Archive for June, 2020
Plenty of Automotive Joint Ventures and Deals
Lots of things are happening in the automotive world. Exciting new deals and ventures continue to be made between big auto giants, and it’s mind-blowing how many joint ventures there actually are in car-manufacturing circles.
Only this week Ford Motors and Volkswagen Group sealed the deal to combine forces and make up to 8 million units of commercial vans and medium pickup trucks. These two automotive giants will collaborate on a city van which is to be built-up by Volkswagen. It’s a 1-ton cargo van developed by Ford. Then a Volkswagen medium pickup, the VW Amarok, will be built on the Ford Ranger platform – soon to start in 2022. Ford will also make a new electric vehicle for Europe by 2023, and it will be built on Volkswagen’s Modular Electric Drive system.
But this isn’t all. Automotive manufacturers around the world are joining forces to invest in electric and self-driving technology to help save billions of dollars.
Here are a few other interesting combos:
Did you know that Chinese big gun Geely holds a 23% stake in London Taxis, and they also have an 8.3% stake, as well as a 15.9% voting rights, in Volvo?
How about knowing that Indian’s Mahindra holds a 70 % stake in Ssangyong Motors?
Did you know that Porsche has a 50.74% voting sway on VW? However, the Porsche automotive business is fully owned by the Volkswagen Group.
A more commonly known joint force is that of the Renault – Nissan Alliance. Renault holds 43.4% of Nissan shares, and Nissan holds 15% of (non-voting) Renault shares.
Toyota holds 100 % stakes in Daihatsu, 50.1% stakes in Hino, 5.9% stakes in Isuzu, 5.05% stakes in Mazda, 16.7% stakes in Subaru and 4.94 % stakes in Suzuki.
VW also has a 99.5 % stake in Audi, a 33.73% stake in Scania and a 53.7% stake in MAN SE.
Daimler and the Beijing Automotive Group have a 50:50 stake joint venture.
Hyundai has a 50:50 stake with the Beijing Automotive Group.
BMW and Brilliance (a Chinese automotive manufacturer) have a 50% and 40.5% joint venture, respectively.
Changan Automobile (a Chinese automobile manufacturer) has large stakes in PSA (Peugeot/Citroen), Suzuki, Mazda and Ford.
Chery has big stakes in a Chery, Tata, Jaguar and Land Rover joint venture.
Dongfeng (a Chinese automobile manufacturer) has big stakes in Peugeot/Citroen, Honda, Nissan, Volvo and Renault.
FAW (a Chinese automobile manufacturer) has stakes in GM, VW and Toyota.
Toyota has a joint (50:50) venture with Peugeot and Citroen.
Sollers (a Russian automobile manufacturer) has stakes in Ford and Mazda for producing vehicles.
Eicher Motors (an Indian automotive manufacture) has stakes in Volvo (50:50).
One gets the feeling that China has a lot of say on things automotive!
October Faction: BMW Set To Launch 4 Series Coupe.
BMW Australia has confirmed the 4 Series Coupe is set for an October 2020 launch date down under. There’s plenty to look at and plenty to like in this striking new machine.
BMW’s TwinPower turbo technology is applied to a pair of four cylinder engines and a six. BMW says the fours will produce 135kW and 300Nm for the 420i, 190kW and 400Nm for the 430i, and for the big six in the M440i 285kW and 500Nm. Autos are the super slick 8 speed Steptronics complete with steering wheel paddle shifts.
For those that prefer the personalisation aspect, BMW’s M Sport Package is ready and waiting. The already bold air intakes are increased in area, and matched at the rear by a large contoured apron. Underneath is the M Sport suspension and 19 inch M Sport M alloys, plus Cerium Grey external accents for the M440i and M Carbon exterior highlights can be optioned. Inside, comfort and safety has the extra touches of knee pads on either side of the centre console plus specific other touches.
