Thursday, December 27, 2018

Hyundai Kona Electric Gets Shockingly Low Price Tag In US

This should really juice demand!

The Hyundai Kona Electric has been long awaited in the U.S. But, when it arrives here early next year, we now know how much it will cost: $36,450. If we subtract the $7,500 federal tax credit from that, we’re looking at a mere $28,950. Then, there are the various state incentives that can reduce that number even more. Californians, for example, could be looking at an overall starting price of just $26,450!
What buyers will get in return is a competent compact crossover with a 64-kWh battery pack that returns an impressive EPA-rated range of 258 miles. That’s the best range of any all-electric available in the U.S. that isn’t a Tesla. The Kona Electric will come in several trim levels and pricing for higher-spec versions will be announced soon, according to the Korean automaker.
We believe that, at this price level, demand for the Kona Electric should be pretty significant. Though we had worried that the supply from the Korean automaker might be somewhat limited, the company has, recently, said that it will satisfy the U.S. hunger for the vehicle.
This news confirms for us that 2019 will be an extremely interesting one with regards to how the different plug-in choices affect the market. Will, for instance, the competitive arrival of this Hyundai have a negative effect on sales of existing electric models like the Chevy Bolt, or will it help expand the market overall? Perhaps it will force other automakers to sharpen their pricing pencils or offer more features in their offerings.
Check out the official press blast below for all the details.
Hyundai Kona Electric

6 photos
2019 HYUNDAI KONA ELECTRIC PRICING CONFIRMS AN UNPRECEDENTED SUB-$30K ELECTRIC CROSSOVER VALUE WITH 258 MILES OF RANGE VIEW ONLINE
• Kona Electric Starts Below $30,000 with Available $7,500 Tax Credit 
• Generous 258-Mile Estimated Range Meets More Varied Lifestyle Needs 
• New Electric CUV offers Youthful Design, Sporty Driving Character, Leading Safety Technology and Advanced Infotainment Features in an Affordable, Compact Footprint 
• Abundant Suite of Standard Safety Equipment
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., Dec. 14, 2018 – Hyundai today announced the starting price for its long-awaited 2019 Kona Electric convention-breaking electric crossover. The Kona Electric starting price is $36,450, for an effective net price of $28,950 ($29,995 including delivery), with the electric vehicle tax credit of $7,500 factored in. Customers may receive the available federal tax credit of up to $7,500, dependent on individual tax circumstances, yielding a sub-$30,000 net value.
Pricing for other Kona Electric trims will be announced shortly.
Kona Electric rides on an all-new CUV platform and is Hyundai’s first compact electric crossover for the U.S. market, appealing to consumers with active, eco-focused lifestyles of all kinds. Kona Electric models will be produced in Ulsan, Korea and will be available in the beginning of 2019, with initial availability in California and subsequently in the ZEV-focused states in the western and northeastern regions of the U.S. market.
“Our new Kona Electric crossover is an exceptionally affordable, stylish and efficient compact electric CUV, tailored to the needs of customers who pursue eco-focused active lifestyles requiring generous range,” said Mike O’Brien, vice president of Product, Corporate and Digital Planning, Hyundai Motor America. “We’re confident it will set new standards for the electric-propelled compact CUV segment, with outstanding value, range flexibility, appealing design, cutting-edge connectivity, and class-leading available safety features.”
SouH

Sunday, December 16, 2018

2020 Bronco Shown at National Dealer Meeting

The upcoming Ford Bronco was shown off to Ford’s dealers earlier this month, and the company doesn’t seem to have confiscated phones on the way into the meeting. Thanks to that “oversight”, pictures of the new Bronco are circulating all over the internet– specifically, the ones shown, above.
Way back in 2015, we talked a lot about the upcoming Bronco in an article that– for a while– was stupidly popular. We predicted that the new Bronco would be heavily based on the Euro-market Ranger, and look a lot like the then-new Australian Ford Everest SUV.

