Report: Porsche ramps up efforts to produce Mission E
The Porsche Mission E Concept from the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show was quite a show stopper since it previewed Porsche’s future design language, and gave us many hints as to what we could expect to see in cars like the new Panamera and the 911.
Porsche was also rumored to be working on an EV to compete with Tesla and the Mission E was described to also preview Porsche’s efforts to build a Model S competitor.
But after Dieselgate crippled Porsche’s parent owner, Volkswagen, affecting Porsche themselves, the company had to rework its plant in wake of the scandal. That said, the Mission E’s fate was put on hold as Volkswagen and Porsche are still in the process of conducting damage control.
Now, Porsche is apparently ready to continue on with its Mission E plans, ramping up efforts to prepare for a production model, according to Elektrek.
The preparation for producing the Mission E could add up to 1,300 jobs in Zuffenhausen, while Porsche has already begun shifting nearly $1.12 billion in funds to build their first-ever production electric vehicle.
There’s even enough hype building up around the car to call it a “Tesla Killer,” with its sights set directly on the S90D model with the Ludicrous burst speed mode.
On top of shocking performance, Porsche has a goal of over 310 miles in terms of driving range, likely based on the New European Driving Cycle rating system. Speaking of which, the Tesla Model S is capable of a range of 346 miles on the NEDC cycle and 294 miles on the EPA range. A 0-62 mph time of 3.5 seconds is also another requirement.
The Mission E is said to come with a new 800-volt charging system, giving the car “supercharger” capabilities that can recharge the battery up to 80% in 15 minutes.
– By: Chris Chin
Source: Electrek
Source: egmCarTech http://bit.ly/2akBKFP
Report: Ferrari is already working on a successor to the LaFerrari
It might seem like the LaFerrari just came out, but that was over three years ago and production for the coupe ended, to make way for production of the open-top version for 2016.
Yea I know time flies. If that wasn’t enough, AutomotiveNews reports that Ferrari has already begin researching and developing their next flagship.
Plans are already set to make the LaFerrari successor up to 15 percent lighter than the current car, thanks to more judicious use of carbon fiber. Currently, the LaFerrari weighs around 3,495lbs while the new model’s goal is 2,976lbs.
The preliminary stages of the new car’s design were further substantiated to a recent agreement between Ferrari and Altair Product Design. Altair is a design and engineering firm that will help Ferrari design the new car.
– By: Chris Chin
Source: AutomotiveNews
Source: egmCarTech http://bit.ly/2af3HvV
Report: Future high-performance Jaguars could be powered by BMW
Jaguar has made some pretty formidable powerplants, from one of history’s most renowned straight-sixes, to their current high-performance and rev-happy V8s. They even power all V8 Land Rovers and have been since the Range Rover stopped using a BMW V8 in 2005.
But it seems the age of Jaguar engines is coming to an end since Automobile apparently learned the company is in talks with BMW to utilize their turbocharged V8 instead. So yes, this could be the beginning to the end of Jaguar’s pretty amazing 5.0L naturally-aspirated and supercharged V8s.
With sales of V8-powered Jags hitting all-time lows, Jaguar’s finding more of a reason to just outsource those mills from someone who already makes V8s.
Additionally, the AJ-V8 platform still dates back to the company’s first ever in 1997, the 4.0L AJ-V8 in cars like the late 1990s XJ, XK, and the S-Type. So their V8 needs to be redesigned from the ground up, but that would prove to be a bit too expensive for the few amount of V8 models they do sell, meaning, not worth it.
That’s where BMW would step in with their next-generation twin-turbo V8.
– By: Chris Chin
Source: Automobile
Source: egmCarTech http://bit.ly/2ausEp7
Report: A Bugatti Chiron Roadster is not going to happen
The Bugatti Veyron was lucky enough to get a roadster version to complement the original coupe to make a small lineup. Its successor, isn’t as lucky since AutoCar says the Chiron won’t get an open-top version
Speaking to Bugatti’s sales and marketing chief, Dr. Stefan Brungs, the report states that a roadster version is a bit difficult to make given the car’s goals for top speed and performance.
Also, the Chiron will be produced fewer times than the Veyron, with 500 Chirons scheduled for production at this time.
Currently, London is Bugatti’s most important location worldwide as the company just refurbished their major dealership, just to sell the Chiron. There are currently 65 Bugatti Veyron owners in the UK, and 15 orders for the Chiron have already been placed, at a price of 1.9 million GBP.
– By: Chris Chin
Source: AutoCar
Source: egmCarTech http://bit.ly/2armRR9
Report: The Ford Focus RS is running a bit behind schedule getting to customers
Ford’s latest hot hatch, the Focus RS, is apparently running a little behind schedule as the Dearborn automaker reportedly is a bit back-ordered from high demand.
