Mini might make its entire lineup electric, but switching to EVs won’t be easy

Since acquiring the Mini trademark over a decade ago, BMW has not shied away from playing up the hot-hatch image of the brand — and that goes for the cars’ exhaust soundtracks. But BMW may soon have another, much quieter role for its small British division in mind as the German parent company maneuvers toward an electric future.

Could BMW make Mini into an all-electric brand in the near future, adding to its i Division while keeping its hot-hatch identity? It’s possible: BMW board member and Mini boss Peter Schwarzenbauer told Reuters this week that Mini could become an EV-only brand aimed at urban buyers. The company is proceeding with plans to roll out its first electric model, shown in concept form at the Frankfurt motor show earlier this year, and is currently looking for partnerships with other automakers to bring down the costs as well as solve the engineering challenges of building small electric cars.

According to Schwarzenbauer, building relatively small electric cars is difficult not only from the standpoint of costs but also due to the engineering challenges of fitting small cars with batteries that give them a sufficient range. Unlike a number of other cars on the market, the Mini lineup has to stay within a confined size range, so battery space and technology is at a premium when it comes to development.
 

Still, there is a precedent for taking a small sub-brand electric; Mercedes-Benz did this with the Smart brand in the U.S. and now offers only electric versions of the subcompact city car. Smart faces a set of even greater challenges as an electric brand, it could be said, as battery space in the current models is quite finite.

Schwarzenbauer indicated to Reuters that BMW is committed to moving the brand “in the direction of the electric urban mobility company,” rather than seeking to field larger models due to the current popularity of crossovers and SUVs.

The first Mini Electric is due on the market in 2019 and will join the Mini Countryman plug-in hybrid that is already on sale. Mini has not yet disclosed the expected range and power specs of the first fully electric model, though industry analysts are expecting a range of over 200 miles for the Mini Electric to be competitive. It helps that BMW has been building battery experience since the debut of the first electric Mini, which was released in limited numbers several years ago.

The Jaguar XE SV Project 8 broke a Nürburgring record, but will it hold?

Jaguar claims its XE SV Project 8 crushed a Nürburgring sedan lap record. The time? A blistering 7:21.23. Reaching that speed is certifiably quick, to be sure — it beats the beastly Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio by 11 seconds. And some of our favorite track weapons are only slightly quicker. A Corvette Z06, for instance, does the job in 7:13. But there’s an asterisk to this record because the Project 8 is a production intent spec vehicle — not a production car. Will the production model be any slower? Jaguar isn’t saying.

Regardless, once this monster hits the streets, it’ll still be plenty quick. Jaguar says its mission was to create the most track-focused car in the company’s history. The production model will deliver 592 hp, reach 60 mph in just 3.3 seconds and top out at 200 mph.

The Jaguar XE SV Project 8 will be available next year in the U.S., and we’ll get just 300 of them. The bad news? It’ll retail for an eye-watering $187,500.

2019 Corvette ZR1 convertible: Chevy’s fastest ‘Vette puts the wind in your hair

What’s more outrageous than a Corvette ZR1? How about a Corvette ZR1 convertible?

Chevrolet chopped the top off the mighty and powerful beast last night ahead of the car’s debut at the LA Auto Show.

“The ZR1 is a no-compromise supercar,” said Corvette chief engineer Tadge Juechter. “Thanks to the strong structure, the suspension tuning between the coupe and convertible models is identical, meaning the ZR1 convertible offers the same benchmark performance, including a top speed of over 200 mph.”

That’s 208 mph, if you’re counting, only four less than the coupe. Weight difference between the two ZR1s is less than 60 pounds, mostly in the folding top hardware and not in any increases to the body structure. The convertible gets the same LT5 6.2-liter supercharged V8, rated to an SAE-certified 755 hp and 715 lb-ft of torque. It’s mated to the same seven-speed manual or, if you prefer, a paddle-shifted eight-speed automatic. Chevy lists 0-60 in “under 3.0 seconds” and quarter-mile in the high 10s with the automatic.

The LT5 has a more efficient intercooled supercharger system, with four new radiators to manage cooling on the ZR1 — part of 13 radiators in all for cooling oil, trans and differential. So maybe there won’t be any overheating problems. Let’s hope.

To get those 755 horses, the LT5 uses GM’s first dual fuel-injection system, with both direct injection and supplemental port injection to get fuel into the cylinders. The 2.65-liter supercharger is larger than that on the LT4 V8, but spins at a slightly slower speed, which reduces heat for lower intake temps.

The engine offers “the most aggressive sound ever for a production Corvette,” GM says, with a bimodal exhaust offering four distinct modes: stealth, tour, sport and track.

A unique aero package includes a stanchion-mounted low wing. An adjustable high wing is available as part of the ZTK Performance Package, the latter which includes a unique front splitter, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires and specific chassis and Magnetic Ride Control tuning. The package makes 950 pounds of downforce, GM says.

The 2019 ZR1 convertible will be available in the spring for an entirely reasonable $123,995, including destination. Hey, the kids can go to public schools, can’t they? 

Subaru rejoins three-row segment with Ascent at the LA Auto Show

Subaru is re-entering the market for big crossovers with three rows of seating — a move that puts the surging brand in more direct competition with some of its bigger rivals but also promises to jump-start the company’s sales gains just as growth slows.

