Nutson's Weekly Automotive News Digest - August 29-September 4, 2016: Buh Bye Z4, Caddy Future, Betty J France RIP, Higher Octane Needed (E85 Already 100+) VW Cash Call, Tesla Auto Pilot Fixes

AUTO CENTRAL - Chicago, September 4, 2016: 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. If you wish to know more just click on the link that will take you to the full story as published here on The Auto Channel.

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Nutson's Weekly Automotive News Digest - August 29-September 4, 2016

* August brought a slowed pace to new vehicle sales with the SAAR dropping below 17 million. Down 3.5% from a year ago, total volume was 1.51 million. The big players are all down although FCA was up 2.9%. Jaguar-Land Rover is up a huge 46.5%, Volvo up 30.9%, and Subaru up 14.7%.

* Volkswagen AG is promising U.S. dealers a wider model range and lower pricing as the automaker tries to broaden its appeal and push the reset button in the world’s second-biggest car market in the wake of record fines and plunging sales. VW told dealerships about the shift to a more mass-market strategy for the brand at a recent meeting.

* Our friends at The Detroit Bureau recently posted an article about Cadillac's future. In response to some speculative statements Cadillac Chief Johann deNysshen posted a comment, we quote: "to clarify any misconception which may arise from your article, allow me to share future Cadillac product plans, as recently informed to our global dealer organization: We ARE planning a Cadillac flagship which will NOT be a 4 door sedan; We ARE planning a large crossover beneath Escalade; We ARE planning a compact crossover beneath XT5; We ARE planning a comprehensive enhancement to CT6 later during life cycle; We ARE planning a major refresh for XTS; We ARE planning a new Lux 3 sedan entry; We ARE planning a new Lux 2 sedan entry." So there you have it.

* Given the choice of fixing diesel-cheating Volkswagens or getting their money back, car owners are lining up for the cash. Almost half of the 475,000 drivers of Volkswagen cars on U.S. roads in violation of pollution laws already have registered to participate in the settlement program a month after the deal won preliminary court approval. VW’s pact with drivers and U.S. regulators offers car owners options, including a cash buyback or $5,100 and a free fix for their vehicle. Most of the 210,000 owners and lessees who’ve enrolled in the program want the buyback. The fix for those wanting to keep their cars has yet to be approved by the California Air Resources Board or Federal authorities. In order to avoid further sanctions VW must ensure that 85% of these cars get fixed or off the road.

* Higher fuel costs will have to come for reduced emissions and reduced fuel consumption. Raising the octane level of pump gasoline in the U.S. is integral to optimizing advanced combustion engines now in development, according to many auto engineering execs. The EPA says they realize this and will be working hand-in-hand on future engine developments.

* You no doubt have heard about shrapnel from exploding Takata air bag inflators that is tied to at least 11 deaths and more than 100 injuries worldwide. Takata's problems worsened last week when a truck exploded that was carrying air bag parts and propellant manufactured by the troubled Japanese supplier Takata. A pair of U.S. senators are pushing the National Transportation Safety Board to examine the crash because the truck that exploded in Quemado, Texas, on Aug. 22 was carrying the ammonium nitrate-based propellant that has been found to cause Takata air bags to rupture, especially in humid climates. One person in a nearby home was killed in the truck explosion and four others were injured.

* Rally racing, one of the most popular forms of racing in other parts of the world but little followed here in the U.S., involves what one of its iconic promoters, the late Gene Henderson, once described as “real cars on real roads going real fast.” In the 2-wheel drive category the race is between Ford and Toyota just a few points apart going into the last race of the season. The Toyota RAV4 of Ryan Millen and co-pilot/navigator Christina Fate won the recent Ojibwe Forest Rally sitting up a two-way competition for the national championship at the finale in Northern Michigan on October 14th.

* Google and Waze are linking up to create a new ride sharing service now being rolled out in the San Francisco area. Not an actual ride-hailing or taxi service like Uber or Lyft, the Google/Waze project seeks to connect riders using Waze who are going the same direction on a regular basis for the purpose of car pooling. Other services are doing that now like Uber Pool and Lyft Lines. The service is not intend to be profitable for drivers and provides a stipend that will just about cover fuel costs.

* In response to a series of accidents and resulting bad publicity Tesla says it will enhance the safety restrictions on the Autopilot system and also remove the “self-driving” claim from its Chinese marketing. The company will be updating the software but not the hardware to respond more robustly if the driver ignores alerts. A new Autopilot system with updated hardware is due out on the Tesla X in late 2017.

* Fans of the BMW Z4 will be disappointed to hear that the roadster will soon go away with the last one scheduled to be built later this month, according to a report in AutoWeek. The original Z3 was built in the then-new assembly plant in Spartanburg, NC, a plant that has gone on to produce many other BMW products. The first generation Z4 replaced the Z3 in 2002. BMW has not confirmed a replacement for the sports car but a possible candidate has been seen testing in Germany. (See Specs etc. for all year BMW Z series below)

* Dale Earnhardt Jr. will miss the rest of the 2016 NASCAR season due to the concussion he sustained back earlier this year and stopped driving in late July. The final 12 races will have Jeff Gordon and Alex Bowman sharing the driving dudes of the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. Earnhardt is progressing in his recovery and expects to be back racing in February.

* Betty Jane France, wife of the late Bill France, died this week at the age of 78. Betty served as executive vice president and assistant treasurer of NASCAR and chairwoman of the NASCAR Foundation. Their son Brian France, current Chairman and CEO of NASCAR, said, “My father leaned on my mother throughout his life, relying on her wisdom and calming demeanor to help grow the sport of NASCAR.” He also credits her with growing “NASCAR’s heart and soul."

* Have a safe, happy and fun last-weekend of summer. Enjoy Labor Day and drive attentively!