2015 Ford Everest

We I got the part about its looks wrong, mostly. The rest of it, though? Gear Patrol and Top Speed are published stories about an anonymous Ford engineer who revealed that, under the skin, the new Bronco is all Ranger. Power in the top versions will come from “something like” the 2.7-liter EcoBoost V-6. In the 2018 F-150, that EcoBoost makes 325 horsepower and 375 pound-feet of torque-– respectable numbers in a Wrangler-sized SUV. Sadly, that anonymous source also says the Bronco won’t be the hard-core, off-road ready Jeep Wrangler competitor that many are hoping. Rather, it’s been designed primarily as a comfortable on-road, family-friendly SUV, though sprinkled with off-road hardware.”
No word yet on whether or not a Ranger Raptor-based Bronco SUV will follow, but I wouldn’t hold my breath for that. What I am looking forward to, however, is an all-white Bronco with “OJ” plates– but I’m a sick dude. What about you guys? Do you have any fond Bronco memories you’re hoping to relive in the new one? Let us know all about them in the comments section at the bottom of the page!

Sources | ImagesGear Patrol, via Top Speed.

2020 Jeep Renegade Hybrid Nearly Ready

The Jeep Renegade plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) that will be launched in early 2020 is inching closer to production. Currently, the Fiat Chrysler Melfi Plant in Italy is being readied for the production run. Pre-production copies will be made in 2019, before the final versions in 2020. €200 million is the amount reportedly invested in the new powertrain’s launch.
“With over 742,000 Renegades produced to date in Italy, the Melfi plant and the Renegade are the ideal location and the perfect product to launch the PHEV, further strengthening the offer of this highly successful Jeep,” said FCA’s Pietro Gorlier.
The subcompact Renegade PHEV has a rear-mounted electric motor for the rear wheels and retains the normal front-wheel drive. Details about the PHEV Renegade’s performance are scant at this point, but one writer, Paul Acoba, suggested it might be similar to the Pacifica Hybrid. “FCA is preparing to add a battery pack in their little Renegade, possibly giving it the ability to have an EV-only mode in line with the Chrysler Pacifica PHEV. If FCA gets the timing right and markets it correctly, this could be a boon for Jeep in a way that already has its writing on the wall.”
Adding a battery and an electric motor to a small SUV with established sales might be a good idea for FCA. Car and Driver wrote the Renegade has real off-road ability and an option for a manual transmission, so it may be more rugged than the typical compact SUV.
The gasoline base model starts at around $18,000 and rises up to $27,000 with all the bells and whistles. No word, yet, on what the price of the hybrid might be, but expect mid 30s-40K to compete with cars like the Volvo XC40.

Fun revival: Electric dune buggy could join VW I.D. line

Volkswagen ID Buzz Concept
Volkswagen ID Buzz Concept




























What's old is new, and what's new is old.

As if a Volkswagen revival of the classic Microbus—complete with a cargo-van version—weren't enough, the company revealed to British Autocar magazine that one of the next models in its upcoming electric I.D. lineup may be a revival of the off-road Meyers Manx dune buggy.
VW never built the Manx. The iconic, fiberglass-bodied dune buggies, first built in 1964, were kit-car conversions designed to fit on classic 1960s rear-engine VW Beetle floor pans—complete with VW engines hanging out the back, frequently with "stinger" tail pipes pointing proudly to the sky. (Meyers still builds some updated versions of the buggy kits.)
Meyers Manx Dune Buggy
Meyers Manx Dune Buggy
























Volkswagen's official version will be electric, based on its new MEB modular electric-car platform. The company has said other models based on the architecture will have up to 340 miles of range and will be able to charge at 125 kilowatts.

Such a minimalist design may need fewer batteries to accomplish the same mission—and without waving a pollution finger at the sky. Two electric motors are expected to give it all-wheel drive and an estimated 369 horsepower.
Volkswagen ID Buzz Concept
Volkswagen ID Buzz Concept





























The electric Manx-style buggy could follow five or six other all-electric vehicles, ranging from an urban hatchback to a flagship sedan and long crossover—and that much-anticipated I.D. Buzz Microbus redux.
VW has also hinted it is working on retro-themed electric version of the classic Beetle after that. In all, the company says it will base 27 models on the new architecture to build 10 million new electric cars.