Subaru sales have advanced year over year for 71 straight months to new highs, even amid an increasingly challenging and plateauing U.S. market.

The all-new Ascent, unveiled here on the eve of the Los Angeles Auto Show, launches Subaru right back into the hotly contested three-row crossover segment, one the automaker has not been able to tap since output of the ill-fated Tribeca ended in 2014.

Subaru executives acknowledge the Tribeca wasn’t really a seven-seat vehicle. Nor did its styling and functionality mesh with what Subaru customers had come to expect. Dealers say some owners had trouble getting in and out of the Tribeca.

The Ascent, on the other hand, at 196.8 inches long, 76 inches wide and with room for seven or eight passengers, is the biggest Subaru ever.

Growing segment

It will compete directly with the Ford Explorer, Toyota Highlander, Chevrolet Traverse and Mazda CX-9 and arrives as the large crossover segment, a key source of profits for automakers, has grown 15 percent this year in an overall light-vehicle market that has cooled 1.7 percent.

Subaru of America President Tom Doll said Tuesday the company is targeting 60,000 to 70,000 Ascent sales a year in the U.S., adding volume may approach 80,000 if production is available.

Pricing was not released but executives say it will start in the low $30,000s.

“The big question with the Ascent is whether or not Subaru buyers are finally ready to embrace a large SUV,” said Edmunds analyst Jessica Caldwell. “Subaru has come a long way from its days as a quirky niche brand, so the Ascent has a much better chance of success.”

The crossover figures to be the answer that Subaru dealers have been looking for when customers outgrow the venerable Outback and head to other brands.

Subaru sold 532,893 vehicles in the U.S. through October, up 6.4 percent from the year-earlier period, placing the automaker well on track to surpass last year’s record of 615,132 total sales. But the pace of the company’s growth has slowed in recent months in part on lean supplies of popular models and as the overall market cools.

Still, Subaru officials said Tuesday they expects the brand’s U.S. sales to total around 650,000 this year. That would easily mark Subaru’s ninth consecutive year of record deliveries in the U.S.

The company has surpassed Kia in U.S. sales this year and is also closing in on Hyundai Motor America.

Subaru’s sales trail Hyundai by fewer than 32,000 vehicles through October. A year ago, Hyundai led by almost 150,000.

Outback, Crosstrek cues

Hints of the strong-selling Subaru Outback and Crosstrek are evident in the Ascent, as is the large greenhouse that has been a staple of the Forester.

The production model remains similar to the Ascent concept that was shown this year in New York.

Subaru officials maintain that all-wheel drive, standard roof rails, an 8.7-inch ground clearance and 72.6 cubic feet of cargo space will help Ascent appeal to Subaru customers’ outdoorsy activities just as much as its smaller siblings.

The Ascent is the first all-new Subaru model since the introduction of the then-XV Crosstrek. It will also come with an all-new powerplant: a turbocharged 2.4-liter boxer engine that produces 260 hp and 277 pound-feet of torque.

It’s paired with a new version of Subaru’s continuously variable transmission.

Fuel economy numbers were not released, but Subaru says the Ascent will be able to deliver 500 miles on one fill-up of the 19.3 gallon tank.

The Ascent, built on a modified version of Subaru’s modular vehicle platform, will be available in either a seven- or an eight-seat configuration and in four trims: base, Premium, Limited and Touring.

The base trim line comes with a standard bench seat in the second row, while second-row captain’s chairs are a no-cost option on Premium and higher trims, Subaru said.

Safety, tech gear

Higher trim lines come with safety and technology features suited to appeal to families on road trips.

Some of Subaru’s EyeSight driver-assist technology, which has become an increasingly popular option among its current lineup, will be standard equipment across all trims on the Ascent.

The driver-assist technology available on the Ascent includes automatic pre-collision braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure and sway warning and pre-collision throttle management.

New to the safety technology lineup is EyeSight Assist Monitor, which Subaru says “provides a heads-up display of the EyeSight system warnings as well as system status information” on the windshield.

A cabin-view mirror that allows the driver and front passenger to view occupants in the second and third rows is also standard.

Standard tech goodies include a 6.5-inch multimedia touch screen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay capability and four USB ports, while 4G LTE Wi-Fi connectivity is available on Premium and higher trims.

Premium and higher trims also get an 8-inch touch screen.

The top-of-the-line Touring trim comes with eight USB ports and a 120-volt power outlet.

Ascent production will begin at Subaru’s Lafayette, Ind., plant in the second quarter of 2018, and the first models are set to arrive at dealerships by early summer, the automaker says.

“Subaru reloads in key crossover segment with 3-row Ascent” was originally published at Automotive News on 11/29/17.

Mitsubishi and West Coast Customs ‘remodel an A’ for Los Angeles Auto Show

Mitsubishi still isn’t bringing back a real Eclipse, but it is trading on its 100-year history and re-creating a 1917 Model A (Mitsubishi Model A, not Ford) on the platform of an Outlander PHEV SUV. To be clear, Mitsu didn’t re-create this — the company had the guys at West Coast Customs take a crack at it.

