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Honda Makes it Official, Lifts Cover on the 11th-Generation Civic Sedan

The 2022 Honda Civic sedan is the 11th generation of the company’s compact sedan in the U.S.

In typical fashion, Honda spent the past several months teasing the arrival of an all-new Civic sedan. Now, we’re getting the first close-up look at the 11th-generation model, albeit virtually, thanks to the COVID pandemic.

The 2022 Honda Civic adopts a new design that the automaker describes as more “simple,” “clean” and “modern.” It also adopts plenty of new technologies, both for infotainment and safety. Traditionally, this would have been the sort of formula that kept Civic high up on the sales charts. The question is whether the 2022 model can maintain momentum in a market where SUVs and CUVs, such as the Honda CR-V, have largely displaced conventional sedans and coupes.

“Civic has been the go-to choice for compact car buyers for almost 50 years and the all-new 11th-generation Honda Civic builds on that leadership with simple and sporty styling inside and out, best-in-class features and class-leading performance,” said Dave Gardner, executive vice president of National Operations for American Honda Motor Co.

Jumping in the wayback machine

Designers adhered to the mandate to pick up on the brand’s original “Man-Maximum, Machine-Minimum” design philosophy with the 2022 sedan.

The goal for designers was to reach back into the history of the Civic, which made its American debut in 1973. They were given a mandate to pick up on the brand’s original “Man-Maximum, Machine-Minimum” design philosophy. That said, no one will call this a retro-mobile.

A “thin and light” body design adopts a low hood and front fenders, with a small grille above the front bumper, a larger one below giving the new Civic a more planted feel. The new Civic migrates to LED lighting, both front and back.

Subtle flaring around the wheels yield a more aggressive and premium feel, or so Honda designers contend. The windshield pillars, meanwhile, have been moved rearward two inches, the glass flowing into a coupe-like roofline that tapers into a short rear deck.

Even with the windshield pushed back, the new cabin offers reasonable space for both front and back passengers, especially considering competitors in the compact segment. The sedan’s low beltline and ample glass provide for good visibility and enhance the sense of spaciousness.

Changes to the interior

The low instrument panel is accented by a honeycomb mesh, Honda claims, “serves both form and function, creating a dramatic visual dividing line between the audio, information displays and the climate controls.” The approach also helps keep things feeling less cluttered by largely concealing the sedan’s air vents.

The Civic’s interior features new premium materials for the next-generation sedan.

Honda says it adopted more premium materials for the 2022 model’s cabin. And it also upgraded the front seats on all trims, using a “body stabilizing” design that keeps driver and passengers firmly in place, whether on long trips or during aggressive maneuvering.

From a technology standpoint, base trims now get a 7-inch color touchscreen for an infotainment system that comes with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There’s an upgrade to a high-definition, 9-inch touchscreen that is paired with wireless versions of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The 2022 Civic becomes the first to offer a 12-speaker Bose premium sound system, and Touring models come with Qi wireless smartphone charging.

The push for more technology can be seen with the latest version of the Honda Sensing suite of advanced driver assistance systems. Along with existing features, such as forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, the 2022 Civic adds a new front wide-view camera, new Traffic Jam Assist and, on the Civic Touring, Low-Speed Braking Control.

The new model also adds what Honda describes as “groundbreaking” new front airbags designed to reduce traumatic brain and neck injuries. The 2022 model also becomes the first Civic equipped with side airbags for rear seat passengers.

The 2022 Civic becomes the first to offer a 12-speaker Bose premium sound system, and Touring models come with Qi wireless smartphone charging.

Options under the hood

The 2022 Civic will offer two 4-cylinder options, like the outgoing sedan. That includes a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter package making 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque.

The powertrain now comes standard with stop/start capability, as well as a new catalytic converter. Paired with an updated CVT, it gets a bump up in fuel economy, according to the EPA. The LX trim is rated at 31 mpg city, 40 highway and 35 combined, as much as 2 mpg better the outgoing 2021 model.

The Civic EX and Touring get an updated 1.5-liter turbo-4 now making 180 hp and 177 lb-ft, up 6 and 15, respectively. The package is paired with a CVT offering Step-Shift programming. The Touring package yields 31 mpg city, 38 highway and 34 combined.

As is the norm for Honda, we can expect to see more Civic variants roll out in the next year or two, including the sportier Si and Type-R models. Whether the automaker will offer all the packages of the past, considering the decline of the passenger car market, does remain to be seen.

Look for the 2022 Honda Civic sedan to roll into U.S. showrooms later this spring.

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Ford Starts Converting Mustang Mach-E GT Reservations to Orders Starting April 28

Ford begins converting reservations to orders for the Mustang Mach-E GT and GT Performance April 28.