BMW’s design team may have looked at the past for the future; the front sports a pair of striking yet familiar kidney grilles, with inspiration possibly from the art deco and pulp science magazines of the early part of the 20th century and nod towards their own BMW 3.0 CSi. There’s a heavier nod towards a vertically inclined styling, with a deeper reach towards the lower edge of the front apron. Inside is the newly added horizontal mesh material. There are assertive looking intakes on either side, and sit underneath LED headlights that sweep back deep into the upper edges of the front fenders. Adaptive swivelling adaptive LED with BMW Laserlight are optionable. Laserlight increases high beam range to over 500 metres at speeds of over 60 kilometres per hour.
The designers have looked at how the 4 Series Coupé can stand still and look fast and muscular. Elegant lines in curves and straight work together to pick out the frameless windows in the doors, the short front and rear overhangs, and emphasis the taut LED rear lights. The roofline is a metal wave, smooth, yet powerful. There has been subtle increases in size; there is an extra 128mm to 4,768, width is up by 27mm to 1,852, and a small height increase of just 6mm. It is now 1.383mm and makes the 4 Series 57mm lower than the 3 Series. The wheelbase is up by 41mm for2,581mm. Handling is sharpened by the increase in track with an extra 28mm up front, and 18mm for the rear.
Depending on model, integral head restraints will be fitted, with the rears eats sculpted for a 2+2 configuration. The front seats are a sports style, and the driver graps an M specific leather wheel. It’s a proper cockpit feel with a centre console that houses the Start/Stop button flowing high into the dash itself, and the door panel trim complements that of the instrument panel which is now a broader surface area design. Noise is reduced thanks to an acoustic glass windscreen.
Cabin tech arrives in the form of Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and a SIM card for 4G LTE connectivity. The BMW Connected Package Professional brings in BMW’s Teleservices which includes the Intelligent Emergency Call, Reat Time Traffic Information, Concierge Services and Remote Services.
A built-in SIM card with 4G LTE connectivity and standard BMW Connected Package Professional enable use of digital services including BMW TeleServices and Intelligent Emergency Call, Real Time Traffic Information with hazard warning, Remote Services and Concierge Services. BMW’s 7.0 OS is standard too, with fully integrated digital access and information. The Live Cockpit Professional delivers a 12.3 inch driver’s screen and a 10.25 control display for the centre. There is also a Head Up Display as standard.
Pricing will be confirmed closer to the October launch date.
Have we Reached Peak SUV Saturation?
Today, just about every manufacturer is releasing one SUV after another, hoping to cash in on Australia’s love affair with the category. Such is our fervent admiration for the humble SUV, it is far and away the nation’s best-selling type of car. The segment makes up as much as half of all new car sales.
But with a never-ending list of new SUV models being pushed into the market, which somewhat contrast the direction being pushed by many that we are meant to be moving towards more eco-friendly and environmentally sustainable vehicles, have we reached peak SUV saturation? Are there simply too many SUV models being launched in the market today?
What are car manufacturers doing?
Take one look at Toyota’s line-up, where the famous pint-sized Yaris is now being converted into a compact SUV crossover. It probably wouldn’t be all that puzzling if it weren’t for the company’s six other SUV models, including the LandCruiser, Prado, Fortuner, C-HR, Kluger and RAV4. Volkswagen, an otherwise ‘slow’ adoptee of the SUV format, will soon have seven or even potentially eight vehicles competing across this segment.
Neither are alone in what appears a very deliberate attempt to all but prioritise high-riding SUVs over all other segments. Just about every auto-maker is adopting a similar strategy, each with numerous SUV models. In fact, some other brands are even going as far as cutting passenger vehicles from their line-up and replacing them with SUVs.
The unstoppable trend
But behind all the engineering nous, design flair and marketing excellence, SUVs are proving an unstoppable trend among Australians. Even as the new car market slumps to historic lows, the SUV category is holding up better than its peers. That comes despite the fact that an SUV would typically be more expensive than a comparable passenger vehicle, even if it is a compact SUV or crossover.
If Australians are prepared to open their wallets and fork out more for an SUV in what was already a challenging economic environment, let alone in the middle of a recession, it is as sure a sign as any that manufacturers will continue to divert extra weight to developments in this segment. That may well mean that we are going to see even more SUV models yet, catering for each size category and various price points.
