Toyota – Page 1220 – I wish I had more to offer

Toyota is making high-performance versions of its popular, but ‘boring,’ Camry and Avalon sedans

Toyota is making fast, high-performance versions of its popular Camry and Avalon sedans, swimming against the tide of consumer demand for SUVs and crossovers.

The Japanese automaker said Friday it plans to release the new versions of the mid-size Camry sedan and full-size Avalon — better known for hauling families or ride-share passengers — under Toyota's TRD badge, which stands for Toyota Racing Development, Toyota's in-house performance tuning shop. Toyota already offers TRD trims on some cars, trucks, and SUVs. For example, the TRD Pro trim is available on Toyota's popular Tacoma mid-size pickup truck, and there is a TRD Special Edition of the Toyota 86 sports car.

But in a bid to keep its sedans exciting when consumers are running toward taller vehicles, Toyota is bringing them to the track.

Source: Toyota
Toyota Avalon TRD

Toyota has made sporty cars throughout its history, such as the Supra sports car which the company reportedly plans to bring back in 2020.

But its passenger cars, and many of its SUVs, are perhaps better known for being well-built, reliable and capable vehicles good for commuting and hauling groceries. The Camry, for example, has long been one of the top-selling vehicles in America. But more than one reviewer has called the ubiquitous vehicle “boring.” Even the company has acknowledged its less-than-exciting image.

Toyota assured that it is taking the idea of a TRD sedan very seriously.

“Track-tuned means exactly that,” Toyota said Friday. The automaker said Toyota's TRD engineers developed the cars through extensive testing at facilities in Arizona, Texas and Japan. The cars come with V6 engines, automatic transmission and sport-tuned suspensions. Brakes will be larger for better stopping power.

It will also have an aerodynamic body kit, which includes features such as a lid spoiler, and rear diffuser that help push the vehicle closer to the road and improve speed and handling.

Both vehicles will be available in Fall 2019, the company said.

Mercedes-Benz delivers first F-Cell plug-in hybrid fuel-cell SUV in Germany

Mercedes-Benz GLC F-Cell, 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show
Mercedes delivered its first plug-in hybrid F-Cell fuel cell SUV in Berlin earlier this week.

Like earlier projects from Toyota, Honda, and GM in the U.S., Mercedes is only leasing or renting the vehicles (it says “renting short-term or long-term”) to select customers in German cities where hydrogen refueling infrastructure is available. Those include Berlin, Stuttgart, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Munich, and Cologne.

Germany currently has 50 hydrogen fueling sites in those seven cities, and Mercedes-Benz has partnered with chemical and petroleum companies to expand the network to 100 stations by the end of 2019—and eventually to 400 stations, the company said in a release.

CHECK OUT: 2020 Mercedes-Benz EQC specs revealed (Updated)

The F-Cell reportedly has some common components with the upcoming Mercedes-Benz EQC electric SUV, which is expected to have a 200-mile range from its batteries in European driving. Mercedes officials in the U.S. have said it will have a longer range when the car goes on sale here in 2020.

Mercedes-Benz GLC F-Cell

The F-Cell's tanks hold 4.4 kilograms of hydrogen, which give it a range of 267 miles on hydrogen. And as the first fuel-cell vehicle that also has a plug-in battery, the F-Cell gets another 32 miles of range from its plug-in battery (based on a European driving cycle.)

Originally shown in at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2017, the F-Cell has four driving modes: Battery, which runs strictly on the battery for up to 32 miles; F-Cell, maintains the charge level in the battery, using net energy only from the fuel-cell; Hybrid, which depletes both the battery and the hydrogen in the tanks in what Mercedes says is the most efficient way; and Charge, which uses the fuel cell to charge the battery.

READ THIS: Mercedes invests in pilot program to keep fuel cells alive

The motor puts out 208 horsepower, which Mercedes describes as an output that helps to “ensure high driving dynamics,” though on paper that horsepower rating falls well behind the Tesla Model X or many competing gas-powered SUVs.

Mercedes points out in its press release that it has been working on fuel-cell vehicles since it produced the NECAR 1 test van in 1994, a full-size commercial van in which the fuel cell occupied the entire cargo area. Indeed, the company was once a leader in fuel-cell vehicles, along with General Motors. Now the landscape has changed, with Honda and Toyota (and, soon again, Hyundai) as the only automakers who make fuel-cell vehicles available to consumers.