Fans of the Mustang Mach-E who have been sitting on the sidelines waiting for the GT to come available, it’s time to charge up those checkbooks as Ford apparently will start taking orders for the high performance model next week.

According to macheforum.com, Ford dealers were just informed the “Mustang Mach-E Job 2 (including Mustang Mach-E GT) order bank, order guide, and price list will launch on the afternoon of Monday, April 26^th.”

The letter goes on to say that customers can convert their GT reservations to orders beginning April 28. It then tells the dealers to what they need to do to make certain the process goes smoothly and follows up with an additional note.

“For Mustang Mach-E GT Reservation customers: Some customers may believe that they can ensure an earlier build date by placing a new retail order and cancelling their reservation. This is not true. New retail GT orders will likely be scheduled into the ‘22MY. The best way for customers to get their vehicle as soon as possible is to follow the intended reservation-to-order process.”

Ford is informing reservation holders for the Mach-E GT it’s time to move from reservation to order status.

Several other posters in the forum confirmed the initial report, with one even sharing an email that links to a website.

High-performance model

Those with reservations will have some options beyond “Can I afford this?” There are two version of the vehicle available: the GT and GT Performance Edition. Both models put out 480 horsepower, use an 88 kWh battery pack, come with dual motors and all-wheel drive.

The GT Performance puts out 634 pound-feet of torque compared with 600 lb-ft for the regular GT. It takes a range hit for the extra torque traveling just 235 miles on a full charge compared with the 250 miles from the GT.

The GT Performance races from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds whereas the GT makes that run in a slightly slower 3.8 seconds.

The GT Performance Edition comes equipped with a MagneRide damping system, Ford Performance seats, 20-inch machined-face Ebony Black-painted pockets paired with 245/45R20 Pirelli summer tires.

Prices for the Mach-E GT start at $61,600, including destination fees. That’s offset slightly by the $7,500 federal tax credit that Ford EVs are still eligible for. Deliveries of the new GTs are slated to begin this fall.

Early adopters get a trophy

For those who want to be the first to experience all new tech, i.e. early adopters, Ford offered them a little reward for their zeal. Mach-E First Edition customers in the U.S. are getting a special collectible wireframe pony sculpture that matches the color of their vehicle. The sculptures are created with the help of 3D printing at Ford’s Advanced Manufacturing Center.

Each Mustang Mach-E First Edition customer will receive a special collectible wireframe pony sculpture in the color corresponding to their vehicle’s paint job.

The sculpture is based on the large-scale wireframe model of the pony featured at the global reveal of Mustang Mach-E in November 2019.

The wireframe pony sculptures are 3D-printed in white plastic in-house at the Ford Advanced Manufacturing Center in Redford. They are then sent to a dye facility where they are dyed one of three colors — Rapid Red Metallic, Grabber Blue Metallic or Carbonized Gray — to correspond with available color choices for First Edition. Included is a baseplate with the vehicle’s VIN.

The collectible wireframe pony marks the first time Ford has issued a 3D-printed component as part of a gift directly to the customer — and it’s allowing additive manufacturing to establish a new-use case within the enterprise.

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Genesis Goes Electric with Electrified G80 Sedan’s Debut in Shanghai

Genesis is looking to make up some ground when it comes to electrification with the new Electrified G80.

The Genesis brand is determined to go from catch-up mode to leaving its competition behind. After an initial delay, it’s rolled out an assortment of new SUVs and its now getting into the battery-car game with the launch of the Electrified G80 at the Shanghai Auto Show.

The name of the Genesis Electrified G80 sedan might confuse some folks, making it sound like the automaker simply stuffed some batteries inside the conventional, gas-powered G8. However, the new model gets a major makeover to ensure it gets the range and other benefits offered by switching to battery power.

“Today is very special because it represents a variety of firsts for the Genesis brand, not only because this is Genesis’ very first appearance at Auto Shanghai, but also as the first time we are unveiling a new product outside of Korea,” said Jay Chang, Global head of the Genesis brand. “The Electrified G80, the perfect balance of athleticism and elegance, marks the beginning of our journey into the EV market, representing Genesis in the era of electrification.”

Filling in gaps in the product line-up

Genesis has been on a product roll in the last year or so, but an EV was a hole in the line-up — until now.

Genesis has been on a roll this past year, expanding its SUV line-up, updating initial sedans, including the gas-powered G80, and rolling out concepts like the all-electric Genesis X coupe revealed last month.

The one thing missing has been a production battery-electric vehicle, something the automaker has long signaled was in the works — though it also was known to be considering different options, including a crossover, a city car or, as it now turns out, a relatively conventional sedan.

There are some questions left to be answered, such as what platform the Electrified G80 rides on. Parent Hybrid Motor Group has developed the E-GMP architecture for use on products including the new Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6.