If you’re not a fan of SUVs you may well have to get used to it, because the trend is here to stay and manufacturers are intent on capitalising from it.
Toyota Doubles Down On Updates: HiLux And Fortuner Facelifted.
Toyota has made some noise in the first week of June 2020 in respect to the facelifted and upgraded HiLux. Quietly though, their “forgotten” SUV, the Fortuner, has also been given a makeover and received the power/torque upgrades as well.
Fortuner.
Front and rear are where the exterior changes have come to play, and definitely moreso up front. The headlights have been given a restyling that brings them a sharper, narrower look, but also mimics the sharper and narrower styling found on Mitsubishi’s Pajero Sport. Underneath is a pair of broader airvents that first appeared on the Lexus LX570. In the middle the air intake is now a deeper Vee shape, with the whole look more like that found on HiLux from a couple of years ago. Overall, it’s a cleaner and less invisible look.
The rear brings the same bumper extensions and have hints of roundness, rather than heavy angles. The rear lights have changes in the internal look, with the top of the range Crusade gaining LEDs, whilst the rear window line remains unchanged. Unfortunately.
Behind the nosejob lies a rejigged diesel engine. Like the HiLux, there are now 150kW and 500Nm (auto only) which are increases of 20kW and 50Nm, and a change to the economy. Toyota says up to 17% is the improvement in urban driving. Towing has increased; it’s now up to 3,100kg. Inside the infotainment screen has been upped to eight inches from seven, and now has the smartphone apps as standard, as are satnav and DAB audio. The range is still a three level layout, being GX, GXL, and Crusade. Contact your local Toyota dealer for pricing and availability.
HiLux.
Toyota have also waved the update wand over their best selling HiLux. The engine has the same upgrades (150kW, 500Nm for auto transmissions, up to an 11% increase in economy) and the exterior also has been updated. Late August is the ETA for arrival on Aussie shores. Here’s what’s been done.
The HiLux sports a large trapezoidal grille which Toyota says “dominates the front design and incorporates more pronounced horizontal elements”. Depending on the level chosen, the surrounds will differ in look. The headlight clusters have been reconfigured for a more slimlined and edgier appearance and the upper levels will be LED lit. The lower bumper corners have a restyled look that brings a stronger “jut-jawed”, almost bulldog appearance that builds upon that seen on the RAV4. In profile though, some subtle restyling on the flanks and a creaseline for the doors has been added to join front and rear.
Inside HiLux also gets an update, including the increase to an eight inch, not seven, touchscreen that includes DAB and smartphone apps. The driver’s display now has a full colour 4.2 inch display, bringing the HiLux into line with Camry and Corolla, for example.
Motorvation comes from a 2.7L petrol, 2.4L and 2.8L diesel. 4×2 and 4×4 drive modes remain available depending on model. The three body styles of single, extra, and double cab remain as do the five trim levels: Workmate, SR, SR5, Rogue and Rugged X. Pick-up and cab-chassis options are both available.
Underneath, the HiLux range has been made over as well. The suspension has had the shock absorbers retuned and mounted to new bushings. The leaf sprung rears have been refined and provide a more comfortable ride without losing handling ability. So have the technological abilities been increased, with a new traction control feature redistributing torque in the 4×4 models when 4×2 mode is being used. The Downhill Assist Control uses sensors to provide an almost 4×4 like split of torque on demand in wet, muddy, or grassy conditions. Towing for the auto 4×4 variants is now up to 3,500 kilograms, and the 4×2 versions are upped to 2,800kg. That’s an increase of up to 300kg.
Toyota’s Sean Hanley, the Vice President for Sales and Marketing, said: “More than ever, Australia’s favourite ute will inspire go-anywhere confidence for customers who rely on it as a load-carrying and trailer-towing workhorse for doing their jobs. Equally, the latest changes will advance HiLux’s credentials among customers who demand the handling, ride comfort and convenience of an SUV.”
Although vehicle sales in Australia have declined dramatically in recent months, in May 2020 the HiLux commanded a full 25.5% share of the pickup/cab chassis market, selling 90 for each day of May.
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