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Mercedes-Benz GLB Confirmed For Production In China, Mexico

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Mercedes-Benz GLB Confirmed For Production In China, Mexico

23 Apr 2019, 16:36 UTC ·
by Mircea Panait

Home > News > Car Profile

Remember when Mercedes used to make cars in Germany? The automaker still does, but on the other hand, globalization and outsourcing took their toll on build quality and reliability. The trend continues with the GLB, which has been confirmed for production in China and Mexico.
25 photosPeking and Aguascalientes are the plants where the mini G-Wagen will be manufactured, and the production model will arrive on dealership lots by the end of 2019. Known as SC 037, the show car came to fruition thanks to a handful of design sketches and a 1:1 clay model.
Based on the MFA2 vehicle architecture of the A-Class, B-Class, and CLA-Class, the GLB is expected to show off the production parts in the summer. In the worst case scenario, make that September at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show. At least one AMG will be offered, most likely the GLB 35 with 2.0 liters of displacement, a turbocharger, and 306 PS (302 horsepower).
The platform can handle more than 400 horsepower in the case of the A 45 S hot hatchback, but Mercedes hasn’t offered details about the GLB in this specification. Given the three-pointed star up front and Affalterbach know-how, there’s no denying the GLB 45 S makes sense.
Be it front- or all-wheel drive, the GLB has the makings of a commercial success thanks to the styling and demand for compact crossovers. Most surprising about the GLB is the three-row layout, offering seats for seven people. The concept features 17-inch wheels and off-road modifications, including all-terrain tires and lost of cladding around the wheel arches.
Being based on the MFA2 vehicle architecture, we wouldn’t be surprised if Mercedes were to offer the 1.3-liter turbo four-cylinder as the standard engine option. Renault calls this motor the 1.3 TCe, and the French automaker offers the engine with 115, 140, and 160 PS (up to 158 horsepower).
Britta Seeger, member of the Daimler AG board responsible for Mercedes-Benz Cars Marketing & Sales, let it slip the EQB is coming in 2021. The German automaker is testing the all-electric option as we speak, and as expected, this model will serve as the smaller brother of the EQC.

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MERCEDES BENZ models:MERCEDES BENZ GLS Large SUVMERCEDES BENZ GLC Coupe Medium SUVMERCEDES BENZ GLC CrossoverMERCEDES BENZ CLA Shooting Brake CompactMERCEDES BENZ V-Class Large MPVAll MERCEDES BENZ models

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Subaru Milestone: 4 Million Vehicles Produced In Indiana

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Subaru Milestone: 4 Million Vehicles Produced In Indiana

25 Apr 2019, 10:44 UTC ·
by Mircea Panait

Home > News > Industry

Subaru of Indiana Automotive is celebrating the 4 millionth vehicle produced, a milestone that beggars belief considering the Japanese automaker doesn’t have the sales figures of Toyota and Honda. The milestone comes in the guise of a 2019 Outback with silver paintwork and the 3.6-liter boxer engine.
23 photosSIA is the only manufacturing facility outside of Japan according to Subaru. Production began in 1989, and annual output increased from 67,000 to 370,000 vehicles. The 2020 Outback and Legacy mid-size sedan are scheduled to roll off the assembly line at the end of July 2019.
“This is an incredible milestone for our associates and our company,” commented Scott Brand, senior vice president at Subaru of Indiana Automotive. “We’ve come a long way since building our first Subaru vehicle more than 30 years ago.” If you were wondering, the first generation of the Legacy is the vehicle that kicked off production at SIA.
At the present moment, Subaru of Indiana Automotive has “5,700 associates directly responsible for the quality that customers have come to expect.” SIA currently produces the Ascent mid-size crossover, Outback, Legacy, and Impreza for North America.
For the 2020 model year, the Outback has been redesigned from the ground up. Revealed at the 2019 New York International Auto Show, the station wagon with the attitude of a crossover rides on the Subaru Global Platform of the Legacy. In addition to the underpinnings, the Japanese automaker decided to retire the six-cylinder for four-cylinder engine options.
In addition to the 2.5-liter N/A option (182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque), customers can opt for a turbocharged 2.4 with 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet. Those figures are no different from the Ascent and Legacy, both mid-size models. Regardless of engine, the transmission comes in the guise of a CVT that simulates an eight-speed automatic.
Both the 2020 Outback and Legacy stand out with their 11.6-inch infotainment screen. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, over-the-air-updates, there’s a lot to like for both the driver and passengers. Customers going for the Onyx Edition are treated to gloss-black detailing and water-repellent upholstery.
If it were your money, would you take the Outback over the Ascent for family duties?