It’s not clear whether it also underpins the Genesis Electrified G80. But the luxury member of the family has clearly found a way to squeeze in plenty of batteries, claiming the BEV sedan will deliver as much as 500 km, or 310 miles, range using the global NEDC standard. That likely would drop to something at or under 250 miles using the U.S. EPA test cycle.

Quicker charging

The interior of the new electric G80 sedan features a slew of technology.

The powertrain also aims to address concerns about charging times. The Electrified G80’s drive system can flip from 400 to 800 volts, allowing it to plug into the latest public quick chargers. Using the newest 350 kilowatt systems it can go from a 10% to 80% state-of-charge in just 22 minutes, Genesis claims.

The Vehicle-to-Load, or V2L, system also lets a motorist tap energy stored in the battery to power electric tools or, if need be, appliances should a home suffer a power outage.

Genesis isn’t ready to reveal specifics about the motor drive system, though it does note the all-wheel-drive system has a “Disconnector Actuator” that lets it switch from AWD to just rear-wheel drive. That suggests there is a single motor mounted, most likely, on the rear axle.

In Sport Mode, the automaker claims, the Electrified G80 will launch from 0 to 60 in 4.9 seconds.

Lots of unanswered questions

While the battery model looks much like the conventional G80, it features a sealed version of the familiar Genesis Crest Grille. That reduces aero drag since there’s no need to send air to cool and feed a gas engine under the hood. The charging port is hidden within the grille’s upper right corner.

Inside, the automaker switched to sustainable materials, including fabrics made of PET from recycled soft drink bottles.

Calling electrification “one of the key strategies” for the brand, Genesis said the Electrified G80 will be followed by “additional EV models.” It also said it will share more information about the BEV and plans to bring it to North America “later this year.”

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Krafcik Leaves Waymo After Five Years as CEO

Waymo CEO John Krafcik is way gone, announcing his departure and the company’s plans to move the current COO and CTO into the role of co-CEO.

Add “former” to the title of Waymo CEO John Krafcik, who announced today he’s left the company.

The former Hyundai Motor America chief spent five years heading up the autonomous vehicle subsidiary of Google, which, according to his farewell on LinkedIn, “was called ‘Chauffeur’ internally.”

Tekedra Mawakana and Dmitri Dolgov, of whom Krafcik said “having seen their brilliance, vision, and commitment in play for years — I assure you they are very well suited for this,” take over as co-CEOs of the Mountain View, Calif.-based AI-focused company. As is often the case with senior executives, Krafcik will stay on in an advisory capacity.

“So now, with the fully autonomous Waymo One ride-hailing service open to all in our launch area of Metro Phoenix, and with the fifth generation of the Waymo Driver being prepared for deployment in ride-hailing and goods delivery, it’s a wonderful opportunity for me to pass the baton to Tekedra and Dmitri as Waymo’s co-CEOs,” he wrote.

Next steps

Waymo named former COO Tekedra Mawakana as its new co-CEO to replace Krafcik.

Krafcik didn’t offer many details what the future holds, although it could be that he’s uncertain himself. He said he and his wife, Leila, will take a “coupbatical,” which he described as “a refresh period where we look forward to reconnecting with old friends & family, and discovering new parts of the world.

“After that, we’ve got a few ideas for focus and contribution that we’ll flesh out together and share when the time is right. We’ve already relocated to Austin, Texas, and we look forward to seeing some of you there, or on our travels.”

Krafcik once headed up Hyundai’s U.S. operations, helping lead the brand through an image renaissance and a period of rapid growth. He even earned the “Automotive Executive of the Year” in 2013. However, his run there ended in late 2013 after the South Korean automaker declined to renew his contract — despite the accolade.

However, he quickly landed on his feet, taking over as CEO of TrueCar just as the automotive sales and data website was readying to go public. His tenure there was short, however, as he moved on to Waymo, then-Google’s self-driving car project, just a little more than a year later in September 2015.

Dynamic duo

Waymo CTO Dmitri Dolgov joins Mawakana as co-CEO with Krafcik’s departure.

As for the company, Mawakana and Dolgov now step into new roles. Previously the COO and CTO respectively, they are described as having “complementary skill sets and experiences.” Due to the nature of their roles, they’re already accustomed to working together.

Dolgov, who started in autonomy as part of Stanford’s DARPA Urban Challenge team, joined the company in 2009, when it was still referred to as Google’s self-driving car project. Over time, his influence and responsibility grew. He became CTO late in 2016.

Mawakana, joined Waymo as a policy lead. Prior to joining the company in 2017, she led global policy teams at eBay, AOL, Startec and Yahoo, after beginning her career as Washington, D.C.-based law firm Steptoe & Johnson LLP.

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Hyundai Joins Growing Push for Usage-Based Insurance

Hyundai is offering more than just a new line-up of sport-utility vehicles now, introducing its new usage-based insurance program.