“The team at West Coast Customs seamlessly blended our past, present and future together in the form of the Mitsubishi Re-Model A,” said Francine Harsini, senior director, marketing, Mitsubishi Motors North America. “It’s been an exciting project to be a part of, and we are excited to share the finished product with everyone. Additionally, this unique build provided us the opportunity to use product integration to highlight Mitsubishi’s all-new Outlander PHEV, which comes to market later this year.”

It’s certainly funky-looking, with its modern tires, squared body and classic brass trim. Looking at the two, the old one actually looks a little more thought out, but it doesn’t have the 2.0-liter four with a twin-AC permanent motor and 12-kWh battery of the modern Outlander to hide beneath its sheetmetal.

This is the original Mitsubishi Model A, for comparison.

The car premiered on television on “Inside West Coast Customs” earlier this month, and it will appear at the LA Auto Show this week.

The Re-Model A gets Mitsubishi’s Super All-Wheel Control system, plug-in charging capabilities, Forward Collision Mitigation and Smartphone Display Audio.

The original Mitsubishi Model A was based on the Fiat Tipo 3 and had a seven-passenger town car body with a 35-hp straight-four engine. It was expensive to produce, by hand, so Mitsubishi axed it after just four years.

Check out the Mitsubishi/WCC build page here. We expect to get a few more details at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

VW’s EV revolution in the U.S. starts with sedan, I.D. Crozz in 2020

Volkswagen will bring the I.D. Crozz crossover electric vehicle to the U.S. market in 2020, with an unspecified “largish” sedan introduced at the same time. The two vehicles will be the first models on sale in the U.S. built off the new, EV-specific MEB platform. They will be followed in 2022 by the promising microbus-looking I.D. Buzz, another MEB platform variant. (The current VW eGolf is built on the MQB platform, which is not specifically made for electric drivetrains and batteries.)

The Crozz debuted in Shanghai earlier this year, the third member of the I.D. family after the original I.D. hatchback that debuted in Paris last year and the I.D. Buzz microbus first shown in Detroit this year. The original I.D. hatchback is not planned for U.S. sales at this time.

VW is calling the Crozz a crossover — hence the name Crozz — but seeing it parked on stage it looked more like a mildly jacked-up sedan, sort of the AMC Eagle of the modern age. You could also say it looks like a high-lift Eclipse if the Eclipse had been a five-door hatch. 

The Crozz is listed as a concept vehicle, so size, shape and specs could change before its 2020 debut, but you get an idea what it will look like in production. VW lists power output of the Crozz at 302 hp running through an all-wheel drive powertrain with a range of “up to” 300 miles.

“The I.D. Crozz-based electric vehicle will be an affordable and stylish electric SUV — and there is more to come,” said Hinrich Woebcken, president and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America. “The I.D. Cross and I.D. Buzz will help Volkswagen kick off an EV revolution in the United States.”

The LA Auto Show will be the first time the Crozz, Buzz and the original I.D. will be shown together in North America. They are part of what VW claims will be 15 different EVs on sale globally by 2025. 

The Crozz — no relation to the disgraced comedian formerly known as “The Cos” — features voice-activated doors and trunk, as well as autonomous driving ability via I.D. Pilot mode. The Crozz has an 83-kWh lithium-ion battery that will power a pair of electric motors, one on each axle. The front generates 101 hp, the rear 201. The rear motor is the main driving force on the Crozz, with the front coming online when needed. Weight distribution is 48 front/52 rear.

The Crozz will be able to recharge to 80 percent of its capacity in 30 minutes using a 150-kW DC charger.

So far Volkswagen has committed over $7 billion to create the MEB platform that will underpin all its EVs in the future. The goal is to sell 1 million electric Volkswagens by 2025, or what will then represent about 15 percent of the company’s total worldwide sales.

“The worldwide demand for cars will be 83 million this year,” Jurgen Stackmann, board member for VW sales and marketing, said . “The world is fully in love with personal mobility, so we need to grow the percentage of electric vehicles.”

Even with electric drivetrains, Stackmann said price is important.

“We have to stay within the price range that people would expect from a normal car.”

Hence, the Crozz will sticker for about the price of an equivalent gasoline-powered crossover SUV, he added. The current Tiguan stickers at from $25,195 to $37,550. Don’t take that as a guarantee for 2020, but you get the idea. They’ll be affordable.

“If the cars are beautiful and fun to drive, if it’s fun to be in those cars, if the range is sufficient and they offer great value, why on Earth would you not buy an electric car?”

This is the 2019 Infiniti QX50, and it’s got a very cool new engine

The 2019 Infiniti QX50 is the latest in what seems like an endless parade of small luxury SUVs, but this all-new platform showcases several new technologies not only for the brand, but the automotive industry as a whole.

Aesthetically, the 2019 model brings the QX50’s design closer in line with the recently updated Q50 sedan and Q60 coupe, bringing muscular proportions, deeper character lines and a more sculpted overall look to this utility. But the big news is under the hood: The 2019 QX50 will debut Infiniti’s new variable compression, or VC-Turbo, gasoline engine, a 2.0-liter turbocharged mill that can continuously alter its compression ratio from 8:1, for high performance, all the way to 14:1, for high efficiency. The design is an industry first for a production engine, delivering 268 hp at 5,600 rpm and 280 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm while returning an expected 35 percent improvement in fuel efficiency over the V6 found in the previous front-drive QX50 with 27 mpg (combined). The all-wheel-drive model is expected to deliver 26 mpg, a 30 percent improvement over the equivalent outgoing model. The new engine will be paired with Infiniti’s new Xtronic continuously variable transmission.