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SUBARU models:SUBARU Outback MediumSUBARU Legacy CompactSUBARU WRX STI (S209) CompactSUBARU Forester Medium SUVSUBARU Ascent Large SUVAll SUBARU models

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Ford electric vehicles and hybrids: Here are some of the many models arriving soon

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2013 Ford Focus Electric
With last week’s announcement of a strategic partnership with electric truckmaker hopeful Rivian, cemented by a pending $500 million equity investment, Ford Motor Company is covering the bases for how the market might evolve and assuring multiple paths toward a future where vehicles with charge ports are the norm.

“Across the world, we're fortifying our franchise strengths in trucks, commercial vehicles, and performance vehicles and bolstering our SUV franchise, executing the unique approach to electric vehicles that takes advantage of our strongest nameplates,” said Ford CEO Jim Hackett on Ford’s Q1 earnings call, the day after the Rivian announcement.

In Ford’s business update the company noted its strengthened electric vehicle plan, which includes a future vehicle developed with Rivian.

Ford said in March 2018 that globally it will be creating 16 fully electric vehicles and 40 electrified vehicles through 2022. Everything the company has said since then about electrification fit neatly into that frame—except for one other thing, autonomous vehicles, which we’ll get to.

THE ELECTRIC CARS

Here, rounded up, are at least some of the fully electric vehicles that Ford has in the works:

2020 Ford electric SUV teaser

Mustang-influenced electric crossover. Ford has been pushing ahead with its plan to build this much-anticipated alternative to the Tesla Model Y. To make sure that the vision doesn’t become too diluted (or convoluted) along the way, it’s been focusing those efforts through a focused electric-vehicle team (Team Edison) that will guide it though all the way to production, delivery, and support.

Although Ford has dodged recent questions about pricing and position for this vehicle, which has been referred to as Mach 1 and Mach E, executives have at several points stressed the importance of affordability and noted that it’s one of the main targets for the project. The electric SUV will land in a middle ground between small EVs like the Hyundai Kona Electric and Chevrolet Bolt EV, and larger premium ones like the Audi E-tron and Tesla Model X. Based on comments from several company officials, expect it to start around $45,000 (or even less) when it arrives, in the second half of 2020.

Fully electric Lincoln crossover. As Ford’s North American president, Kumar Galhotra, said earlier this year, it will emphasize “understated, quiet luxury.” It could arrive as soon as 2021, which would beat the Cadillac EV we’re expecting to be a top alternative.

Other future “C-EV” vehicles—maybe even a sedan. The Ford (and Lincoln) electric vehicles are expected to be just the first two to be conceived on what Ford has described is a scalable electric vehicle platform. This platform, which was conceived to be in what’s called the C-segment globally, is intended to spawn an entire suite of electric-car variants. Although Ford is exiting the traditional, mainstream sedan fold, for instance, company officials have hinted to Green Car Reports that we may see the sedan form factor again in a niche—as a Lincoln EV, perhaps.

Fully electric luxury SUV. The Michigan-based company Rivian plans to introduce its R1T and R1S in the U.S. in late 2020. With last week’s announcement, the two companies will “work together to develop an all-new, next-generation battery electric vehicle for Ford’s growing EV portfolio using Rivian’s skateboard platform.” Rivian has already teased a tow rating of up to 11,000 pounds and a range of up to 400 miles, aided by battery packs of up to 180 kwh.