The Truth About Cars heard about the news and says that Ford is so behind, they cancelled around 220 customer orders for the 2016 model-year car and instead, replaced the orders for 2017 model year cars.
“Customers with changed 2017 Focus RS orders will be prioritized and experience almost no delay in delivery of their vehicle,” Ford spokesperson, Matt Leaver, said to Motor1 in a supporting report.
Demand has everything bottlenecked at the Saarlouis factory in Germany, where the Focus RS is being made. As a result, customers might face some monthly delays, however Ford promises they shouldn’t be much further behind.
– By: Chris Chin
Source: The Truth About Cars and Motor1
Source: egmCarTech http://bit.ly/2armO7O
Report: A Bugatti Chiron is not going to happen
The Bugatti Veyron was lucky enough to get a roadster version to complement the original coupe to make a small lineup. Its successor, isn’t as lucky since AutoCar says the Chiron won’t get an open-top version
Speaking to Bugatti’s sales and marketing chief, Dr. Stefan Brungs, the report states that a roadster version is a bit difficult to make given the car’s goals for top speed and performance.
Also, the Chiron will be produced fewer times than the Veyron, with 500 Chirons scheduled for production at this time.
Currently, London is Bugatti’s most important location worldwide as the company just refurbished their major dealership, just to sell the Chiron. There are currently 65 Bugatti Veyron owners in the UK, and 15 orders for the Chiron have already been placed, at a price of 1.9 million GBP.
– By: Chris Chin
Source: AutoCar
Source: egmCarTech http://bit.ly/2aeGKaY
Report: Porsche won’t be at the 2017 North American International Auto Show
Reuters reports Porsche plans to sit Detroit out next year in an effort to focus their efforts more directly at a presence in New York and Los Angeles.
Speaking to a company spokesperson, in addition to a supporting report from a German automobile outlet, the reasons come down to the cost and not a very ideal location market for promoting their sports cars.
They do make the 911 with all-wheel drive, but it still isn’t the kind of car you’d want to drive in the dead of Michigan winters. Trust me, I’ve seen them myself.
If it were my guess, Porsche just couldn’t take the cold any more. Can’t blame them when the Detroit Show often happens when it’s near 15 degress Fahrenheit outside.
– By: Chris Chin
Source: Reuters
Source: egmCarTech http://bit.ly/2aeEBfH
Report: The next Mazda MX-5 should go on a diet thanks to carbon fiber
The Mazda Miata MX-5 is already the very definition of lightweight fun, but Mazda doesn’t think it’s light enough, according to AutoCar.
The latest report indicates that Mazda wants to make the MX-5 even lighter by utilizing carbon fiber and smaller engines. This sort of revolutionary construction shouldn’t happen until 2021 however, which is when the next-gen Miata is scheduled to be launched.
Size shouldn’t be affected either with the weight reduction as Mazda believes the MX-5 is perfectly sized.
“The size is right, but in the future lightweight materials will be very important and will used in this car,” said the Miata’s program manager, Nobuhiro Yamamoto. “Now carbon fiber is very expensive. But we have in development affordable carbon fiber, so the MX-5 will be lighter in future.”
Currently, the Miata tips the scales at around 2,300lbs but Mazda wants to even go lighter. Yamamoto didn’t say how light, though.
– By: Chris Chin
Source: AutoCar
Source: egmCarTech http://bit.ly/2aezex9
Auctions: Baby, you can soon drive John Lennon’s Austin Princess
Beatlemaniacs chime in! It’s time to get your checkbooks ready. Your chance to own John Lennon’s 1956 Austin Princess could cross the RM Sotheby auction block in the coming weeks.
The Yorkshire Post reports that the late Beatles star’s Princess will be put up for sale to help raise money for charity. It served duty as a limousine to transport the famed rock artist around with his wife, Yoko Ono, and was customized specifically to feature five specially designed seats. It was also used to promote his album, Imagine.
The car will be auctioned off to raise money for organizations like UNICEF and Make A Wish America Foundation. A few other undisclosed donations will be made as part of the transaction. The 1956 Austin Princess was last donated to the Austin Rock and Roll Car Museum in Texas back in 2008 after leaving the hands of renowned business magnate and philanthropist, Milton Verret.
Lennon’s Princess is estimated to fetch in between 190,000 to 265,000 GBP, or roughly $250,000 to $350,000 USD, at current exchange rates following the dive from Brexit. While it may seem like a lot, Beatlemaniacs, especially the serious ones, tend to pay for the memorabilia. For instance, one of John Lennon’s guitars, which ended up being stolen in the 1960s and later recovered, sold for 1.6 million GBP last year, or around $2.1 million USD.
The 1956 Austin Princess comes with the original registration and title document, complete with Lennon’s actual signature from the original purchase.
– By: Chris Chin
Source: RM Auctions via Yorkshire Post
Source: egmCarTech http://bit.ly/2aaw4LT