2018 Chevrolet Corvette Production Coming To An End In January

On January 22, the 2018 Corvette will stop production at the Bowling Green plant in Kentucky. That, in turn, translates to four months of production, making the 2018 model year one of the shortest lived. More to the point, 2018 MY production will total 9,700, which is sensibly less compared to the 32,782 examples built in model year 2017. And a… (continue reading >>)

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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Volkswagen I.D. Countdown: e-Hatchback Confirmed For Late-2019 Production Start

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Volkswagen I.D. Countdown: e-Hatchback Confirmed For Late-2019 Production Start

4 Dec 2017, 12:02 UTC · by Mircea Panait
/ Home / News / Industry

The Modularer Elektrobaukasten is a huge leap forward for the Volkswagen Group, probably bigger than the MQB is for the current crop of front-engine, front- and all-wheel-drive models. Shortened to MEB, the modular platform will enter production at the end of 2019 at the Zwickau plant in Germany, with the first electric vehicle of the I.D. family.
81 photosThe countdown started today at the MEB Supplier Summit, with Volkswagen confirming that more than 100 suppliers have been nominated within the framework of the electric offensive. Coincidence or not, 100 weeks are left until VW AG embraces e-mobility at full speed.
In addition to the I.D. hatchback, previewed by the Golf-sized concept of the same name, the Elektrobaukasten will be employed by an additional 31 models from Audi, Skoda, SEAT, and other group-owned brands. “Volkswagen brand alone will be offering more than 20 all-electric models by 2022 and will be investing about €6 billion in e-mobility over the next five years,” declared head honcho Herbert Diess.
Following the I.D. hatchback, the MEB-based Volkswagen lineup will welcome the I.D. Buzz (electric Microbus) and I.D. Crozz (electric crossover). The Wolfsburg-based automaker expects to have built more than 100,000 MEB vehicles by the closure of 2020. The secret to this output is the reduced complexity of the platform and the modularity, with Elektrobaukasten capable of front-, rear-, and all-wheel-drive applications.
“We intend to work together [with our suppliers] to ensure that Europe is ahead in the global race to the lead in e-mobility,” added Diess, a strategy that “will enable us to write a new chapter in the history of the automobile.” Reading between the lines, this claim is a subtle middle finger salute to Elon Musk’s endless boasting and Tesla’s failure to ramp up Model 3 production.
As part of today’s announcement, Volkswagen confirmed that MEB electric vehicles will make their way to the United States and China from 2020 onwards.

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2018 Lamborghini Urus Partially Revealed On The Assembly Line

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2018 Lamborghini Urus Partially Revealed On The Assembly Line

18 Oct 2017, 11:46 UTC · by Mircea Panait
/ Home / News / Car Profile

The House of the Raging Bull is proud of its ongoing strategic investment program, which sees the Sant’Agata Bolognese facility expand from 80,000 to 160,000 square meters. Without beating around the bush, most of the money was poured into an all-new factory, which will handle production of the Urus.
17 photosIn fact, pilot production is already underway, with the following video teasing many bits and bobs of the “Super SUV” that will likely take the Nurburgring record from the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio. And the bottom line is, Lamborghini intends to double its production output to 7,000 vehicles per year.
Other than the all-new assembly line, finishing department, and office building, the investment also brings worth an all-new test track with thirteen different surfaces specific to sport utility vehicles. Dubbed Manifattura Lamborghini, the Urus-building factory and its annexes were completed in 18 months. And as expected, the facility relies heavily on robots and automation.
The line that handles Urus production is called Industry 4.0 and is dedicated to the SUV that shares its underpinnings with the Audi Q7, Porsche Cayenne, and Bentley Bentayga. From the video of the Manifattura Lamborghini, it’s easy to spot at least three unfinished Urus vehicles. The one on the assembly line features carbon ceramic brakes, which is a must in a hefty sport utility vehicle.
The clip further treats us to the design of the five-spoke alloy wheels and the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 developed by Porsche, as well as the side profile and front fascia of the Urus. It’s no LM002, but according to Lamborghini, the technology built into the Urus makes it properly capable in off-road scenarios.
Packing at least 650 horsepower and mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission, the Urus will be followed by a plug-in hybrid model in the near future. As a brief refresher, the Italian automaker will take the veils off the all-new SUV on December 4 at the Sant’Agata Bolognese site.

