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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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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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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.

First Look: 2022 BMW M5 CS

BMW rolled out its 2022 M5 CS sedan offering fans impressive mix of power and luxury.

For those looking for a balanced blend of power and luxury, the BMW M5 has long been a top pick. Now, the Bavarian automaker is set to push things to new extremes, at least on the performance front, with the introduction of the 2022 M5 CS.

The limited-edition “super sedan” will punch out a solid 627 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque, making it the most powerful production vehicle BMW has ever brought to market. And that’s only part of the story.

By putting a premium on lightweighting and traction enhancement, BMW aims to ensure all that power goes to the pavement. That means a factory rated top speed of 190 mph, and a 0-60 launch time of 2.9 seconds.

(BMW wants to double EV sales this year.)

The new M5 CS is the most powerful sedan ever introduced by the Bavarian automaker.

“The new limited production super sedan builds on the immensely capable M5, itself recently updated for model year 2021, by delivering more power, greater performance, lighter weight and exclusive interior appointments making the new M5 CS truly a one-of-a-kind vehicle in its class,” the automaker blared in a news release introducing the 2022 performance sedan.

The heart of this beast is BMW’s S63 4.4-liter M TwinPower twin-turbocharged V-8. It makes 10 more hp than the marque’s previous record setter, the M5 Competition model. And the CS sedan’s torque band is wider, as well.

Credit improvements to the powertrain’s high-pressure direct injection and liquid-to-air intercooling for both turbos and oil system. That, the automaker claims, will allow the M5 CS to pose a formidable challenge both on the street, as well as on the track.

Power is fed through an 8-speed M Steptronic transmission into a performance-enhanced version of BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system. The rear-biased AWD package is aided by an electronically controlled clutch and Active M Differential.

“The driver can select from three xDrive modes including 4WD, 4WD Sport and 2WD,” added BMW. “The Dynamic Stability Control system can be adjusted between three settings to further enhance driver control – DSC ON, MDM (M Dynamic Mode) and DSC OFF.”

Improvements to the powertrain’s high-pressure direct injection and liquid-to-air intercooling for both turbos and oil system make a massive difference.

The bump in horsepower is only one step BMW took to enhance performance, however. The 2022 BMW M5 CS also makes extensive use of CFRP and other lightweight materials. All told, the automaker shaved off a full 220 pounds compared to the older M5 Competition model which, in turn, helped reduce 0-60 times by 0.2 seconds. It’s a modest number but can add up to a big win on the track.

(BMW rolls down the top with new 4 Series convertible.)

The performance experience is further enhanced, BMW explains, by the M Sound system which changes the exhaust note depending upon the sedan’s driving mode, such as Sport and Sport+. The settings also adjust various vehicle settings, including the reconfigurable gauge cluster and Head-Up display. In Sport mode, for example, the tach, digital speed, gear and shift lights are displayed in the center of the cluster, along with coolant temperature, tire pressure and G-forces.

To further enhance driving dynamics, the CS chassis and suspension have been revised, with engine mounts and springs now stiffer than the M5 Competition Package, and a ride height lowered by 0.2 inches.

The M Sound system which changes the exhaust note depending upon the sedan’s driving mode, such as Sport and Sport+.

To scrub off speed, meanwhile, the M5 CS features standard carbon ceramic brakes with red six-piston front calipers and a single-piston rear floating caliper. The package is a full 51 pounds lighter than the M Compound brakes used in the M5 Competition model.

Visually, the 2022 BMW M5 CS features a CFRP roof and hood, front splitter, mirror caps, rear diffuser and rear spoiler. There’s also a gold bronze finish to the familiar BMW kidney grille surround. The CS also gets 20-inch forged light alloy wheels shod, BMW notes with “20-inch M forged Y-spoke wheels – 9.5 J x 20 in front and 10.5 J x 20 in the rear. Pirelli P Zero Corsa performance tires are available as a no cost option and make full use of the M5 CS’s enhanced handling capabilities.”

The CS is the first M5 set up specifically for four passengers, with carbon sport seats up front and twin buckets in the rear.

The cabin is outfitted in special Alcantara and black merino leather with distinctive BMW M tri-color stitching.

(BMW gives its vaunted M3 and M4 models a complete makeover.)

Production is set to begin in March and the 2022 BMW M5 CS will carry an MSRP of $142,000 plus $995 in delivery fees.

Is Ford Making an All-Electric Mustang? Maybe

Could the next-gen Ford Mustang coupe come only as a battery-electric model?

Ford Motor Co.’s gotten such an overwhelmingly positive reaction to the all-electric Mustang Mach-E, it’s rumored to be making the next-generation of the sports car a fully electric offering as well.

According to AutoForecast Solutions, the automaker will not build the next version of the pony car until 2028. The reason for the delay? It needs to be redesigned on a battery-electric platform. Further, it’s expected to be the only powertrain for the new Mustang.