The new QX50 also sees Infiniti’s first use of the ProPILOT Assist system. Introduced on the 2018 Nissan Leaf, the technology comprises an array of semi-autonomous driving features designed to “empower the driver, not to remove the driver from the equation,” says François Bancon, Infiniti’s vice president of product strategy. That said, features like active lane control and adaptive cruise control should bring more vehicle autonomy to highway drives.  

Designed for both front-wheel- and all-wheel-drive applications, Infiniti says that new high-strength steel technology used in the chassis lowers the amount of noise transmitted into the cabin and that it also weighs less.

The 2019 Infiniti QX50 is expected go on sale in spring 2018. Pricing has not been announced. 

2018 Volkswagen Tiguan gets the R-Line treatment

Volkswagen is adding the sporty R-Line trim to the redesigned Tiguan crossover, which went on sale earlier this year. The R-Line package is meant to add exterior and interior design elements to the SEL and SEL premium trims of the Tiguan. It includes unique front and rear bumpers with air intakes up front and a diffuser finished in glossy black paint out back, body-color wheel-arch extensions and side skirts along with a choice of 19-inch “Trenton” aluminum alloy wheels for the SEL trim levels and 20-inch “Braselton” aluminum-alloy wheels for the SEL premium trims.

Inside, the R-Line pack adds stainless-steel sport pedal covers, stainless-steel doorsills with the R-Line logo, black headliner, and logos on the MIB II infotainment system start screen and the steering wheel itself.

Paired with the SEL trims of the Tiguan, the R-Line package will cost $1,795 and will include Rear Park Distance Control, while on the SEL premium models the pack will be offered for $1,495. The R-Line pack will be offered on this crossover starting in the first quarter of 2018.

The redesigned 2018 Tiguan went on sale late this summer, replacing a model that debuted all the way back in 2007. Powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and offered in front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, the new Tiguan adopted a more wagonlike shape compared to the outgoing model. Positioned below the new Atlas, the Tiguan starts at $26,245.

Next year marks 50 years of Subaru in America; here’s what’s coming

Subaru of America’s vehicle lineup will have a major role in celebrating the company’s 50th anniversary in the United States.

Subaru said Tuesday it plans to offer 50th anniversary editions across its entire car and light-truck lineup.

The special editions will feature a new, common color and a distinct badge that reads “Subaru in America since 1968.” The 50th anniversary editions will be based on a high-level trim, the company said.

Additional details will be released during the Chicago Auto Show in February.

Subaru’s American arm was established on Feb. 15, 1968, as part of a second wave of Japanese automakers to set up sales in the U.S. It’s currently on a 71-month streak of consecutive sales increases in the U.S.

In 2016, Subaru sold a record 615,132 vehicles in the U.S., the first time it cleared the 600,000 mark. Deliveries have jumped 6.4 percent to 532,893 through October this year, and the company is on track to set another annual sales record.

Subaru, based in Cherry Hill, N.J., since 1986, is set to move into an all-new headquarters in nearby Camden, N.J., in 2018.

“Subaru readies special editions to mark 50 years in U.S.” originally appeared in Automotive News on 11/21/2017

2019 Lincoln MKC goes for the heart of the market

Lincoln is updating the vehicle that it says draws the most customers from rival brands in hopes of further accelerating growth in a stalling luxury market.

The freshened 2019 MKC compact crossover features new infotainment and safety technology and the mesh grille found on Lincoln’s newest products, including the Continental and MKZ sedans and the Navigator SUV. The 2019 MKC is due in showrooms next summer.

Even as overall U.S. sales of luxury cars and light trucks are roughly flat through October, Lincoln deliveries have edged up 2.4 percent and MKC sales are up 8.7 percent to 22,507. The MKC is also Lincoln’s best-seller in China, a market it expects eventually will surpass the United States in overall volume.

Since the MKC’s introduction in 2014, Lincoln executives say almost half of the crossover’s sales have come from customers switching from other brands.

“We recognize it takes a lot to attract a buyer from other luxury competitors, but the Lincoln MKC has that kind of appeal and we believe that the new MKC will capture even more luxury clients,” Lincoln President Kumar Galhotra said in a statement.

The crossover will be formally introduced next week at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

Besides the change to the front end, the 2019 MKC undergoes a few other exterior tweaks, including new colors, wheel choices, LED lights and chrome accents on the back end.

Inside, the crossover will offer Ford’s Sync 3 infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It will also add driver-assist features including precollision assist with pedestrian detection with automatic braking. Active park assist, lane-keeping alert and blind spot information system with cross-traffic alert can be added as options.

Ford will also offer three new Black Label trim options.

The 2019 MKC will carry over the standard turbocharged 2.0-liter engine and twin-scroll turbocharged 2.3-liter engine available on the current model. The 2.0-liter makes 245 hp and 275 pound-feet of torque, while the 2.3-liter makes 285 hp and 305 pound-feet of torque.

