VW – Page 3469 – I wish I had more to offer

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.

Continental Delays Powertrain IPO to 2020 as Profits Drop 17 Percent

Continental AG will push back the spin-off of its powertrain division until next year, the company said on Friday, when it reported a 17 percent drop in first-quarter operating profit, hit by a downturn in car demand and higher investments.The delay marks the second time a high-profile listing has been delayed in Germany this year, after Volkswagen in March postponed listing its truck division until market conditions improve.

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.

Ford in criminal probe over emissions

A criminal investigation has been opened into the way Ford tests the emissions of its vehicles. The US Department of Justice took action after Ford alerted the US Environmental Protection Agency to potential problems in February. Ford said the issue did not involve the use of defeat devices, which were at the centre of the… Continue reading Ford in criminal probe over emissions

UPDATE 4-Ford more confident of stronger 2019 despite ‘volatile environment’

DETROIT (Reuters) – Ford Motor Co on Thursday posted a better-than-expected first quarter largely due to strong pickup truck sales in its core U.S. market and said it was more confident in its forecast 2019 would bring better results than last year. FILE PHOTO: The Ford logo is seen at the North American International Auto… Continue reading UPDATE 4-Ford more confident of stronger 2019 despite ‘volatile environment’

Plant in Hefei for 100,000 cars a year: VW is allowed to build China factory for electric cars

picture alliance / dpa VW plant in Shanghai: Also in the East China Hefei a VW plant is to be created – for the construction of electric cars The carmaker Volkswagen is expanding its capacity for electric cars China out. Together with their Chinese partner JAC, the Wolfsburg have received the green light to build… Continue reading Plant in Hefei for 100,000 cars a year: VW is allowed to build China factory for electric cars

UPDATE 2-Ford Q1 profit beats Wall St view, more confident of stronger ’19

DETROIT (Reuters) – Ford Motor Co on Thursday posted a better-than-expected first-quarter as pickup truck sales remained strong in its core U.S. market and the company expressed greater confidence in its forecast that 2019 would bring better results than last year. FILE PHOTO: The Ford logo is seen at the North American International Auto Show… Continue reading UPDATE 2-Ford Q1 profit beats Wall St view, more confident of stronger ’19

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