Hyundai is the latest automaker to let its buyers switch to insurance coverage based on both how much they use their vehicles and how well they drive.

So-called “usage-based” insurance is already offered by several other manufacturers, including Ford Motor Co., as well as some of the country’s largest insurance companies like Nationwide and Progressive. It has become easier to track vehicle usage thanks to onboard connected car technology and some experts believe that may lead to a switch in the way highway and fuel taxes are levied, as well.

“As demand for more transparent auto insurance pricing grows, usage-based insurance is a powerful way for Hyundai drivers to have greater control over their insurance costs,” said Manish Mehrotra, the executive director of Digital Business Planning and Connected Operations, Hyundai Motor North America. “Our owners expect this kind of technology and want to pay the right amount. No one wants to pay more than they actually should.”

Capturing a Snapshot of driver behavior

Hyundai is offering its insurance program through its Blue Link service.

The first pay-as-you-drive insurance program, Progressive’s Snapshot, was introduced in the mid-1990s. It focused on tracking driver behavior, rewarding motorists who accelerated and braked more cautiously with reduced rates. Aggressive drivers faced the prospect of being penalized.

Early on, insurers relied on data collected using a vehicle’s OBDII sensor, the data periodically uploaded to the company for analysis.

Hyundai’s approach relies on its Blue Link Connected car technology and, when a vehicle is equipped with a two-way telecommunications system, driving data can be directly uploaded in real time through the Verisk Data Exchange. The system allows driving data to be analyzed and rated. It allows an insurer to adjust rates to reflect how much of a risk the driver poses.

Numerous factors impact rates

The factors Verisk looks at include: “smooth driving, speed responsibility, driving time of day, consistent driving and time behind the wheel,” Hyundai noted in a press release.

The new insurance program uses a score-based system to establish the rates.

Hyundai owners who sign up for the program can keep an eye on how well they’re doing through the automaker’s Blue Link app. It provides an individual Driving Score ranging from 0 to 100, the higher the number the better. It also offers tips on how to improve their ranking.

“For example, a driver could improve their score by braking smoothly, less late night driving and accelerating gently,” said Hyundai.

More and more motorists opt in

Drivers must opt in to the program to allow their data to be tracked. Verisk claims to have already collected information on 240 billion miles of driving data.

“The Verisk Data Exchange was built to make usage-based insurance easier and more accessible,” said Karthik Balakrishnan, senior vice president and general manager of Verisk’s telematics business. “Hyundai shares this vision and together, we look forward to this new collaboration and its many benefits for consumers as well as auto insurers.”

Hyundai joins a growing list of manufacturers who offer usage-based insurance. Ford last December announced teaming up with insurers including Allstate, Liberty Mutual and State Farm on a similar program. As with Hyundai, the automaker uses built-in telematics technology to gather information on driving behavior and usage.

For owners enrolled in the program, they can get a history of their driving score.

Motorists can directly sign up with insurers like Progressive and Nationwide who tied into a vehicle’s OBDII sensor to collect data.

Privacy concerns

A survey released by Nationwide last December showed growing support for such programs, the company reporting that 35% of new auto business is usage-based. It said it expects that to reach 70% or more over the next five years.

But the Nationwide study also found a majority of those surveyed expressing at least some concerns about the potential impact on privacy.

There are studies suggesting that usage-based programs help reduce the likelihood of a crash by retail vehicle owners. A recent study by Willis Towers Watson found that using telematics to monitor the behavior of commercial vehicle drivers can reduce crash rate by as much as 80%.

An alternative to fuel taxes

With most vehicles expected to come equipped with two-way telematics in the years ahead, experts are studying other opportunities. The technology could provide an alternative to today’s federal and state highway fuel tax system which is based on per-gallon fees. California and several other states have explored the idea of charging a flat, per-mile fee, instead.

That approach could come into play in the years ahead as more and more electric vehicles take to the road since they currently do not directly contribute to highway funding.

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Auto Industry Could Take on Water Due to Suez Canal Crisis

The Ever Green ran aground in the Suez Canal March 23, blocking traffic and about $9.6 billion in goods a day. (Photo credit: Suez Canal Authority)

The grounding of mega-carrier Ever Given in the Suez Canal this week has halted traffic through one of the world’s busiest waterways — and the crisis threatens to compound the problems facing an industry already struggling to overcome supply chain issues.

The Taiwanese-owned ship, capable of carrying up to 20,000 individual cargo containers, ran aground March 23 and shipping experts warn it could take “weeks” before it is freed up. The grounding brought traffic through the Suez Canal to a halt, including a number of car carriers as well as cargo vessels and tankers carrying auto parts and raw materials.