Each powertrain comes in a two- or all-wheel-drive option.

The MKC is included in Lincoln’s pickup and delivery service, which is standard on all models. It can be accessed through the Lincoln Way app, which also allows customers to start, lock, unlock and locate their vehicle.

“Lincoln’s freshened 2019 MKC gets new mesh grille, tech” originally appeared in Automotive News on 11/21/2017

The motorcycle industry is losing customers; what must it do?

Courting aging baby boomers is not enough, it turns out. The motorcycle industry needs new buyers and it needs them now.

After the big recession gullywumped motorcycle sales eight or so years ago, the industry was knocked down, if not quite out. As it recovered from the recession, another problem T-boned it almost as hard: an aging buyership. With some notable exceptions, people are eventually going to stop riding bikes as they get older. And there aren’t nearly as many young buyers coming in to fill the void. For an earlier generation, mine or yours, say, motorcycles were a constant thing. We all had one, or rode one at least and didn’t consider life without at least one motorcycle in the garage. Not so with today’s youth.

As the seven-event Progressive International Motorcycle Shows season kicked off in Long Beach, California, Friday, the industry gathered to consider what, exactly, it should do about its disappearing customers. While press conferences rolled along on the show floor in advance of the public opening of the first round of the cross-country moto-show season, a small group of industry insiders held a parley inside to discuss how to save themselves.

Part of the meeting was to present results of a survey of 300 industry insiders asking what they were all doing wrong. Most agreed they had to make motorcycles more affordable. Cost is still a problem long after the recession ended. They also have to reach out to younger buyers and those not traditionally targeted by the industry –- women and minorities in particular.

Full results of the meeting, including a sort of moto manifesto, will be out in about 10 days. But the seriousness of the problem was acknowledged, at the least. 

The BMW G 310 R

One way manufacturers are hoping to attract new buyers is to offer more affordable bikes. Many motorcycle makers on hand at the Long Beach show are putting an emphasis on bikes of around 300 ccs of displacement, some single- and some dual-cylinders.

BMW has increased the number of entry-level bikes it offers. The G 310 R is a 313-cc street bike that stickers for $4,750 including ABS. It’s an easy first bike for someone wanting to try riding. The seat height is only 30.9 inches, the fully fueled weight is just 349 pounds and yet it offers 34 hp and 21 lb-ft of torque, and looks like a sport bike.

BMW also highlighted its even-easier-to-ride C Evolution electric scooter. The C Evolution’s all-electric powertrain means no shifting and easy regenerative braking. Electric range is 99 miles, BMW says. Of course, batteries are still not cheap things anywhere you put them, so the sticker price is $13,750, but you can get 0 percent APR on all 2016 and 2017 models till Dec. 31! And if you want internal combustion in your scooter, the gasoline-powered C 400 X scooter will be on sale here in the U.S. in third-quarter 2018 with a 34-hp 350-cc single cylinder. 

You should buy a Suzuki Van Van 200 for the name alone

Suzuki introduced its Burgman 400 scooter to the U.S. market in Long Beach, along with four other more traditional entry motorcycles ranging from 200 to 250 ccs that each cost under $5,000: the GSX250 R, DR 200 S, TU 250 S and the Van Van 200.

“We think the Burgman 400 will be good for new riders and riders coming back into the sport,” said Suzuki spokesman Avery Innis. “We want to bring back a lot of folks who used to ride before, as well as a lot of new riders in urban areas.”

Piaggio announced an electric version of its popular Vespa scooter but gave no indication when it would arrive in U.S. showrooms. This is not a problem for entry-level bikers since the Vespa brand offers many small-displacement scooters with monthly payments as low as $68.70 on a Liberty 50 iGET ei or $53.38 a month on a FLY 150 3V. That’ll attract the youth.

Royal Enfield Interceptor 650

Royal Enfield, which has specialized in 500-cc single-cylinder bikes for years, debuted a couple twin-cylinder 650s at Long Beach, two weeks after they were unveiled at the EICMA show in Italy.

“This engine is exactly what we have to do to bring in younger riders to motorcycling,” said Rod Copes, president of Royal Enfield North America.

Both the new bikes will sticker for under $7,000 when they arrive here in the second half of 2018.

“The general trend among buyers is that they’re aging out,” said Copes, who used to be with Harley-Davidson. “What’s the next generation coming in? Millennials. A lot of us grew up on dirt bikes; that’s not their thing. A lot of people have an interest in motorcycles but to enter the sport on a 750-pound bike is intimidating.”

Speaking of which, Harley-Davidson, perhaps hit hardest by the dearth of youth, didn’t have a specific model to offer young buyers at Long Beach, but it does have a plan.

“Over the next 10 years, we will create a new generation of motorcycle riders,” said spokesman Matt King. “We will bring 2 million new riders, people of all generations … we are charging fast and furious into the future.”

The Ducati 959 Panigale Corse looks so delicious you don’t know whether to ride it or eat it

Even Ducati, the quintessential sport- and superbike maker, has some ideas. The new Scrambler was introduced in 2014 with an 803-cc engine and is still on sale starting under $9000, but it is joined now by an 1100 model. And the bigger, more powerful sport- and superbikes are even available on open-ended leases through Ducati Premier. You can get a Monster 821 for $1,999 down and $134 a month, for instance; the beautiful 959 Panigale Corse is just $212 a month; and the all-new Panigale V4 S “direct from MotoGP” is $262 a month after the down payment.