2019 Ford F-150 RTR

Fully electric F-150. Ford has confirmed it’s a project, but that’s about it. Since the F-150 is at the core of Ford’s heritage and profitability, you can bet it’s moving along, Rivian venture or not. Just don’t expect it to arrive quite as soon. But with continued U.S. demand for the Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator, which are based on the F-150, we could see this paying off in broader scope.

THE HYBRIDS (SOME PLUG-IN)

Unlike GM, which discontinued the Chevrolet Volt and sees electric as a near-term future for the company, Ford aims to push full hybrids and plug-in hybrids out in more of its next-generation vehicles:

2020 Ford F-150 hybrid. Separate from the fully electric F-150 project, Ford is producing an F-150 hybrid, and it’s due soon—as a 2020 model. The F-150 hybrid is expected to use a 10-speed automatic transmission, as part of a hybrid system that should still allow a wider range of engine-off coasting and idling without sacrificing much if any towing or hauling ability. Ford has teased that the F-150 will have a power takeoff for tools and worksites—a feature that would be even more useful with a charge port, if that’s a hint.

2020 Lincoln Aviator plug-in hybrid

2020 Lincoln Aviator plug-in hybrid. The Aviator plug-in hybrid will come with a version of Ford’s soon-to-be-ubiquitous 10-speed modular-hybrid transmission. It will be the top-performing version in the Aviator lineup as well, with a projected 450 horsepower and 600 pound-feet of torque. The Ford Explorer on which it’s based is (in the U.S.) only available as a hybrid, with the Explorer plug-in hybrid saved for Europe for now.

2020 Lincoln Corsair, 2019 New York International Auto Show

2020 Ford Escape plug-in hybrid and 2020 Lincoln Corsair plug-in hybrid. These models arrive later in 2019 and employ a revised version of the variable-ratio/planetary hybrid system Ford has used in a number of other hybrid products, including the C-Max Energi and going back to the previous Escape Hybrid.

2020 Ford Mustang hybrid. A hybridized version of Ford’s 10-speed automatic transmission is also going to be the basis for the Hybrid Mustang. The hybrid pony car is likely to gallop to the performance potential of hybrid tech rather than eke out every possible mpg—possibly with a V-8 still a part of the presentation.

New Ford Bronco

2021 Ford Bronco hybrid. Ford still hasn’t confirmed final specs for its much-anticipated Bronco—or even revealed its production form—yet the company long ago confirmed that it would arrive in leaner shape, with a hybrid version.

Ride to future: Auto firms are crafting new strategies to stay on track

In this digital era, disruptions have become routine. But not many disruptions are as deep and comprehensive as those facing the automobile industry. With 3% of global car sales today, India is expected to drive half the additional global demand. To be sure, these upheavals have been in the works for a decade now. In… Continue reading Ride to future: Auto firms are crafting new strategies to stay on track

What will become of the new VW Golf?

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DOJ opens criminal probe into Ford’s emissions process

The Justice Department has launched a criminal investigation into whether Ford violated the U.S. emissions certification process, the latest in a string of carmakers attempting to skirt pollution tests.This would be different than the emissions violations committed by Volkswagen.Fiat Chrysler agreed to pay $800 million in fines and compensation to owners of diesel trucks and jeeps to settle allegations that it installed software on vehicles to cheat emission tests.

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Tesla investor provides a look inside new Roadster

2020 Tesla Roadster
At Tesla's self-driving event for investors on Monday afternoon, the company revealed another tidbit: a glimpse of its upcoming second-generation Roadster.

The company parked the new Roadster at the event, and for the first time let outsiders (at least those who have invested significant sums) open the doors and sit in it. The prototype was not available to drive.