Saturday, December 8, 2018

Schaeffler to showcase electrification technologies at CES 2019

Automotive and industrial supplier Schaeffler predicts that in 2030 some 30% of all newly registered passenger cars will be fully electric and 40% will be propelled by hybrid powertrains—i.e., 70% of all passenger cars will be using at least one electric motor as a source of propulsion.
At CES 2019, Schaeffler will showcase exhibits extending from a hybrid module through to the 1,200-hp Schaeffler 4ePerformance concept.
000BA48A
Alongside digital transformation and IoT, Schaeffler views electric mobility as an integral component of its forward-thinking “Agenda 4 plus One” program—as one of the key innovation drivers going forward—and has consolidated all of its activities in this field in its new “E-Mobility” business unit.
By 2020, Schaeffler will have invested more than €500 million (US$569 million) in research, development and production of electric drive units. Schaeffler has already begun to mass-produce components and system solutions such as e-axles and hybrid modules.
A transmission specifically for electric vehicles of which one each at the front and rear axles of the new Audi e-tron enables a particularly efficient all-wheel drive system with smart control technology is another example. In normal drive mode, only the electric motor on the rear axle is active. If the driver requires higher output via the accelerator pedal or the system detects slip on the rear wheels, the front axle drive is additionally activated.
Hybrid module for pickups. At CES, Schaeffer will showcase a hybrid module enabling OEMs to electrify the pick-up trucks that enjoy particular popularity in the U.S. marketplace. The compact P2 hybrid module fits between the IC engine and the transmission which makes it suitable for integration into existing vehicle concepts as well.
000BA48E
It enables both a boost function and “coasting” with the IC engine shut off as well as all-electric driving. Consequently, the hybrid module shown at CES enhances both fuel economy and driving pleasure.
E-axle. The e-axle developed by Schaeffler offers even greater versatility. It can be used either as a stand-alone unit or extend an existing front- or rear-wheel drive into a full-fledged all-wheel drive system. The power output with wheel-selective control is another benefit. Due to torque vectoring, a distribution of torque between the right and left wheels, safety, driving dynamics and ride comfort are noticeably enhanced. Consequently, the e-axle presented at CES offers efficient driving dynamics interventions for hybrid and battery-electric vehicles as well.
000BA48C
Schaeffler’s e-axle serves the requirements of both hybrid and fully electric vehicle powertrains.
Schaeffler 4ePerformance concept vehicle. The Schaeffler 4ePerformance concept vehicle provides a good example of the technology transfer from racing into a near-production drive concept. The fully electric vehicle uses four Formula E motors with total power output of 880 kW (1,200 hp). These were adopted from the ABT Schaeffler FE01 Formula E race cars and, like the car’s power electronics, developed by Schaeffler’s subsidiary Compact Dynamics.
All four motors were used for the full second Formula E season. For Schaeffler, the electric racing series is an ideal test laboratory for the development of electric mobility technologies and ideally fits the company’s “Mobility for tomorrow” strategy with which the globally active technology group helps shape the future of mobility.
Benefits from experience in conventional powertrain technology. In the development of electric powertrain components, Schaeffler benefits from the experience the company has gained in conventional powertrains with IC engines, for instance in digital simulation. The know-how from the development of starting elements like the torque converter or the double-clutch broadens the development and manufacturing expertise available at Schaeffler as well.
Schaeffler is also continually expanding its areas of expertise. Through the acquisition of Elmotec Statomat GmbH, the leading producer of manufacturing machines for mass production of electric motors, Schaeffler is closing the last gap in manufacturing complete electric systems including electric motors produced in-house.

Friday, December 7, 2018

Will VW Build its New Electric Cars in Ford Factories?


Monday, December 3, 2018

LA 2018: Audi e-tron GT Concept