To get an idea of how the industry is going to do this, you can see these bikes, as well as a host of performance and cruiser models, at the seven remaining shows coming to a city near you: New York, Dec. 1-3; Minneapolis, Dec. 8-10; Cleveland, Jan. 26-28; Dallas, Feb. 2-4; Chicago, Feb. 9-11; Washington, D.C., Feb. 23-25.

Lexus RX 350 will finally get a three-row model in LA

Just a few weeks ahead of the LA Auto Show, Lexus is getting ready to roll out its first stretch version of the long-serving RX crossover. The impetus for the three-row model has been an industry-wide rush to offer a third row of seats in midsize and full-size crossovers and SUVs, so it was only a matter of time before Lexus and Toyota felt pressured to do so in something other than the truck-like GX.

The RX 350L and the RX 450hL hybrid version, the latter which will arrive later in the year, won’t actually be stretched at the wheelbase — this was evidently undoable for engineering reasons — but will rather feature a longer D-pillar rear compartment and overhang. Essentially, the RX will carve out space by taking some from the cargo area and stretching the rear overhang by several inches to buy just enough room for two extra seats.

The RX 350L is expected to gain more room for a third row of seats via a longer rear section rather than a wheelbase stretch, as seen in our rendering. Photo by Autoweek

Earlier this year, Japan’s Mag-X published a leaked cutaway image of the three-row version of the RX, confirming that third-row passengers will not have a whole lot of room back there. But the more bulbous rear compartment should buy the RX a little more cargo room, so the trade-off for having two extra passengers won’t be doing away with cargo space entirely.

In a way, it’s surprising that Toyota has avoided giving the RX a third-row option until now — you can bet that the next-gen model will be designed with the third row in mind since the RX now faces much stiffer competition from segment veterans and newcomers alike. Among those newcomers is the Volkswagen Atlas, which was designed with a third row from the beginning, as well as the newly redesigned Acura MDX and Volvo XC90.

Stay tuned for the RX 350L’s launch and much more from the LA Auto Show in just a couple weeks. 

Spied: New Ram 1500 will offer a split, dual-function tailgate

Spy photographers have caught confirmation that at least some versions of the next-generation Ram 1500 pickup will have a new dual-function tailgate, capable of both dropping down in the traditional manner or opening up ‘French door’ style.

The tailgate design makes it easier for consumers to access the pickup’s bed, without having to reach over the dropped tailgate or climb up on it. Earlier spy photos confirmed that the next-generation Ram 1500’s tailgate can be dropped remotely using a button on the key fob.

FCA US plans to begin production of the next-generation Ram 1500 in January at a retooled assembly plant in Sterling Heights, Mich., and will introduce the redesigned half-ton at the 2018 Detroit auto show.

“FCA to offer split, dual-function tailgate on Ram, spy photos reveal” originally appeared in Automotive News on 11/15/17

2018 Infiniti QX80 gets a refresh just in time for the big SUV boom

Infiniti has taken the wraps off a mildly refreshed 2018 QX80, giving the flagship SUV a few updates inside and out. The biggest visual changes are the (slightly) revised front and rear fascias: The headlights are now narrower and sit higher on the front fenders, the lower front fascia sports slimmer horizontal running lights, and the grille is now wider at the bottom rather than at the top compared to the outgoing model. Out back, the taillights are different in design if not in overall shape, and they’re now joined by a single horizontal chrome strip that runs along the top of the rear license plate niche.

Overall, it’s an evolutionary look that tweaks the established design of the QX80 in the spirit of the QX80 Monograph concept that debuted at the New York auto show earlier this year, instead of a complete redesign.

The changes are even milder on the inside: The design of the steering wheel and the leather-wrapped gear shift has been tweaked, and Infiniti has added choices of Wheat or Graphite upholstery. When it comes to tech, the refreshed QX80 now features larger rear infotainment screens — a bump from 7.0 to 8.0 inches — as well as HDMI ports in addition to the standard USB ports. Up front, Infiniti has made a few changes to storage space, including a larger smartphone storage area and cupholders for cups with handles. The storage area under the center armrest has also been expanded, now measuring 5.4 liters in volume.

Underhood, the QX80 still packs a beefy 5.6-liter V8 with 400 hp and 413 lb-ft of torque on tap, paired with a seven-speed automatic transmission.

In sum, most of the changes are on the outside and they serve to tone down the brash, bulbous style of Infiniti’s largest offering, which has been on sale since 2010 (first as the QX56). The SUV is now closer to a complete redesign than to its initial launch, as it battles much newer galleons including the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator. But that redesign won’t be here for at least a couple of years.

The change in price for 2018 is similarly incremental; the QX80 is now $900 dearer for two- and four-wheel-drive models alike, weighing in at $65,745 and $68,845, respectively.

