standpoint, especially if you consider how capable the Golf 7.5 is in GTI and R specifications. And on that sad, sad note, all is not lost.
Reports in the motoring media suggest Volkswagen might be interested in bringing back the Scirocco at some point in the future, riding on the MEB platform. With an all-electric powertrain, the Scirocco Mk4 is expected to be offered in two configurations. The entry-level model will reportedly make use of a 170-PS electric motor, while the Scirocco R is supposed to get a twin-motor powertrain rated at 300 PS. Word has it the Scirocco EV will offer 200 miles at the least (322 kilometers), 375 miles tops (604 kilometers).

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2019 Subaru Ascent Production Will Create New Jobs At Indiana Plant

19 cup holders, seating for eight, and the platform from the Impreza. The Ascent is the next big thing for Subaru, and as the automaker prepares to roll out the mid-size crossover next year, the Lafayette plant will benefit from a $140 million investment to support production of the newcomer.

As part of those $140 million, the Indiana-based plant will grow … (continue reading >>)

JK/JKU Wrangler Production Ending In April, JT Scrambler Pickup Truck Incoming

The JL and JLU are the best Wrangler models yet in more than one way, but Jeep hasn’t pulled the plug on the JK and JKU. The former-generation SUVs are still being manufactured in Toledo, Ohio, but the end is near for both models.

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New Aston Martin V8 Vantage Is Almost Sold Out For The First Year Of Production

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New Aston Martin V8 Vantage Is Almost Sold Out For The First Year Of Production

23 Nov 2017, 15:01 UTC · by Mircea Panait
/ Home / News / Car Profile

At $149,995, the all-new Aston Martin Vantage is more expensive than the model it replaces. But despite the price hike, the automaker has trouble with satisfying the demand for the British sports car with a German heart.
51 photos
Bloomberg had a chat with Dr. Andy Palmer, the architect behind Aston Martin’s “Second Century” plan and the man who OK’d the way the all-new Vantage looks. And according to Palmer, “most of our production for next year is already sold out,” which means the waiting list is growing with each and every day that passes. This, however, is good news for AM.
The 2005 Vantage was a huge hit, selling 21,500 examples over the course of 12 years. With the incredible demand the all-new generation was met on its world debut, color us surprised the succeeding model won't outsell the forerunner in a few years' time. After all, it targets a completely different audience compared to the former-gen Vantage.
Did you think the unconventional looks are a coincidence? Think again, for Palmer made it clear the V8 Vantage is “aspirationally younger, cooler, better.” You know, the sort of customers who don't want an Aston Martin because James Bond has one, but because the Porsche 911 is too generic for their liking.
The M177 engine, which doesn’t come from the Mercedes-AMG GT, sweetens the deal with 510 PS (503 horsepower) and 685 Nm (505 pound-feet) of torque. Not only does it give the DB11 V8 a run for its money, but the Vantage also happens to be developed from the get-go to be as sporty as possible without making too many compromises in terms of comfort.
Next year will see the introduction of the manual-equipped V8 Vantage, and later on, Aston Martin will expand the lineup with the V12 Vantage. The ultimate expression of the smallest model in the range will borrow the 5.2-liter twin-turbo V12 from the DB11. The AE31 will take on the almighty Ferrari 812 Superfast in the next-generation Vanquish, which is currently testing on the Nurburgring within an inch of its life.

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Dual-Motor Model 3 Production Imminent As Tesla Registers First VINs

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Dual-Motor Model 3 Production Imminent As Tesla Registers First VINs

23 Jan 2018, 13:09 UTC · by Mircea Panait
/ Home / News / Car Profile

Production of the Model 3 started with great pomp and circumstance in July 2017, and to this day, Tesla has yet to hit the production target it has set for the most affordable car it has ever offered. But 2018 will see Tesla hopefully get its act together.
5 photosA quick look at Tesla.com reveals all-wheel-drive Model 3s will start production in spring 2018, with international deliveries of left-hand drive vehicles to start in the second half of the year. Come 2019, the Fremont plant will welcome the right-hand drive Model 3 for markest such as the UK.
But first, let’s focus on the Dual-Motor Model 3. According to Model 3 VINs on Twitter, the Palo Alto-based electric vehicle automaker registered 19 examples of the dual-motor variant, ranging from vehicle identification numbers 8370 to 8388. A look-up on NHTSA.gov confirms the info.
Given these circumstances, Tesla is certain to have addressed some of the bottlenecks that hampered the Model 3 in the past. And as it’s the case with the S and X, the 3 with Dual-Motor integrates a permanent-magnet motor in the front axle that should mirror the output of the rear drive unit.
It remains to be seen if it’s the same design as the electric motor in the rear-wheel-drive Model 3, which develops 258 horsepower according to the EPA filing when matched with the extended-range battery. The Model 3 Performance, on the other hand, is certain to up the ante even further. The difference is likely to be made by the output of the rear electric motor.
Whatever kind of surprise the automaker has in mind for the Model 3 Dual-Motor and Model 3 Performance, you can bet your sweet bippy 2018 will be a better year for Tesla's new contender in the EV arena. Production was upped in December 2017 to more than 1,000 Model 3s per week. By the end of the first quarter of 2018, the production target is 2,500 units per week.
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Confirmed: Subaru WRX STI Leaves Europe After 2018, Special Edition Incoming