The crisis comes at a particularly bad time, automakers worldwide already facing shortages of critical semiconductors and petroleum-based materials like seat foam. That has led to numerous plant closures in recent weeks, a situation that the canal crisis could worsen, experts warn. In turn, consumers could be looking at both higher prices and shortages of some popular products if the canal can’t reopen soon.

A supply chain ready to snap

Suez Canal authorities are literally attempting to dig out the massive ship.

“It only takes a shortage of one part to mess things up,” said Kristen Dziczek, the vice president of research for the Center for Automotive Research, or CAR, in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

The Suez Canal, which opened in 1869, serves as a passage between the Mediterranean and Red seas. Since it cuts about 10 days off the time needed to sail around Africa’s southern tip, it is the major cargo route between Europe and the Far East.

Last year, the canal handled about 19,000 ships, or more than 51 a day, according to the Suez Canal Authority. Shipping journal Lloyd’s List puts the total daily value of traffic through the canal at $9.6 billion — $5.1 billion heading west, another $4.5 billion heading east.

Ships are already piling up on either side of the canal waiting for salvage crews to free the Ever Given. That includes two large auto transport vessels, the Morning Star and the Hoegh London, prepared to make the transit, according to European website Car Dealer. Several other car carriers were en route. The situation also has forced petro tankers and cargo carriers hauling auto parts to lay in wait.

An auto industry in crisis

There have been separate issues at the Port of Long Beach, above, and Los Angeles causing problems for automakers. (Photo credit: Port of Long Beach)

For the auto industry, the crisis is primarily impacting automakers and auto buyers in Europe and the Far East. A Kia spokesman said the firm is monitoring the situation and is “aware of delays.” Other manufacturers, including Mazda, BMW and Volkswagen, said they are in good shape for now, but whether that holds could depend upon the length of time it takes to free the Ever Given.

The global automotive supply chain is sensitive, particularly now, since it largely operates on a just-in-time basis, with factories maintaining as little inventory as possible. So, “Any slight delay in delivery could mean the production lines in Europe will grind to a halt,” said Tom Barnard, editor of Electrifying.com.

But the longer the crisis continues the greater the risk to other regions of the world. If European assembly lines are forced to close, it could lead to shortages of European vehicles at U.S. dealerships. And American assembly lines could begin to face shortages of European-made parts and components.

Bad timing

More shutdowns could be on the plan if authorities are unable to refloat the Ever Given.

Ever Given’s grounding couldn’t have come at a worse time for an industry still struggling to recover from the COVID pandemic. Plants around the world were forced to close at various times. Dealer inventories in the U.S. are running about 1 million vehicles lower than normal for this time of year, according to J.D. Power.

Efforts to rebuild those inventories had already hit a series of speedbumps, including shortages of the semiconductor circuits now used in every modern automobile. Virtually every manufacturer has now been hit. Ford and General Motors are among the manufacturers who have had to idle plants or slow production lines in recent weks.

Making matters worse, petroleum-based materials, such as seating foam, have also gone into short supply. And, if that’s not enough, there have been pandemic-related problems at some of the country’s biggest ports, including those in Los Angeles and Long Beach, California, forcing further delays in the delivery of vehicles, as well as auto parts and components.

Salvage effort could take weeks

Efforts to free the Ever Given have so far failed and “We can’t exclude it might take weeks, depending on the situation,” Peter Berdowski, CEO of Boskali, the Netherlands-based company leading salvage efforts, told Dutch television, according to Reuters.

The longer it takes to get the mega-carrier afloat the greater the risk of serious problems for the auto industry worldwide.

First Look: 2022 BMW Alpina B8 Gran Coupe

The BMW B8 Gran Coupe strikes a balance between performance and grand touring comfort.

For those who might think the BMW 8 Series is a little too plebian, perhaps a little underpowered, there’s an alternative coming: the 2022 BMW Alpina B8 Gran Coupe.

BMW has had a long-running, though traditionally limited, relationship with Alpina going back decades. The tuner, formally known as Alpina Burkard Bovensiepen GmbH, has given its deft touch to a number of different products throughout the years. That currently includes versions of the 3 and 7 Series, as well as the X7. The 2022 B8 marks the first time Alpina has taken on BMW’s top-line 8 Series.

Starting with the 4-door Gran Coupe, Alpina gives the B8 a boost in performance – with its top speed nudging just past 200 mph. The 8 Series V-8 also gets a customized exhaust note to match the added power. There are a number of exterior tweaks, with an emphasis on functional aerodynamic enhancements. And, in typical Alpina fashion, the B8 Gran Coupe also delivers a more luxurious interior package than the more run-of-the-mill BMW 8 Series.

Appealing to all the senses

The 2022 BMW Alpina B8 Gran Coupé gives a big bump to the 8 Series V-8.