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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.

A WARN notice filed by Hyundai Mobis North America with the Sta… (continue reading >>)

Maserati Cuts Production for a Month Due to Lack of Demand

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Maserati Cuts Production for a Month Due to Lack of Demand

19 Dec 2017, 20:18 UTC · by Mihnea Radu
/ Home / News / Car Profile

While most car manufacturers are talking about all-time high sales and employee bonuses for 2017, Maserati's people will be taking a month-long siesta.
5 photosMore specifically, the Ghibli and Quattroporte sedans will stop being made between December 15 to January 15. Meanwhile, the Levante, which is doing slightly better, will be out of production from December 20 to January 15. And as for the GranTurismo and GranCabrio, they will be out from December 15 to January 8th, according to Automotive New Europe.
“It is clear that production is slowing down and investment in new models are on hold,” union boss Federico Bellono told the publication.
On paper at least, adding an SUV to the roster seemed like the perfect solution to Maserati's slow sales. However, competition is harsher than ever, and the V6 engine just couldn't do a good enough job to hide the Levante's flaws.
About a year after the Quattroporte was launched, it because clear that Maserati was going to continue struggling, as production was slowed. In 2017 alone, the automaker shut down the line on two other occasions.
Problems with the Chinese economy are mostly to blame now. However, the country, which is now the world's largest producer of solar energy, has also become unwelcoming for gas guzzling cars. Meanwhile, the Levante PHEV is nowhere to be seen.
It's important to understand just how small the Trident brand is right now. Back in April, it delivered its 100,000 cars. So there are fewer Maseratis in the world then there are W222 Mercedes S-Class sedans.
In 2016, Maserati's sales volume in China broke 12,000, which marks an increase of 120 times over the 100 sales made in 2004, the company's first year operating there. Today, Maserati has around 30,000 customers in China, 38 percent of whom are women. So there's still room to grow. But we're not sure the new coupe models being planned are what people want.

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BMW i3 Production Hits 100,000 Units, i8 Roadster To Be Made In Leipzig

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BMW i3 Production Hits 100,000 Units, i8 Roadster To Be Made In Leipzig

30 Oct 2017, 14:15 UTC · by Mircea Panait
/ Home / News / Car Profile

Inaugurated in 2010, the Leipzig plant in Germany is where BMW manufactures the i3 and i8. The former celebrates a production milestone after the 100,000th i3 rolled off the assembly line, while the i8 family will usher in the Roadster in 2018. And similar to the coupe, it will also be built in Leipzig.
85 photosThese announcements were made by plant director Hans-Peter Kemser and chairman of the Board of Management, Harald Kruger, as the launch of the BMW Battery Storage Farm. Essentially a storage unit comprised of 700 batteries sourced from used i3s, the eco-friendly setup is connected to the plant’s wind turbines, and it’s integrated with the public power grid of Saxony.
Moving back to cars, the i3 is currently produced at a rate of approximately 120 vehicles per day. In regard to production, the number of i3s manufactured in 2016 totals 26,631, sensibly more than the 2,783 i8s built in the same period. The ratio will likely soldier on in 2018, when the i8 Roadster will be added to the range, breathing new life into the brand’s plug-in hybrid flagship.
According to Kruger, BMW will offer no less than 25 models with electrified drivetrains by 2025, including the long-anticipated i5 and the iNext. “With BMW i as our spearhead, we intend to remain the leading premium supplier of electro-mobility going forward,” declared the official. Speaking of electro-mobility going forward, the 530e iPerformance is the first BMW to be offered with wireless charging capability, a feature that’ll become available next year.
While the i8 Roadster is too expensive for the reach of mere mortals who want to go green, the i3 is more than adequate for those in the market for a premium-oriented EV and range-extended electric vehicle. According to an undisclosed tipster, the i3 will receive a battery upgrade sometime in 2018, which is expected to offer 42.5 kWh capacity and a much-needed boost in driving range.

