Nutson's Auto News Weekly Wrap-up - February 6-12, 2022
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Nutson's Automotive News Wrap-up - Week Ending February 12, 2022 Below are the past week's important, relevant, semi-secret, or snappy automotive news, opinions and insider back stories presented as expertly crafted easy-to-understand automotive universe news nuggets.
* The 2022 Chicago Auto Show, the 114th, opened for a 10-day run, seven months after a special pandemic-driven outdoor version. Chicago is the only major auto show in the country that held shows during the pandemic in 2020 and 2021. Electric vehicles took center stage at the annual show, with everything from an indoor EV test track to a slew of new model debuts, as the transformational technology gains traction among consumers and automakers alike. Chicagoans are getting their first in-person look at the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV pickup truck, which was unveiled last month at the CES in Las Vegas, and is Chevy answer to the Ford F150 Lightening. Electric vehicle sales gained ground in 2021, making up 2.6% of the U.S. auto market, up from 1.9% the previous year, according to Edmunds. Forecasts for 2022 show EV sales growth to 4% of the market. Fifteen new vehicles are making their public debut at the Chicago show.
* U.S. DoE Transportation fact of the week: The average horsepower reached an all-time high for model year 2021 Light-Duty Vehicles. Preliminary data for model year 2021 shows that the average horsepower (hp) reached 252, an increase of more than 6 hp over the 2020 model year. This is especially impressive given that the average engine displacement remains near historic lows. In the late 1970s, following an oil embargo and energy crisis, there was a dramatic shift toward engines with smaller displacement which consumed less fuel but also had lower horsepower. Traditionally, greater horsepower required larger displacement engines. As engine technologies have improved, however, manufacturers have increased the specific power of their engines, generating more horsepower from smaller displacement engines. This allows for increased performance without sacrificing fuel economy. From 1975 to 2021, horsepower has increased by about 84% while engine displacement has decreased by 40%.
* South Korean brands took three of the top five spots in J.D. Power’s 2022 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study, with Kia at No. 1, but one U.S. brand, Buick, following closely behind at No.2. Rounding out the top five were Hyundai, Genesis and Toyota, according to a news release. Lexus, at No. 6, was last year’s top brand. Porsche was No. 7, followed by three U.S. brands, Dodge, Cadillac and Chevrolet, to fill out the top ten from among 32 brands sold in the United States. Land Rover, Ram, Volvo, Alfa Romeo and Acura had the most reported problems.
* A new report by Michael Sivak of Sivak Applied Research reviewed the fact that during the pandemic, some workers were (and some still are) able to work from home. Therefore, it is not surprising that in 2020, the first year of the pandemic, the annual miles driven per car or light truck (SUV, pickup truck, or van) decreased substantially. Of more interest is the new finding that this reduction was entirely due to a reduced use of cars as opposed to light trucks. This leads Sivak to assume that telecommuters are more likely to drive a car, while those who do not have the luxury of telecommuting, including many essential workers, are more likely to drive a light truck. Overall, from 2019 to 2020, miles driven per light-duty vehicle decreased by 12%. However, the nugget is that while cars were driven less (down 16%), the annual mileage of light trucks stayed about the same (up 1%). Have a look here: https://www.greencarcongress.com/2022/02/20220207-sivak.html
* Rolls-Royce has reimagined its iconic Spirit of Ecstasy figurine to grace the bonnet (hood) of its new all-electric motor car, Spectre. The Spirit of Ecstasy was first registered as intellectual property of Rolls-Royce 111 years ago on 6th February 1911. The figurine has been remodeled with a lower, more dynamic stance that brings her much closer to the drawings made by her original creator, the illustrator and sculptor Charles Sykes, in the early years of the 20th century. The forthcoming all-electric Spectre is the marque’s most aerodynamic product yet. The figurine's redesign contributes to a drag coefficient (cd) of just 0.26 in early prototypes. The new Spirit of Ecstasy stands 3.26 inches tall, compared to her predecessor’s 3.94 inches. Her robes, which flow behind her in the slipstream – often but erroneously characterized as ‘wings’ – have been subtly reshaped to make them more aerodynamic and realistic.