The Alpina B8 Gran Coupe “combines the highest levels of performance, dynamics and comfort in a bold and beautiful design,” BMW proclaims in a news release. “The new Alpina B8 Gran Coupé is truly an exclusive automobile that appeals to all your senses.“

As with prior Alpina offerings, the upgrade process begins under the hood. The twin-turbo 4.4-liter V-8 found in standard versions of the 8 Series gets a big bump in output, at 612 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque. Only the M8 Competition, at 617 hp, managed to deliver more power in an 8 Series shell.

The V-8 is paired with an 8-speed Alpina Switch-tronic gearbox developed in partnership with ZF. Power, in turn, is directed to all four wheels through the BMW xDrive system. And as long as the 21-inch tires can hook up, Alpina claims the B8 will launch from 0 to 60 in just 3.3 seconds, with a top speed of 201 mph.

Sounding off

The BMW Alpina B8 Gran Coupé features all-wheel-steering. It enhances low-speed maneuverability, while enhancing handling at high speeds.

To add a little more emphasis, the B8 Gran Coupe gets a customized exhaust system that Alpina dubs “a stainless steel wonder.” It is designed to reduce backpressure while also enhancing the auditory quality of the engine.

Switching driver modes between “Comfort” and “Sport” will adjust the sound by controlling active exhaust flaps. The mode selector also regulates transmission operation, throttle response, steering and the B8’s active suspension damping system.

Unlike the familiar BMW M models, Alpina navigates a different path towards performance, putting an equal emphasis on driving comfort. Think of it as more in the grand touring tradition. The suspension features revised front axle struts, Eibach springs and reinforced sway bars.

The B8 also adopts an Integral Active Steering system with active all-wheel-steering technology developed by ZF. The rear wheels can pivot up to 2.3 degrees, depending upon driver input and vehicle speed.

To scrub off speed, the Alpina gets a modified four-piston Brembo brake package, 15.6-inch discs up front and 15.7-inch in the rear.

BMW ALPINA B8 Gran Coupé iDrive Controller

With Alpina, it’s all about the details. The B8 Gran Coupé features a laser-etched crystal iDrive controller.

Balancing form and function

As with earlier Alpina entries, the B8 features a number of exterior upgrades that put an emphasis on functionality. That includes larger front air intakes, and a modified rear apron with a black diffuser insert, as well as a small rear spoiler lip.

Inside, the Gran Coupe features a number of new Alpina details, including illuminated door sills, unique walnut trim, a modified steering wheel and a crystal glass iDrive controller with a laser-etched Alpina logo.

Options range from a Bowers & Wilkens surround sound package to a super-light carbon roof.

The 2022 BMW Alpina B8 Gran Coupe will land in U.S. showrooms by late spring and carry a base price of $139,900. Add to that a $995 delivery fee.

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A Week With: 2021 Audi SQ5

The SQ5 the sporty version of Audi’s compact crossover, gets a minor makeover.

Accounting for a quarter of its U.S. sales, Audi’s Q5 luxury compact crossover gets a makeover this year that may not please everyone – at least when it comes to the sporty SQ5 variant. Yet the Q5 retains the qualities that render it Audi’s top-selling vehicle stateside.

Overview

Given the Q5’s popularity, it’s no surprise it’s offered in three variants. The base Q5 is powered by a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine and 12-volt mild hybrid system that generates 261 horsepower and a 0-60 mph time of 5.7 seconds. That same engine is also offered in the Q5 plug-in electric hybrid, producing 362 horsepower and a 0-60 mph sprint of five seconds.

The top-of-the heap model remains the SQ5, with a turbocharged V-6 producing slightly less horsepower – 349 – but reaching 60 mph in 4.7 seconds. Given the hybrid’s numbers nearly match it, it remains to be seen if the SQ5 will retain its popularity given the greater economy and nearly equal performance of the plug-in hybrid driveline.

The new SQ5 is pure Audi on the outside: tasteful and conservative.

Nevertheless, Audi provided the SQ5 for a weeklong evaluation.

Exterior

As you’d expect, the SQ5 gets a minor makeover that with a revised grille, side air intakes, side sills and rear trim details. The effect isn’t overly dramatic, merely maintaining the SQ5’s already handsome demeanor.

Its look is classic, conservative Audi. It’s tasteful, and sure to look good for years to come. Remarkably, the vehicle’s styling is deceptive, as it seems larger than it truly is. But its size also makes for great maneuverability in urban/suburban environs.

Interior

The Prestige Package that added most of the luxury touches you’d expect of a car in this class.

Climbing inside reveals a cabin that’s roomy for its class, with generous front seat space, and surprisingly good rear seats space given this vehicle’s length. Seats are all-day comfortable, with excellent support. The cabin is commendably quiet. The redesigned instrument panel is easy to use, while the center console features a decent amount of storage, along with heated and cooled cupholders that’s covered by a lid that doubles as a wireless charger. Neat.