“The Infiniti QX80 has been a popular choice for buyers in the luxury SUV segment, particularly in North America and the Middle East,” said Christian Meunier, Infiniti Global Division Vice President. “The new QX80 will boost Infiniti’s presence in the full-size SUV segment by evoking the spirit of inclusive luxury travel. Customers expect maximum comfort, practicality and style – and the 2018 QX80 delivers.”

What to expect at the 2017 LA Auto Show: SUVs, roadsters and some electrics

The LA Auto Show will take place a little later on the calendar than usual, running from Dec. 1 through Dec. 10 at the LA Convention Center. The change in schedule puts it just a month ahead of the Detroit auto show while also eliminating the overlap with Thanksgiving holidays and their inevitable travel nightmares, giving the show a little room to breathe.

LA has become more tech-focused in recent years thanks to predictions of the impending autonomous future (along with threats to “rethink” or “reinvent mobility” by just about every major participant); fortunately, this year mostly will still showcase new cars you’ll actually be able to drive.

Here’s an early look at the major debuts you can expect to see in a few short weeks. We’ll update this list as more confirmed LA Auto Show reveals trickle in — there will be more than a few major surprises this time around.

You may feel like you’ve already seen the i8 Roadster debut, but it has yet to take place.

BMW: The Bavarians are expected to finally take the wraps off the i8 Roadster, a car that has been promised and teased so many times it’s easy to forget that it still hasn’t debuted. The LA Auto Show is by far the best venue for this reveal, and not just because Detroit in January is not convertible-friendly — the i8 desperately needs this version before it sits on the shelf any longer.

Besides the i8 Roadster, expect to see the X7 Concept make a U.S. appearance after its debut in Frankfurt earlier this year, as well as the M3 CS.

Infiniti: Nissan’s luxury arm has teased something that could turn out to be the replacement for the QX70, which was recently put out to pasture. Infiniti showed a minimalist sketch that depicts what appears to be a crossover but released no other details save from a promise that it will be the “most advanced” vehicle in the brand’s history. We’ll be ready to learn a new alphanumeric badge on Nov. 28 if the QX70’s replacement materializes.

Infiniti teased a new concept or production car with this minimalist sketch, suggesting a QX70 replacement.

Jeep shows the new Wrangler at SEMA, sort of

The same morning that the current Jeep JK won, yet again, the “Hottest SUV” title at the SEMA Show, the world finally got to see the coming JL in pretty much full detail.“You might …

Jeep: The 2018 Wrangler, bits and pieces of which have been trickling out for the past year and a half, will make its official debut in LA. This will be one of the headline debuts of the show, and the biggest question right now is how many body styles/engine variants Jeep will bring to LA, and whether we’ll see a hybrid version in December or some time later. With the Detroit show coming up, it makes sense that Jeep will want to space out the debuts of various Wrangler versions a bit, so don’t expect to see them all in LA.

Land Rover: The company has indicated we’ll see plug-in hybrid versions of the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport before the end of the year, and the end of the year approacheth. The two PHEV models are expected to make good on Land Rover’s promise to electrify its entire lineup before the decade is out.

Mercedes-Benz: We expect to see the all-new third-generation CLS-Class make its debut in the metal in LA, replacing a model that has been on sale for some time. The next-gen CLS-Class is not expected to radically alter the E-Class four-door coupe formula much.

Beyond the CLS-Class, we may see another EQ electric sub-brand concept from Mercedes, as we have at recent auto shows, but the bigger question with Mercedes and electrics is when we’ll see a production version of its first EV.

Mini: The Anglo-Germanic automaker will bring the Mini Electric to LA after it made its debut in Frankfurt earlier this fall, previewing the brand’s first mass-market EV after a small-scale experiment earlier in the decade. This model will be a big deal for Mini and for corporate parent BMW, which seeks to expand its i Division beyond the relatively small gas-electric lineup that it has offered for a few years.

Porsche: Expect to see the 718 Cayman GTS and Boxster GTS debut in LA, with more powerful versions of the 2.5-liter turbocharged flat-four.

The 2018 Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo will also make an appearance, showing off its long name as well as its 4.0-liter, twin-turbo V8 connected to a 136-hp, 295-lb-ft electric motor powered by a 14.1-kWh liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery.

Volvo XC40: The XC40 is expected to make its first major auto show appearance in LA, a few weeks after Volvo took the wraps off its smallest SUV in Milan. The XC40 is expected to greatly expand Volvo’s volume in the U.S., and it will arrive on the heels of several other major debuts for the Swedish automaker, whose SUV lineup has been completely revamped over the course of the last 24 months.

Volvo XC40: How a sketch made it to production

With the XC40 Volvo achieved a rare feat because the crossover’s look is the same as the day it was first drawn.“We were convinced we had something in our hands with this car,” Volvo …

Behold: The Brodozers of Babylon (aka SEMA)

And the powers that be, those of horsepower and of torque and yea even unto those of ground clearance and suspension articulation, did gaze down upon the Earth and saw that there were too many small and practical sedans and yea, too many of the crossover, even those with the third row; and they did say: “Build thee a beast of the Earth that doth crush and smite all that shall come in its path, and paint thee thy undercarriage and all the components therein in shades of powder-coated fluorescent, that thine enemies shall see the detail as they are being smitten under thy might; and paint thee thy wheels in orange, bright orange that we may see from the heavens; and go forth among my people blasting thee thy terrible bass from thy Rockford Fosgates and tweaking thee thy trebles unto the heavens. Amen.”