Volkswagen Claims It Will Build 50 Million Electric Cars Using Its MEB Chassis

Electric Cars
Electric Car Benefits
Electric Car Sales
Solar Energy Rocks
RSS
Advertise
Privacy Policy

Cars

Published on November 13th, 2018 |

by Steve Hanley

Volkswagen Claims It Will Build 50 Million Electric Cars Using Its MEB Chassis

Twitter
Google+
LinkedIn
Pinterest
Facebook

November 13th, 2018 by Steve Hanley

Tesla shares dropped about 5% in value on Monday. Could recent statements by Volkswagen head Herbert Diess have anything to do with that decline? Diess is boasting this week that his company will build 50 million EVs in coming years and that some of them will cost half as much as the cars from Tesla. Indeed, Bloomberg reported last week the company is planning to introduce a sub-compact SUV-style electric vehicle that will retail for $21,000. [Note: “sub-compact SUV” may be an oxymoron.]

Diess tells Reuters that Volkswagen has already taken steps to insure it has enough batteries available to power all of those electric cars. A spokesperson for the company provided some context to Diess’ claim, saying that the 50 million number is a theoretical long-term goal for the carmaker’s MEB electric car platform. He pointed out the company has built more than 50 million vehicles on its current MQB chassis for cars with an internal combustion engine over a period of many years.

A month ago, we reported on Volkswagen’s new MEB electric car chassis. Thomas Ulbricht, head of e-mobility at Volkswagen, told the press in October, “The MEB modular electric drive matrix is probably the most important project in Volkswagen’s history. The platform that Volkswagen is developing is more consistent and innovative than many of the other platforms. By 2022 alone, we anticipate that four Volkswagen Group brands will be ramping up 27 MEB models worldwide, ranging from compact cars to the I.D. BUZZ van.”

Christian Senger, head of e-mobility at Volkswagen, offered more intriguing details. “We have developed a platform designed specifically for electric cars. The I.D. models will not be combustion engine versions that have been converted, they will be designed to be 100 percent, thoroughbred electric vehicles. And they will be engineered to be online upgradeable and update compatible. We’re making optimal use of the possibilities this technology brings.” It will also be compatible with fast charging at up to 125 kW of power.

Will those 50 million electric cars be the compelling competitors Elon Musk has been begging the auto industry to manufacture for years? Probably not, but price is a huge factor for many shoppers. There’s a reason there are far more Corollas and Civics in the world than there are vehicles from Lexus, Audi, and BMW. Volkswagen is flinging down the gauntlet and telling Tesla, “You may be an innovator, but we know how to build lots and lots of cars quickly, efficiently, and profitably. Can you?”

That’s the nub of it. Volkswagen and other traditional car companies know how to crank out products. Tesla is forging ahead with a new factory in China, but how many of you know that Volkswagen is also planning its own Chinese electric car factory and plans to soon have 16 factories around the world dedicated to making electric vehicles. Volkswagen has far more experience creating and managing supply chains and the myriad details that go with manufacturing automobiles than Tesla does. Will Tesla’s penchant for innovation offset Volkswagen’s industrial knowledge base?

In the end, though, the framing may be off. We need all classes to transition to electricity. Just as there’s long been room for both the BMW 3 Series and the VW Golf and the Nissan Versa, there’s evidence to imply that Tesla and Volkswagen can both produce millions of electric vehicles a year for happy customers. Indeed, we need that.

Many of our loyal readers have commented that Volkswagen — like many of its peers — is long on promises and short on action. The first electric cars based on the MEB chassis are not due to begin rolling off assembly lines until 2020, with more coming over the 5 years to follow.

There is an old expression in racing circles: “When the flag drops, the bullshit stops.” The race for dominance in electric car manufacturing is underway, with Tesla already way out in front. Can Volkswagen — or any other legacy car maker — catch up? That’s a question that can’t be answered yet. Rest assured that CleanTechnica will keep you fully informed as the competition heats up.

Support CleanTechnica’s work by becoming a Member, Supporter, or Ambassador.
Or you can buy a cool t-shirt, cup, baby outfit, bag, or hoodie or make a one-time donation on PayPal.

About the Author

Steve Hanley Steve writes about the interface between technology and sustainability from his home in Rhode Island and anywhere else the Singularity may take him. His muse is Charles Kuralt — “I see the road ahead is turning. I wonder what's around the bend?”

You can follow him on Google + and on Twitter.

CleanTechnica Clothing & Cups

Advertise with CleanTechnica to get your company in front of our readers.

More Background On New Tesla Chair Robyn Denholm

Electric Cars
Electric Car Benefits
Electric Car Sales
Solar Energy Rocks
RSS
Advertise
Privacy Policy

Clean Power

Published on November 8th, 2018 |

by Dr. Maximilian Holland

More Background On New Tesla Chair Robyn Denholm

Twitter
Google+
LinkedIn
Pinterest
Facebook

November 8th, 2018 by Dr. Maximilian Holland

As reported earlier today, Tesla has announced the appointment of Robyn Denholm to the chair of the board at Tesla, replacing Elon Musk who has been in the role since 2004. Denholm had already been an independent director on Tesla’s board since 2014 and has decades of experience in senior finance and strategy roles at auto, technology, and software companies.