The test car featured a $9,600 Prestige Package that added most of the luxury touches you’d expect of a car in this class, including small things like a heated steering wheel, memory driver’s seat, auto-dimming mirrors, navigation system, a panoramic sunroof and a whole lot more. Yet the overall ambience had a very spare feel, and some trim seemed beneath its station.

Pullout: “It remains to be seen if the SQ5 will retain its popularity given the greater economy and nearly equal performance of the plug-in hybrid driveline.”

Powertrain

The SQ5 employs a turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 rated at 349 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque through an 8-speed automatic .

As mentioned, the SQ5 test car employed the turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 rated at 349 hp and 369 pound-feet of torque through an 8-speed automatic that allows the SQ5 to reach 60 mph in 4.7 seconds. The EPA rates the SQ5 at 20 mpg in combined city/highway driving, with the test model doing even better, at 22.3 mpg during the week of testing. Note that 4-cylinder models get a dual-clutch automatic, while the SQ5 gets a Tiptronic.

Safety and Technology

Driver assistance features include standard blind spot monitor, lane-departure warning, parking assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and optional adaptive cruise control and 360-degree cameras.

Thoughtfully, the SQ5 comes with standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Our car’s Prestige Package included Audi’s Virtual Cockpit, which minimizes the instrument cluster’s gauges while maximizing its Google Maps navigation screen in front of the driver, a boon for when you don’t know where you’re going.

The large 10.1-inch MMI touchscreen features the new MIB 3 infotainment system that’s intuitive to use and easy to read, a clear improvement. The test car also had a head-up display that proved easily read in all conditions.

Driving Impressions

What separates the SQ5 from its German competitors is its balance and refinement. While others go for a hard edged, vertebrae-cracking ride and whiplash-inducing acceleration, the SQ5 matches them with a bit more ride compliance and little drama.

There are no theatrics as this crossover responds to request for speed. It remains controlled at all times, resulting in a boy racer that’s uniquely relaxed, with well-controlled body movements and quick steering. Certainly, things are more exciting when in iSport driving mode rather than Comfort, the latter revealing more than a little turbo lag and an occasionally slow transmission. Thankfully, manual shift paddles make up for this.

Wrap Up

If some buyers will bemoan the hard-edged extremes exhibited by its competition, the rest of us will appreciate the SQ5 for what it is: a fast, comfortable executive shuttle. Fast and Furious types will have to look elsewhere, or appreciate the art of subtlety.

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Volkswagen Ponders Porsche Offering to Fund EVs

Volkswagen reportedly is considering an offering of Porsche stock to help fund its $86 billion EV plan.

Bringing EVs to market costs big money, forcing some automakers to go public to raise cash – Volkswagen possibly being next.

Reports suggest that VW is pondering a listing of Porsche AG. The money raised designed to help with the roll out more than $86 billion in electric vehicles set to come mid-decade. German business publication Manager Magzin reported the plan is only in the discussion stage.

The listing, which reportedly could net as much $30 billion, would only be for part of the sports car maker and wouldn’t occur until next year, the publication reported. Some analysts believe if Porsche AG were to be spun off entirely it could be worth more than $120 billion.

Volkswagen’s not alone

VW says it will roll out 50 electrified vehicles across all its brands by 2025.

The rumor comes on the heels of Daimler AG’s move to separate its truck unit into its own separate company in the third quarter of this year. The idea is to “unlock the full potential” of the businesses, which some analysts believe means some sort of offering to raise cash.

Once the split occurs, the car unit will need to fund its ongoing expansion of its electrification effort and that could conceivably come in the form of issuing new shares. The new business will be named Mercedes-Benz AG.

Plenty of other automakers have benefitted from IPOs, notably Ferrari and Aston Martin. However, with the influx of new EV makers moving closer to production around the world, the final push to the finish line requires a massive amount of cash.

EV makers raising money

Nascent electric vehicle companies have been scurrying around looking to add more money to their coffers, the latest company added to the list is Rivian. The company raised more than $8 billion from private investors since the start of 2019, including a recent round netting the company $2.65 billion in fresh money.

Volkswagen has designated $86 billion to bring more than 50 EVs to market in the next few years, including the ID.4.

However, as the company is closing in on building pre-production and early run production electric trucks and SUVs at its plant in Normal, Illinois, the idea of having enough liquidity to get through the process must weigh heavy on the top minds there.

With all of the other EV makers raising money through reverse mergers with blank-check companies and getting listed and a fat check, Rivian appears to be on board. Reports suggest the company is preparing for a conventional IPO this fall that could net it as much as $50 billion.