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Confirmed: Subaru WRX STI Leaves Europe After 2018, Special Edition Incoming

22 Nov 2017, 16:57 UTC · by Mircea Panait
/ Home / News / Industry

In a Facebook post published by Subaru of Germany, the Japanese automaker confirmed a suspicion that set the WRX STI community on fire in the past couple of weeks. And that is, the performance-oriented sedan will be pulled off from Europe at the end of 2018. The reason for this decision? The EJ25 engine.
11 photosHere’s Christian Amenda, the managing director of Subaru Deutschland: “The WRX STI has a long and successful motorsport history and enjoys a small but loyal fan base. The increasingly stringent [CO2] emissions regulations in Europe make the [commercial] conditions for such a classic athlete more difficult, which is why Subaru has opted to stop production.” Clear enough?
Fret not, for the WRX and WRX STI will live on in markets such as the United States of America. Over in Europe, however, the writing was on the wall eons before the current breed went official in 2014 for MY 2015. Take Germany as the best case in point possible, a market where high-performance automobiles are in demand. From 2011 to date, Subaru sold less than 1,000 examples of the rally-bred WRX STI in Deutschland, so that’s that.
This is not the end of the Euro-spec WRX STI, though, with the automaker highlighting that “there’s gonna be some delicacies” in 2018. Most likely, Subaru might adapt the Type RA for the Old Continent or offer the WRX STI in 50th Anniversary Edition flavor. Another possibility might be the Final Edition announced for the UK market only recently. What’s more, hearsay suggests work is underway on the next-generation WRX and WRX STI.
According to the rumor mill, the newcomer will welcome hybridization to improve both performance and carbon dioxide emissions. But as Subaru prepares to take the veils off the Ascent seven-seat crossover at the 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show, a second rumor made the rounds. And that is, why wouldn’t the next-generation WRX and WRX STI get the Ascent's 2.4-liter turbocharged boxer engine as a replacement for the venerable EJ25?
Whatever trick Subaru will pull out of the hat for the next generation, don’t expect the torch to be passed before 2020. And with that, now’s the right time to place an order on the WRX STI if you like the smell of a new car.
Editor's note:

UK-spec Subaru WRX STI Final Edition pictured.

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Skoda Expands Karoq Production To Second Plant

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Skoda Expands Karoq Production To Second Plant

23 Jan 2018, 9:57 UTC · by Mircea Panait
/ Home / News / Car Profile

Mlada Boleslav may be the stomping ground of Skoda, but the Karoq’s place of origin is Kvasiny. But as demand for the compact-sized crossover keeps on growing, the automaker sees fit to add the all-new Karoq to the Mlada Boleslav plant too, effective January 2018.
33 photos“We are proud to have established Mlada Boleslav – beside Kvasiny – as a further production site for the Karoq in the Czech Republic,” declared Michael Oeljeklaus, board member for production and logistics at Skoda Auto. “The high demand for our SUV models underlines the fact that we have launched the right vehicles at the right time.”
When all is said and done, the Karoq is more appealing than the Yeti it replaces, whichever way you look at it. With pricing from less than €20,000 for the front-wheel-drive model with a manual transmission and the 115-horsepower 1.0 TSI, the newcomer bridges the gap between the best-selling Octavia and Kodiaq. A smaller crossover (subcompact in size), based on the SEAT Arona, will be added to the lineup in 2019.
To keep up with demand, Skoda poured lots of money into Mlada Boleslav to sustain production. On full song, the factory is capable of producing 320 examples of the Karoq on a daily basis. The fact of the matter is, no other Skoda except for the Karoq is made in two Czech plants, and that’s saying something about the model’s commercial success.
In addition to value for money and ample space, the Karoq is gifted with Kodiaq-infused styling and the dynamic capabilities of Volkswagen’s MQB platform. Customers who want the best Skoda can offer are offered optional extras that include LTE connectivity with Wi-Fi hotspot, a fully customizable digital instrument cluster, and the seven-speed DSG gearbox.
At the present moment, the most powerful Karoq is the 1.5 TSI and 2.0 TDI, both rated at 110 kW. Research and development head Christian Strube is advocating for a hotter Karoq, though it remains to be seen if the higher-ups will give him the go-ahead for the RS.

