In Case You Missed It - Nutson's Weekly Automotive News Digest - February 13-19, 2017: 52 66 50th 6%, Recalls, smart EV Only, RIP Bill
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AUTO CENTRAL CHICAGO, February 19, 2017; Every Sunday Larry Nutson, Senior Editor and Chicago Car Guy along with fellow senior editors Steve Purdy and Thom Cannell from The Auto Channel Michigan Bureau, give you TACH's "take" on this past week's automotive news in easy to digest mega-tweet sized nuggets.
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Nutson's Nuggets: February 19, 2017;
* GM's new 2017 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel sedan has been rated in the EPA test-cycle at an estimated 52 mpg highway. It's the highest fuel economy EPA rating of a non-hybrid or non electric — according to the Environmental Protection Agency. The previous-generation Cruze diesel sedan was EPA test-cycle rated at 46 mpg highway. The 52 MPG Cruze Diesel features a new 137 HP Ecotec 1.6-liter turbodiesel engine and a six-speed manual transmission. Its theoretical driving range based on the EPA data is up to 702 miles on a full tank.
* Mercedes-Benz announced that the Smart car in its gas-powered version will disappear after 2017. The nation's smallest car, the Smart car in its electric version will go on. Mercedes says it will have a "dedicated focus" on the electric Smart, which will "play an important role" in the forefront of other electric cars that Mercedes plans to offer.
* On the heels of a bill to preserve Route 66, there is now more legislation that would secure National Historic Trail status for Route 66 that would theoretically help preserve and rejuvenate the Mother Road. H.R. 801, which Representative Darin LaHood of Illinois introduced earlier this month, would amend the National Trails System Act of 1968 to include Route 66 as the country’s 20th National Historic Trail. According to a statement LaHood released regarding the bill, “It is time it receives the national recognition it deserves. Designating Route 66 as a National Historic Trail would provide this highway with a permanent program to preserve, promote, and economically develop it.” The only current federal support for Route 66, which was decommissioned in 1985, comes from the National Park Service’s Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program, which distributes about $100,000 per year to local or state Route 66 preservation projects.
* GM may sell its European Opel and Vauxhall business to Peugeot and leave the European market. The French maker of Peugeot and Citroën cars would then become Europe’s second-largest carmaker following behind Volkswagen.
* Possibly pre-cursing the next big thing in car apps is a partnership announced this week between Jaguar and Shell to allow drivers to pay for their fuel through the car’s infotainment system. The Shell-developed app will find the nearest Shell station using GPS then allow payment using PayPal or Apple Pay. A receipt will be displayed on the pump then e-mailed to the customer. The system is planned for introduction in the UK first. Jaguar Land Rover’s director of connected car and future technology, Peter Virk, says the next app will be to facilitate paying for parking.
* Has motorization in the U.S. peaked? The University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute has published a new report by Michael Sivak that examined recent changes in the United States in both the ownership of light-duty vehicles (cars, pickup trucks, SUVs, and vans) and the corresponding distance driven. The main findings are:(1) The vehicle-ownership rates per person and per household both reached their maxima in 2006. The two rates for 2015 are down, on average, 4.4% from their maxima, although they have rebounded, on average, 1.4% from the post-maximum minima reached in 2012 and 2013. (2) The distance-driven rates per person and per household both reached their maxima in 2004. The two rates for 2015 are down, on average, 7.8% from their maxima, although they have rebounded, on average, 2.1% from the post-maximum minima reached in 2013.
* We're driving more, faster and less safe. Traffic deaths are up 6 percent in 2016 to 40,200. It's the first time since 2007 that more than 40,000 have died on our roads. Not wearing seatbelts, distracted driving, driving under the influence and speeding are all factors. Some of these factors are due to reduced enforcement.
* Toyota was once again named by Fortune as one of the “World’s Most Admired Companies” and named the No. 1 Motor Vehicle company for the third consecutive year in an annual ranking. Fortune’s “World’s Most Admired Companies” list recognized Toyota as No. 34 among the Top 50 “All-Star” companies surveyed.