Other EV companies that have secured additional funding through offerings include Fisker, Lordstown Motors, Faraday Future, Lucid Motors and Nikola Motors. Also, the king of EV mountain repeatedly offered new shares to raise funds.

A Week With: 2021 Ford F-150 Limited SuperCrew

The 2021 Ford F-150 Limited SuperCrew is the best iteration of the truck thus far.

Gawwwwddd I miss my truck.

Actually, I’ve had two in my lifetime a 1992 Ford Ranger “powered” by an anemic 4-cylinder engine that I bought not long after graduating from college and a 2004 Ford F-150 XLT motivated by the 5.4-liter V-8 engine that so many associate with the company’s full-size pickups.

My F-150 was a slight better than middle of the road model. It was an extended cab with shift-on-the-fly 4-wheel drive, power windows and locks, air conditioning and a bench set just big enough to haul my three children, who were then a teenager, a four-year-old and a toddler.

No leather. No satellite radio. No wi-fi. Just room for five to be comfortable inside and enough room to haul my son’s invisible motorcycle in the bed. Now that I’m old, er, older. I’ve gained an appreciation for things like … leather recliners, vehicles that are easy to get in and out of and technology that both entertains and makes my life easier.

Enter the 2021 Ford F-150 Limited SuperCrew.

The new F-150 is the most aerodynamic version of the truck ever offered.

Overview

The newest generation of Ford full-size truck is undoubtedly the best yet, especially from my perspective. It offers all of the functionality and capability that young me loved about my 2004 F-150 while catering to old, uh, older me and my admiration for a comfortable leather chair and impressive technology.

Exterior

The exterior of the 2021 F-150 is clearly an evolution from the one that rests fondly in my memory – but bigger. The new truck with its massive grille and boxy fenders and cab looks like it could take on a tank and win. Instead its taking on the Chevy Silverado and Ram 1500 and, in my mind, it wins that battle too – although the Ram should make Ford designers sweat a little.

The F-150 Limited provides capability and utility with three different size beds.

Despite its brick-on-wheel shape, it’s the most aerodynamic offering ever. The truck employs active grille shutters and automatic air dam to help reduce drag and improve fuel economy. More importantly, it’s big and brawny without looking over the top or gaudy – think Superman instead of Batman.

Interior

Climbing inside the new F-150 is easy and it’s almost like entering a different world. While today’s pickups are larger and more fuel efficient that the generations that precede them, it’s the interior cabin where the biggest difference is, and Ford may be the best of the group … and not just for trucks.

Since the first thing you touch when you get in the vehicle is likely the seat, let’s start there. The two-town leather is supple and comfortable. The front seats are both heated and cooled, while the back seats are just heated – talk about a first-world problem. Additionally, they recline nearly flat, in case you need to pull over for a nap. During an extended drive, I found them to be supportive without making you want to, well, pull over for a nap.

“… it’s big and brawny without looking over the top or gaudy – think Superman instead of Batman …”

The F-150 Limited’s driver cockpit is well designed with controls that are easily accessed and read.

Once seated, the next order of business is the dashboard, which features large gauges that are manipulated using steering wheel-mounted controls that are simple and intuitive. The eye catcher is the 12-inch touchscreen on the center console. It’s bright and clear, making it very usable without feeling like you need to put on a pair of sunglasses to cut down on the glare. The truck comes with Sync 4 and while I’d like to tell you all about it, it also comes with Apple CarPlay and I use it exclusively. That sald it paired nicely and worked as expected.

It also features a massive center console that not only offers cupholders and plenty of storage, it also offers wireless charging. I use an iPhone 12 Pro Max and it charged without problem. It’s not as fast as plugging it in, but it was pretty good.

However, Ford recognizes that while trucks are oftentimes the family vehicle, they are also at the same time someone’s work vehicle. The Limited makes it awfully convenient to get some work done in the vehicle. The center console folds flat while the gear-shift lever folds down flat as well giving the user a space big enough to hold a 15-inch laptop – or fast food for two.

Powertrain

The interior is comfortable and upscale without being gaudy. Perfect for a high-end pickup.

For the 2021 model year, the F-150 can be ordered with one of six engine offerings. The Limited comes with the 3.5-liter two-turbocharged EcoBoost V-6. It puts out 400 horsepower and 500 pound-feet of torque. Towing a boat? No problem. Need to merge with traffic? No problem. Need to merge with traffic while towing a boat? No problem.

Fuel economy isn’t bad considering it’s a nearly 5,000-pound vehicle with a powerful engine that encourages a bit of lead-footed driving. It gets 18 mpg city, 23 highway which is good for a combined 20 mpg. I found that to be a pretty accurate representation for my week in the truck. Overall, it’s pretty good for a full-size pickup and if you can afford to buy or lease an F-150 Limited, you’re likely not counting the change in the cupholder to put gas in it.

Technology and Safety

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