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Volkswagen Production Milestone: 6 Million Vehicles Manufactured In One Year

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Volkswagen Production Milestone: 6 Million Vehicles Manufactured In One Year

30 Dec 2017, 12:43 UTC · by Mircea Panait
/ Home / News / Industry

The Volkswagen Group is the world’s largest automaker by sales volume, delivering 10.3 million vehicles in 2016. Production, as expected, is another area where the Wolfsburg-based company is at the top of its game.
10 photosWith a few days to go until 2017 turns to 2018, the Volkswagen brand (not group) announced that it had produced six million vehicles in the current calendar year. It’s a production record made possible by 50-plus plants located in 14 countries, and a product portfolio of 60-plus models.

“More than six million vehicles produced in 12 months – there is one thing that this shows above all: our plants and employees are continually improving their production competence. We have top teams in production which successfully master growing demand from customers,” declared Thomas Ulbrich, whose role is that of Member of the Board of Management of the German brand responsible for Production & Logistics.
Volkswagen highlights that the models which made the production record possible are the Jetta, followed by the Golf, Santana, Passat, and Polo. These are all nameplates with tradition for the brand, though newcomers also had a say in the result, especially the Tiguan, T-Roc, and the Arteon.
This year’s result brings the total number of Volkswagen vehicles produced to more than 150 million since the first-ever Bettle rolled off the line 72 years ago. And thanks to the Transform 2025+ strategy, the German automaker is planning even bigger things in the immediate future.
In the first phase of the plan, Volkswagen intends to strengthen its presence in the sport utility vehicle and crossover segments by introducing 19 new models by 2020. The second phase, meanwhile, will see the brand go on the electric offensive with the I.D. family of models. Underpinned by the MEB vehicle architecture, three models are already confirmed for launch in the first instance: the I.D. hatchback, I.D. Crozz crossover, and I.D. Buzz van.

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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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Sluggish Sales Equal Production Slowdown For Alfa Romeo, Maserati, Jeep, Fiat

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Sluggish Sales Equal Production Slowdown For Alfa Romeo, Maserati, Jeep, Fiat

19 Oct 2017, 14:42 UTC · by Mircea Panait
/ Home / News / Industry

Bad news, fans of Fiat Chrysler’s most Italian of brands! Both Alfa Romeo and Maserati are not doing great regarding sales, the reason why FCA decided to cut production for both automakers. And the reason for this slump in demand? Apparently, new Chinese import rules have hit Fiat Chrysler hard, especially the two brands.
36 photosAlthough China faced criticism in the past for being too lenient on emissions and pollution, the People’s Republic is working hard on addressing these issues. Collateral damage comes in the form of increased restrictions for automakers, mostly because China follows the model set by France and the UK, countries that will ban the sale of fossil fuel cars and SUVs by 2040.
By August 2017, China had reached its 2020 target for solar energy installation, which makes the People’s Republic the largest producer of solar energy in the world. Large-scale carbon capture plants are also on the way, with the first of a planned eight currently being built. The bottom line is, China’s government is very focused on reducing the carbon footprint.
And as a result of these policies, imported automobiles are not exactly welcome in the Middle Kingdom unless they’re hybridized or electric. Alfa Romeo and Maserati don’t have such vehicles in their lineup, and that’s the gist of it. According to Automotive News, FCA declined to comment on the matter, but the cited publication has the numbers to back up its claims.
The Levante plant in Mirafiori will shut down for two weeks between October and November, with sales in China now averaging 350 examples per month compared to more than 800 units per month in the first half of the year. Over at Alfa Romeo, the Cassino plant in Italy now builds 265 vehicles per shift instead of 300. This decision follows four Fridays that were hampered down by production stops, totaling a loss of 2,000-plus Giulias and Stelvios.
From 2,666 Stelvio units delivered in China in July, Alfa Romeo slumped to 227 examples in August. As if that wasn’t bad enough, the Fiat 500X and Jeep Renegade have both seen production reductions at the Melfi plant in Italy. From the report: “Workers at the plant have been temporarily laid off for 21 days this year, including 11 days in the third quarter. As a result, production of the two models was down 25 percent in the quarter.”

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