Investor Hamid Shojaee took the opportunity to share a 39-second video clip on Twitter. In it, he tries out Tesla's latest approach to door handles, and looks to the squared-off Formula 1-style bat-wing steering wheel, its large center touch screen, as well as its vestigial rear seats.

Starting from the outside, the new door handles are entirely electronic. As he tries to open the door in the video, Shojaee has to try several times to open the door, first swiping up on the sensors, then when that doesn't work, swiping down—as if Tesla needed any more hassles with unusual door handles. Once he swipes down from the top, the door opens on the first try.

Inside, the car's steering wheel looks straight out of a Hollywood Batmobile mockup. Such a vestigial “wheel” only makes sense if the car is steered entirely by wire and has less than about a full-turn lock-to-lock. That's not impossible, and it wouldn't be the only car with a steer-by-wire system.

DON'T MISS: Tesla Roadster is back: 0-60 in 1.9 seconds, 620-mile range

The Roadster's center screen returns to something like the Model S's original vertical orientation, but it's much bigger, and the car has no second instrument screen as the Model S and Model X do. It also reclines at a steep angle on the raked console, rather than perching atop the center dash as the Model 3's does.

In the rear, the new Roadster has a couple of tiny butt-baskets for seats, reminiscent of the original Porsche 911. That's not necessarily a criticism, but pretty typical for the genre.

READ MORE: The new 2020 Tesla Roadster that wasn't in Switzerland

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has said the company plans to sell the $250,000 sports car in 2020. It is expected to have up to 620 miles of range and hit 60 mph from a stop in 1.9 seconds.

What it does not have in terms of typical roadster features is a convertible top.

Bentley not sold on electric, planning plug-in hybrids for full lineup

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Bentley Continental GT V8
The ultra-luxury carmaker Bentley is at work on a new model strategy, and fully electric vehicles might not play as much of a part in it as the company had previously hinted.

The company, which is part of the Volkswagen Group, will reveal more about its future direction in July, corresponding with its 100th anniversary, according to a report earlier this month in Autocar, citing Werner Tietz, the board member in charge of Bentley’s engineering.

Bentley is looking to expand its buyer base rather than sell more cars to existing buyers. Part of the strategy will also involve offering a plug-in hybrid version of each of its models by 2025. It might also add another SUV to the lineup, although it hasn’t detailed whether that means one larger or smaller than the current Bentayga.

2019 Bentley Bentayga Hybrid

Bentley had previously hinted that it was leaning toward making a smaller SUV all-electric—although that was before an extensive leadership change at the company in 2017.

Bentley backing away from all-electric?

In the Autocar report, Tietz sounds notably less bullish about all-electric vehicles than his predecessor as engineering boss, Rolf Frech. “It is by no means certain that battery-electric is the right way to go,” said Tietz, who argued that the current technology wouldn’t work for towing horse trailers or boats.

2017 Tesla Model X

There are of course many people who do tow—today—with the Tesla Model X. One couple we recently featured towed a 3,800-pound camping trailer around the Southeastern U.S. and saw range drop by at least a third. Rivian is also developing its electric R1T pickup and R1S SUV around impressive towing capability—of up to 11,000 pounds.

One other noteworthy change is that the brand won’t be building “pure sports cars”—a decision that’s a bit surprising as the brand had shown several concept cars that looked aimed at Aston Martin, or even Ferrari.

Bentley EXP 12 Speed 6e concept, 2017 Geneva auto show

The most interesting evolution of those ideas was the EXP12 Speed 6e, a plush, racy-looking, fully electric, two-seater shown in 2017. Bentley then said that a production model based on it would be able to “drive between London and Paris or Milan and Monaco on a single charge.”

In the meantime, it’s considering a small electric city car while also evaluating fuel-cell technology and looking at carbon-neutral synthetic fuels.

Considering the changing priorities of luxury-vehicle buyers, and the importance of being seen in a vehicle that’s efficient and technologically advanced—in a world that includes Tesla—we’re eager to see where this storied British brand is headed.