“… the gas-fueled burble of the V-8 is replaced with the shocking acceleration of an electric motor when the standard Mustang becomes an EV in just a few years,” said Sam Fiorani, vice president of global vehicle forecasts, in the company’s podcast on Jan. 18.

(New Mustang Mach-E is just the first step in “electrification” for Ford.)

The early success of the Mustang Mach-E suggests that an all-electric version of the sports car could be well received by aficionados.

Fiorani’s podcast was followed by a report by Autoline Detroit Tuesday, recounting the AFS report about the next version of the Mustang. Although it isn’t out of the question for the Mustang to get an electric powertrain, for it to be the only offering is a bit surprising.

Many have suggested some form of electrification, such as a small electric motor to add some more power and torque has certainly been bandied about. Several other sports cars have move to the hybrid set up to boost performance.

It should be noted that in 2017 the automaker killed a $1.6 billion investment in Mexico, redirecting $700 million of that to expand the Flat Rock plant. Ford would add a new body shop at the site to handle two unnamed battery-electric vehicles, officials said at the time, although it was suggested that one would be a hybrid.

The site currently produces just the Mustang, which until recently included the Shelby GT350 and GT350R models. Those two vehicles have been discontinued, with the GT500 living on and now the Mach 1 making a comeback later this year. Ford officials have not responded to TheDetroitBureau.com at the time of publication.

Ford officials have long maintained that electrification was part of the company’s future, not its sole focus, unlike its rival, General Motors, which has been dealing with some electrification rumors lately too. Last week, reports resurfaced that an all-electric Chevrolet Corvette was in the works, but following in Ford’s footsteps.

Ford announced plans in 2017 to invest $700 million in its Flat Rock, Michigan, plant, which currently builds only the Mustang, to build electric vehicles.

(Ford axes $1.6B Mexico plant for $700M Michigan upgrade.)

While General Motors insiders never really downplayed reports about the potential electrification of the ‘Vette, including a fully electric model. However, last week there were reports that the bowtie brand was considering an electric Corvette crossover like the Mustang Mach-E because of the warm reception it’s getting.

The flames were fanned during CES2021 when GM officials talked about offering a variety of new electric vehicles between now and 2030. Earlier reports centered on a 1,000-horsepower monster dubbed the Corvette Zora, named after the creator of the original car. The move to create an all-electric crossover would check off two “rumor” boxes, if you will: an all-electric model and the creation of a separate Corvette sub-brand.

The downside, of course, is that Corvette loyalists would shun it immediately. It’s been barely a year since the eighth-generation Corvette – the C8 to fans – made its debut, marking the switch to a mid-engine layout, the most radical shift for the sports car in its nearly seven decades on the market.

Several senior members of the Corvette team have hinted at plans in conversations with TheDetroitBureau.com, among other things indicating the new car’s platform could allow space for a battery pack.

(Could an all-electric Corvette crossover be in the works?)

Several purported timetables have emerged indicating Chevrolet is working on hybrid or plug-in versions of the sports car. But when directly asked about the opportunity of a hybrid model, GM President Mark Reuss has responded on several occasions with the company’s new mantra, that it is “on a path to an all-electric future.

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Stellantis Enjoys Warm Welcome from European Investors

Stellantis Chairman John Elkann is meeting with the media tomorrow to talk about the company’s future.

Not every merger involving an automaker these days involves a blank-check company. The newly minted tie-up between Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. and Peugeot S.A. was finalized over the weekend and the resulting company, Stellantis N.V., is enjoying a warm welcome.

At least on the stock market.

The new company’s stock trades on three exchanges and it finished the day on the Paris exchange up nearly 7%, closing at €13.14. It also jumped up 7.7% on the Milan exchange.

The New York Stock Exchange, the third exchange it’s traded on, was not open today due to the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

(Chrysler is no more as Stellantis comes to life.)

CEO Carlos Tavares has a lot on his corporate plate now that the merger is complete.

The $52 billion merger of near equals creates a massive enterprise with operations on six continents, employs about 400,000 people, sells – at least for the time being – 14 vehicle brands and sells 8.1 million vehicles annually, making it the fourth-largest automaker in the world behind Volkswagen, Toyota and the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance.

With all of those possibilities, it’s going to take a press conference Tuesday to start revealing what Stellantis will look like now that’s it’s a living, breathing entity. What brands will stay? How many workers will keep their jobs?

People are nervous because the CEO of the new enterprise, Carlos Tavares, has a history of being fearless when it comes to eliminating unprofitable operations and processes in the pursuit of corporate profit. One need only look at how what he did with former General Motors’ subsidiary Opel. A money-loser for a decade, he had it in the black in one year.