And the people, in particular the Bros, did do just that. And they brought them to the SEMA. And there was much rejoicing among the SEMAtites. Particularly on the Friday night at the end of the time of the SEMA, in the Valley of the People of Vegas who understand not the math, and thereon did the mighty and terrible hordes pass from the gate of the Central Hall of the LVCC and unto the streets, and the multitudes did throng, and did cry out, “Rev thou thy engine! Crank thou thy bass!” and the Bros hath done so, and the people rejoiced unto the heavens. And all saw that it was good. And the Bros did abide. Amen.

Leaked: Here’s the 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1

The 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 got a little pub ahead of its auto show debut thanks to a “Car and Driver” leaked cover. Apparently released as part of a subscriber newsletter, the image of the cover featuring the Corvette is making the rounds on the internet. For the unfamiliar, ZR1 is the latest moniker to return to the Corvette family (the last ZR1 came out during the C6 generation) after Grand Sport and Z06, and it’s likely the final frontier for the seventh-generation Corvette — that means this could be the last high-performance front-engine Corvette if the rumors about mid-engine Corvettes hold true.

If that’s the case, the front-engine Corvette is going out with a bang. According to the “Car and Driver” cover, the ZR1 will have 750 hp — 100 more than the already potent Z06 ‘Vette. More importantly, it looks like the front bodywork features more spaces for cooling — a place where this generation of Corvette has struggled.

The Corvette ZR1 will have 750 hp and a lot of aero.

It doesn’t look like the ZR1 has a DOHC V8 despite carrying the legendary LT5 engine denomination, at least according to Corvette Blogger.

We’re expecting all the details about the ZR1 later this week when it makes a debut at the Dubai motor show, but until then — you can watch it run around the Nurburgring here.

‘Dust 2 Glory’ Movie Review: The sequel will make you want to eat dust like never before

It’s been 12 years since the original showcased the SCORE Baja 1000 off-road race, the characters involved and the Baja peninsula itself, but the long-awaited sequel to “Dust to Glory” has finally arrived.  We got a sneak peek of “Dust 2 Glory ” at the annual SEMA Show, and it did not disappoint.  The new film chronicles the 2015 SCORE Baja 1000 and all four races in the 2016 SCORE World Desert Championship series. It’s reminiscent of the original, with lots of racer profiles and a first-person documentary feel. Director and commentator Dana Brown once again takes you firsthand into the depths of this iconic race scene.

While the film is fully focused on the SCORE off-road racing series, it is really all about the people, landscape and adventures that Baja has to offer. The race attracts an extremely diverse group of adventurers there to test themselves against the challenging landscape that is Baja — and each other.

At the upper levels of off-road racing are the mighty Trophy Trucks, which attract rich business heads, famous race car drivers and the like, people who have the funds and support to play with the ultimate big toys. At the other end of the spectrum are the Class 11 VW Beetles, run by local families and the common racer. Motos, quads and UTV also make up the field of budget and fully funded top-tier teams. All involved add a truly unique flavor to this diverse race scene, and all are profiled in the film.

“Dust 2 Glory” shows all the highs and lows involved in desert racing. Watching and hearing a trophy truck dance across the desert at over 100 mph into the sunrise is something to behold. The lows are, for sure, the deaths that occur, like motorcyclists Travis Livingston and Noah Evermann, who died during the 2016 Baja 500 race. Racers are a big family, and even the winners of the race deeply felt the pain of loss.

The movie is a nice mix of helicopter, drone, POV and run-and-gun style cinematography. While much of the footage is truly jaw-droppingly beautiful, like many of the starry night time-lapse shots, some of the shots are also raw and gritty, like the POV crash footage. Quality editing and storytelling tie everything together.

Find a theater near you at fathomevents.com to attend the one-night nationwide premiere event of ‘Dust 2 Glory’ on Dec. 6 at 7:30. 

Is this the coolest Audi TT on the planet?

There were a ton of overboosted, overdesigned, overstyled vehicles floating around SEMA last week, but for our money, as in, the money we’d spend, there aren’t too many cooler than this Audi TT Clubsport built by Dr. Rouven Mohr and friends. Mohr is the head of whole vehicle development for Lamborghini and he brought the car from Las Vegas to Long Beach, California to stop by the Hoonigan garage.

The TT Clubsport biturbo makes 600 hp thanks to its boosted I5 cribbed from the new TTRS, a bigger standard turbocharger as well as an electric turbocharger getting power from a 48-volt battery. That means there is no turbo lag, according to the doctor and with Audi’s quattro system, not much wheelspin either, as we can see near the end of the video. Mohr installed a six-speed manual transmission, which he admits is slower than a dual-clutch, but this car is for drivers, he says. And it sounds amazing.

The squared-off exterior styling takes cues from Audi race and rally cars of yore including the capital-Q Quattro of course, along with the IMSA GTO Audi race car from the late ’80s/early ’90s. The roll cage is integrated cleanly into the shell while the carbon-fiber buckets look just right.

For me, skip the chrome, skip the pickups, skip the flash, give me something with massive horsepower, massive road-holding ability and a massive turbo whoosh, like this TT.