* Subaru announced its year of 50th celebrations, leading up to its 50th anniversary on February 15, 2018. In keeping with a company known for supporting good causes, the automaker is marking its 50th anniversary with a special donation of “50 cars for 50 years” to benefit a national charity to be announced at a later date. Throughout the year, Subaru will also host a number of celebratory events, culminating in a series of special edition model vehicles that will debut in early 2018. Further details on all programs will be announced in due course.
* James Bond would approve. After making its world premiere in Monaco last September, the prototype Aston Martin AM37 powerboat will be shown for the first time in the U.S. at Yachts Miami Beach on Collins Avenue (February 16-20). The Aston Martin AM37 challenges the status quo of the nautical world and offers a pure translation of the brand’s DNA into an entirely new maritime concept, combining innovative technology and bespoke craftsmanship with a perfect balance of design and engineering, performance and comfort, luxury and functionality.
* Even the exotics are not immune to recall woes. Lamborghini announced a recall this week affecting about 5,900 Aventador super cars to fix a fire risk, about 1,500 cars are in the U.S. The risk is apparently greatest when the engine is over-revved at idle which could cause fuel vapors to be ignited by hot gasses from the exhaust. The company said no injuries have been reported and did not say if any fires had actually occurred. If you own one of these, just take it to your dealer, and don’t be showing off at stop lights on the way.
* BMW is recalling more than 19,000 i3 REx plug-in hybrids in the U.S. because they could develop a fuel vapor leak that would increase the risk of a fire. Cars from the 2014 to 2017 affected by the recall.
* Mazda is recalling about 174,000 of their 2011 Mazda 2 subcompact cars and 2010 and 2011 Mazda 3 and Mazdaspeed 3 compact cars because the seats can change angles suddenly, making the vehicles hard to drive.
* While the market is finally seeing a small increase in hybrid and electric car sales Toyota announced this week that it has now sold 10 million hybrids, including plug-ins, worldwide. This comes just 9 months after achieving 9 million sales. In the U.S. Toyota reports 3 million hybrids sold as of the end of December 2016. Toyota Motor Sales U.S. boss Bob Carter referenced the role of the pioneering Toyota Prius hybrid in giving credibility to this segment of the market.
* Gooding & Company, auctioneers of high-end classic and collector cars, just announced its featured car for the upcoming sale at Amelia Island - a fully restored 1957 Jaguar XKSS, one of only 16 built and called “almost certainly the sexiest car in existence” by the editors at AutoWeek. This particular car was raced successfully in its day and Steve McQueen once owned one. One of the fastest cars of its day it could do 0-to-60 in just 5.2 seconds and get to 100 mph in 14 seconds. Gooding & Company expects it will bring between $16 and $18 million.
* Can race cars be too fast? The FIA, World Rally Challenge competition sanctioning body, thinks so. The FIA is considering rules that would limit average speeds to 80 mph. World Rally Challenge is one of the most popular forms of motor sports in other parts of the world and involves highly modified cars plying the most challenging road conditions imaginable going very, very fast. FIA boss Jarmo Mahonen says his team will be looking at all rally stages to be sure the speeds are safe.
* Labor unrest is beginning to plague Tesla’s manufacturing plant in Fremont, California as at least one worker is accusing the company of overworking and underpaying employees, causing poor morale, injuries and high turnover. Tesla founder and CEO, Elon Musk, denies these problems claiming the worker who made the accusations was planted by the UAW to agitate in support of union representation. Musk said of the disgruntled worker, “he works for the UAW,” and “this attack is morally outrageous." The Tesla factory was formerly the joint venture manufacturing plant shared by GM and Toyota known as NUMMI.
* Bill Baker, the legendary PR man who played a key role in Land Rover’s successful return to the U.S. market in 1986, has died. He was 72. Baker dreamed up and then hosted extreme driving expeditions in North America, South America, and Africa that put auto journalists behind the wheel to then write about the new luxury SUVs.