(FCA CEO Manley gets new assignment following Stellantis merger.)

“Stellantis faces a mixed outlook as U.S. stimulus plans may buoy Chrysler vs. a more uncertain outlook for Peugeot in Europe,” Michael Dean, BI automotive analyst told Bloomberg. “Former PSA CEO Carlos Tavares takes the helm and, similar to his handling of PSA’s takeover of Opel in 2017, we anticipate a new strategy in the first 100 days of his stewardship. All regions face a difficult 1H amid continued lockdowns.”

Quirky name aside, investors gave Stellantis a warm welcome when it began trading Monday.

The two companies have worked to allay fears of major cutbacks in France and Italy. While top managers have outlined plans to trim costs by $6 billion following the merger, they insist they will be able to do that without closing any plants. They have outlined 40% of those cost savings coming from purchasing, 40% from combining product development efforts, and 20% from marketing and other operations.

However, it’s unclear how Tavares plans to tackle other issues such as improving the company’s performance in China, the world’s largest automotive market, and bolstering its electrification efforts, especially in the aforementioned China as well as in the U.S. Just addressing those two issues are likely to require billions of dollars and euros. Some of plans for these things and more may get touched on Tuesday, Marco Santino, a partner at consulting firm Oliver Wyman, told Reuters.

(Fiat Chrysler and PSA not exactly a “merger of equals.”)

“He has proven to be the kind of person who prefers action to words, so I don’t think he will make loud statements or try to over-sell targets,” he said.

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Chrysler is No More as Stellantis Comes to Life

Is this the last logo that will use the Chrysler name?

Chrysler is dead.

Perhaps a bit dramatic, but nevertheless, the merger between Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. and Peugeot S.A. became effective today, resulting in Stellantis N.V. Shares of the newly formed Stellantis begin trading on exchanges in France, Italy and the U.S. starting Monday. All will use the ticker symbol STLA.

The deal has been going through extensive regulatory approvals, twin shareholder votes and the necessary dottings of i’s and crossings of t’s for more than a year.

As of today, that means that for the first time since June 6, 1925, when it was founded by Walter P. Chrysler, the Chrysler name will no longer exist as a corporate entity.

(FCA CEO Manley gets new assignment following Stellantis merger.)

Stellantis is alive! The company’s stock begins trading on three exchanges Monday.

In many ways, the Chrysler name was a survivor. The company’s been through a variety of mergers, potential mergers and bankruptcies. It escaped the “merger of equals,” DaimlerChrysler from the late 1990s.

It was essentially spared its life when the late Sergio Marchionne swooped in and offered to keep it going if the U.S. government would help it through bankruptcy in 2009. The final deal got done with Chrysler Group LLC becoming part of FCA US LLC to follow

the naming convention of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. on Dec. 16, 2014.

Chrysler Corp. fought its way through several near misses when it came to mergers as potential deals with Japanese automaker Mitsubishi, China’s GAC and most recently an effort to merge with Peugeot’s French rival, Renault S.A., a deal that was reportedly scuttled after demands by the French government, which holds an ownership stake in Renault, were too much for then FCA CEO Mike Manley to accept.

(Fiat, PSA set to get EU go-ahead to complete Stellantis merger.)

Then there was the effort by the aforementioned Marchionne to find a partner for FCA, seemingly almost any partner would do. He approached General Motors and was promptly rebuffed. He reportedly got the same treatment from Volkswagen. There was even a rumored dalliance with EV behemoth Tesla, which would have bolstered FCA’s basically non-existent electric vehicle program.

The arrival of Stellantis means for the first time in 95 years the Chrysler name won’t be on a corporate marquee.

It also survived a previous bankruptcy in the late 1970s, paying off the loans early with its charismatic CEO Lee Iacocca, who came over from Ford, helping to lead the company’s charge back to prosperity. Chrysler did enjoy one major merger success when it acquired American Motors in 1987, including – and especially – the Jeep brand.

In fact, no one seems certain what the future holds for the Chrysler name period. Early in the process, officials said that all brands would be retained, but time and economics often change the equation and currently, the Chrysler brand offers just two products: the Chrysler Pacifica minivan and 300 sedan. Neither are in segments that are seeing sales gains.

To be fair, there’s been some speculation about the survival of the Fiat name in the same vein. Fiat’s been around even longer, founded in Turin, Italy in 1899. In the U.S., it’s only offering the 500X in 2021.

(Fiat Chrysler and PSA not exactly a “merger of equals.”)

The Chrysler name isn’t the only vestige of FCA seemingly taking a step back as its CEO Mike Manley is no longer in charge, that duty going to PSA’s Carlos Tavares nor will he be on the board of directors as John Elkann, FCA’s chairman, will take that spot as the chairman of the new Stellantis. Manley, 56, is now Head of the Americas.

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