The appointment follows Tesla’s recent settlement with the SEC, which set a timeline for putting in place an independent chair, whilst Musk remains in the role of CEO and largest investor at Tesla. Since January 2017, Denholm has been engaged as Chief Operations Officer of Telstra Corporation, and will transition out of that role and into the Tesla Chair role full time over the next 6 months.

Below, we highlight a few more aspects of Denholm’s career and invite your input on this change at the top.

Robyn Denholm

Denholm has a bachelor’s degree in economics and a master’s degree in commerce. She started her career at accountants Arthur Anderson & Co (1984–1989) before moving to Toyota Australia (1989–1996) in finance and corporate reporting roles.

She was with Sun Microsystems between 1996 and 2007 in finance and strategic planning roles, moving from the Australia offices to the US in 2001. Previous to her recent 2 years as COO at Telstra, from 2007 to 2016, Denholm was with Juniper Networks in the roles of CFO and COO.

As well as serving on the board at Tesla since 2014, she also served on the board of Swiss electrical equipment multinational ABB from 2016 to 2017, a notable cleantech leader in various ways.

Denholm has extensive experience in both finance and corporate strategy, areas of discipline that will be key to Tesla maintaining its lead in the energy transition in the coming years. Denholm’s strengths should prove complementary to Musk’s vision, creativity, and technological engineering talents.

Denholm released the following statement:

“I believe in this company, I believe in its mission and I look forward to helping Elon and the Tesla team achieve sustainable profitability and drive long-term shareholder value”

Musk added:

“Robyn has extensive experience in both the tech and auto industries, and she has made significant contributions as a Tesla Board member over the past four years in helping us become a profitable company… I look forward to working even more closely with Robyn as we continue accelerating the advent of sustainable energy.”

What do you think of the appointment? Please share your thoughts in the comments.

Support CleanTechnica’s work by becoming a Member, Supporter, or Ambassador.
Or you can buy a cool t-shirt, cup, baby outfit, bag, or hoodie or make a one-time donation on PayPal.

About the Author

Dr. Maximilian Holland Max is an anthropologist, social theorist and international political economist, trying to ask questions and encourage critical thinking about social and environmental justice, sustainability and the human condition. He has lived and worked in Europe and Asia, and is currently based in Barcelona.

CleanTechnica Clothing & Cups

Advertise with CleanTechnica to get your company in front of our readers.

Mazda to keep prioritising driving performance over fuel economy – CEO

TOKYO, Nov 8 (Reuters) – Mazda Motor Corp will continue focusing on driving performance over fuel economy, its chief executive said, even as the Japanese automaker follows bigger rivals in bringing more electric vehicles (EVs) to the market over the coming decade. As bigger rivals such as Nissan Motor Co plan to roll out more… Continue reading Mazda to keep prioritising driving performance over fuel economy – CEO

Hyundai and Kia invest $250m in car-sharing Grab for EV adoption

Hyundai and Kia will invest $250 million into car sharing company Grab, aiming to push the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in Southeast Asia. The funding follows Hyundai’s $25 million investment in the firm, announced in January. The three companies will launch a series of EV pilot projects in 2019, starting with Singapore. The EVs… Continue reading Hyundai and Kia invest $250m in car-sharing Grab for EV adoption

Grab pulls in $250M from Hyundai as ongoing round reaches $2.7B

Grab, the Singapore startup that bought Uber’s Southeast Asia business earlier this year, continues to announce strategic investors for its ongoing Series H funding round. The latest edition revealed today is Korean automotive firm Hyundai, which is investing $250 million. Hyundai first invested in Grab in January, and it joins recently announced investors Microsoft (undisclosed)… Continue reading Grab pulls in $250M from Hyundai as ongoing round reaches $2.7B

Luminar nabs former Uber executive to lead LiDAR startup’s business development

Luminar, the buzzy LiDAR startup founded by Austin Russell, has added another high-profile executive to its ranks. This time, Luminar has hired Uber executive Brent Schwarz as its head of business development. Schwarz, who has been at Luminar for about two months now, comes from Uber by way of self-driving truck startup Otto, which acquired… Continue reading Luminar nabs former Uber executive to lead LiDAR startup’s business development

Toyota moves to drive up profitability in key US market

Carmaker lifts annual profit forecast thanks to cost-cutting and weaker yen effect Go to Source

Ford, GM, Toyota rank high on diversity scorecard

Original Article