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Volvo XC40 Starts Production, T5 Twin Engine PHEV And EV Coming In 2018 And 2019

The smallest utility vehicle Volvo ever made is now production reality. The XC40 started rolling off the assembly line in Ghent, Belgium today, and the first customer-bound crossovers are en route to Volvo dealers.

To date, Volvo received more than 13,000 orders for the newcomer of the XC family… (continue reading >>)

Toyota And Mazda Choose Huntsville, Alabama For U.S. Factory

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Toyota And Mazda Choose Huntsville, Alabama For U.S. Factory

10 Jan 2018, 19:31 UTC · by Mircea Panait
/ Home / News / Industry

A whopping $1.6 billion. That’s how much Toyota and Mazda will invest in setting up a production plant in Huntsville, Alabama. Announced in May 2016, the U.S.-based joint factory will open its doors in 2021 and will see up to 4,000 workers churn out up to 300,000 vehicles per year.
50 photosLocated approximately 150 miles from the Tuscaloosa site operated by Mercedes-Benz and 15 miles from Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Alabama, Inc., the Huntsville facility is described by both parties as a “mutually beneficial long-term partnership.” What that means is, Toyota will acquire 5.05 percent of Mazda, whilst Mazda will get 0.25 percent.
Toyota’s 11th manufacturing plant in the United States, and the second in Alabama, will welcome the next generation of the Toyota Corolla to its assembly line. Mazda, meanwhile, announced that it’s working with the North American office “to introduce a totally new and different type of SUV,” a damn cryptic choice of words if you think about it for a minute.
The State of Alabama is, at the present moment, the 5th largest manufacturer of cars of light trucks in the U.S. of A. More than 150 tier 1 and tier 2 suppliers are supporting the industry, translating to something in the ballpark of 57,000 automotive manufacturing jobs in the Cotton State.
“The partnership between Mazda and Toyota will expand innovative automotive manufacturing in Alabama,” said governor Kay Ivey. “Their decision to locate this new facility in Huntsville is a testament to the talented workforce in our state. We are proud that this partnership puts Alabama on the forefront of technology in this dynamic global industry.”
Other than the new production plant, Mazda and Toyota are joined at the hip. First there’s electrification technology the two will share, then there’s the rotary extender engine, but that’s not all. If the wildest of rumors are to be believed, the next-generation Mazda6 is expected to go rear-wheel-drive thanks to the Toyota-developed FR platform. The same backbone is anticipated to help the RX-9 rotary sports car happen.

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Polestar 1 Production Plant Starts Construction In China

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Polestar 1 Production Plant Starts Construction In China

20 Nov 2017, 13:55 UTC · by Mircea Panait
/ Home / News / Industry

Chengdu isn’t just one of the most populous areas in the People’s Republic of China, but it briefly served as the capital of the country from 1949 until the closure of the Chinese Civil War. Chengdu is the region’s equivalent to Silicon Valley in the United States, which might have had something to do with Polestar deciding to set base in this area of China.
21 photosSpun off from Volvo as a standalone brand and controlled by Geely, Polestar announced that the production facility for the 1 plug-in hybrid supercoupe is coming together in Chengdu. By mid-2018, the factory should be completed and ready to start tooling and pre-production tests.
The nine-month construction plan is challenging in its own right, but then again, the Polestar 1 is a plug-in hybrid unlike any before it. If that wasn’t impressive enough, Polestar highlights the plant “will be the most environmentally-responsible car factory in China.” And that’s saying something considering China’s environmental record isn’t all that green.
“We are building a Production Centre that is a reflection of our brand,” declared head honcho Thomas Ingenlath. “A facility that is modern, progressive, technically advanced and environmentally responsible. The Polestar Production Centre will be an embodiment of the Polestar brand.”
Described by its maker as a grand touring coupe, the 1 features a performance-oriented powertrain with 600 horsepower on tap and up to 150 kilometers of electric range. To whom it may concern, that translates to the longest pure electric distance of any hybridized car in the world.
Production of the 1 will start by mid-2019 and be capped at 500 examples per year, with pricing expected to range from €130,000 to €150,000 ($153,000 to $177,000) for the entry-level trim. There’s also the possibility Polestar will adopt the Care by Volvo subscription service introduced by the XC40. It all boils down to a flat fee that covers things such as the cost of the car, insurance, and maintenance into one monthly paid installment.

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