* Joe White writing for Reuters says someday the U.S. might be a nation of electric cars, but it will be a long road and some of the scenarios outlined by the White House and the industry look optimistic. MIT researcher David Ross and colleagues modeled different combinations of government support for electric vehicles and charging infrastructure. Among their messages is that without significant investment to expand the EV charging network sales of electric vehicles could fizzle. Have a look here at graphics from Reuters: The Long Road To Electric Cars
* States are being given the go-ahead to build a nationwide network of electric vehicle charging stations that would place new or upgraded stations every 50 miles along interstate highways, part of the Biden administration’s plan to spur widespread adoption of the zero-emission cars. Under new requirements issued by the Transportation Department, states must submit plans to the federal government and can begin construction by this fall if they focus first on highway routes, rather than neighborhoods and shopping centers, that can allow people to take their electric vehicles long distances. Each station would need to have at least four fast-charger ports, which enable drivers to fully recharge their vehicles in about an hour.
* A new study by SEMA study finds there are misconceptions about young drivers and their cars. The study says “there are more licensed drivers under the age of 25 today than there were two decades ago.” Attendance at car shows, car clubs and auto racing, and in online automotive discussions, and even on working on their vehicles, is higher on a percentage basis for those 16-24 and 25-34 than it is for those 55 and older. You can read more in this story from ClassicCars.com https://journal.classiccars.com/2022/02/09/sema-study-finds-misconceptions-about-young-drivers-and-their-cars/
* The Volkswagen ID. Buzz, an electric reimagining of the brand’s iconic Microbus, will make its first-ever public appearance at SXSW, from March 11-20, 2022. To celebrate the first outing of the electric vehicle (EV), Volkswagen will host various “Buzz Stops” throughout the city of Austin, Texas, where attendees of SXSW and locals can experience a coming chapter in the brand’s future. The ID. Buzz appearances are part of a larger three-year sponsorship agreement among Volkswagen and SXSW.
* The Wall Street Journal reports that used-car prices rose nearly 41% in January. This due to the prolonged microchip shortage that has limited the availability of new vehicles. Some used cars are now worth more than they were three years ago. Dodge Grand Caravan, Nissan Versa and Toyota Prius are the top three-year old used cars with the largest change in average price, with increases over 60%. Of note, there are no pickup trucks on the list.
* Reuters informs that Federal safety regulators have pushed Tesla to disable the "Boombox" function on nearly 579,000 cars that allowed owners to customize the federally-required sound to warn pedestrians when a silent running EV is nearby. Tesla owners could download their own sounds to play through the pedestrian warning system speakers - the way people download ring tones for phones. Of course, this inspired tech-savvy clowns to create programs that allowed Teslas to emit fart sounds and other rude noises. Unfortunately, this appears to be a Bozo No-No. FMVS 141 doesn't allow that, according to NHTSA. All pedestrian warning sounds are supposed to be the same across a given model line.
* Tesla is recalling nearly 27,000 vehicles in the U.S. because the cabin heating systems may not defrost the windshield quickly enough, cutting visibility and increasing the risk of a crash. This recall covers certain 2021 and 2022 Models 3, S, and X, and some 2020 through 2022 Model Y vehicles.
* Hyundai and Kia are informing owners of nearly 485,000 vehicles in the U.S. to park them outdoors because they can catch fire. The problem is contamination in the antilock brake control module that can cause an electrical short. Affected are certain Kia Sportage vehicles from 2014 through 2016, and the 2016 through 2018 K900 sedan. Recalled Hyundais include certain 2016 through 2018 Santa Fe, 2017 and 2018 Santa Fe Sport, the 2019 Santa Fe XL and 2014 and 2015 Tucson vehicles.
* And another. Chrysler parent company Stellantis is recalling almost 20,000 plug-in hybrid Pacifica minivans because of fire risk, the latest incident highlighting the potential hazards involved with the industry’s move toward EVs. An internal investigation found 12 incidents of fires in vehicles from the 2017 and 2018 model years. The fire incidents occurred while the vehicles were parked and turned off.
* Joey Logano, driving his Team Penske Ford Mustang, won the exhibition NASCAR Busch Light Clash on a temporary quarter-mile track built inside the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The made-for-tv spectacular was intended to hype NASCAR's upcoming season. NASCAR moved the Clash to Los Angeles from Daytona International Speedway where it has been held since 1979. It was the first race for the all-new NASCAR Next Gen car. NASCAR hasn't confirmed whether it will return to the venue next year, but has options to do so in 2023 and 2024. The Cup Series now moves to Daytona International Speedway for the season-opening Daytona 500 on February 20.
* It's Super Bowl Sunday and automakers are going electric with their Super Bowl ads this year. General Motors, BMW, Nissan and Kia are all pushing electric vehicles in their ads for this Sunday's game. Enjoy the game, or is it enjoy the ads. Cheers.
Stay safe. Be Well.
