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Bow. Wow! One-Bow Design Takes Mercedes EQS in an Entirely New Direction

The new Mercedes-Benz EQS battery-electric sedan makes its formal debut April 15.

One thing’s for sure: there’ll be no mistaking the new Mercedes EQS sedan when it rolls down the street.

Think of the EQS as the all-electric alternative to the German automaker’s familiar S-Class flagship. But you clearly won’t confuse the two when it reaches showrooms in autumn. Some new battery-electric vehicles share the same design language as conventional, gas-powered products. With EQS, Mercedes goes off in an entirely new direction, one it’s been hinting at with concept vehicles like the 2019 Vision EQS.

The production model adopts what the automaker calls a “one-bow” design. It takes the look of the coupe-like Mercedes CLS to extremes. The result could have rolled off the set of a sci-fi film. But there are practical benefits in terms of range and interior roominess, as well.

“We said we have to go further” than just packing batteries into a conventional looking product,” Steffen Kohl, Mercedes’ director of advanced exterior style, said during a media webinar. The EQS “carries the future of Mercedes-Benz,” he added, noting the “one-bow” language of the EQS will strongly influence other products to come from the new, all-electric Mercedes-EQ sub-brand.

Plenty of power and range

Robert Lesnik led the exterior design effort for Mercedes new EQS battery-electric sedan.

EQS rides on a skateboard-like platform, mimicking virtually all new battery-electric vehicles. Its batteries, motors and other key electrical components sit below the floorboards.

The automaker will reveal full powertrain details during a formal unveiling April 15. But EQS uses twin motors, one on each axle, drawing power from a 108 kilowatt-hour battery pack. That provides about 435 miles of range using the European WLTP test cycle. The EPA rating should come in somewhere about 350 miles, according to industry observers.

The layout moves the sedan’s wheels close to the vehicle’s corners. It also frees up space where a traditional gas or diesel engine would be mounted, providing significant flexibility to the Mercedes design team.

Shorter wheelbase, longer cabin

The cab-forward design features a short nose, the angled, one-piece aluminum clamshell hood rising aggressively to flow into a steeply raked windshield. Instead of a traditional, two- or three-box layout, the look is like that of a single bow line, explained Robert Lesnik, who led the exterior design effort.

The Mercedes-Benz Vision EQS concept provided a framework for the company’s new electric luxury sedan.

“EQS will be the world’s best production car ever in terms of aerodynamics,” with a drag coefficient of 0.20 significantly better than even the sleekest of today’s supercars, he explained.

The effect “looks optically lower than it is,” Lesnik added.

The front end features a new grille with “abstracted, three-dimensional star pattern(s),” according to Mercedes. It’s framed by slit-like headlamps flowing into the front quarter panels.

“When people ask why we need a grille anymore,” Lesnik explains that it is “not an air intake. It’s a face.”

“Coming from the future”

The side panels lack the normal creases found on conventional Mercedes models, though the greenhouse does pinch in towards the trunk, giving the EQS a sense of muscularity.

The new EQS features Mercedes’ newly introduced Hyperscreen technology.

Around back, the most distinctive feature is a light band connecting what Mercedes calls “curved, 3D helix” taillamps.

From nose to tail, the new EQS measures 5.2 meters, or 204.7 inches. That’s about 3.5 inches shorter than the U.S. version of the latest Mercedes S-Class. But the electric sedan has more room for four passengers, its cabin pushed forward into what would normally be the engine compartment.

As distinctive as the exterior might be, the interior takes things even further, said Peter Balko, who oversaw development of the cabin. “We wanted our interior to be modern,” he explained, “as if coming from the future.”

Buyers will have numerous options

Buyers have several key options to choose from. The showpiece layout uses the new hyperscreen concept first shown on the latest S-Class. It features a seamless digital cluster running the entire width of the instrument panel. The organically shaped glass blends three different displays, starting with the digital gauge cluster, the touchscreen infotainment screen and a separate display for the front passenger.

The gauge cluster on the new EQS is configurable based on the wants of the driver.

EQS offers a digital gauge cluster and a large, free-floating, Tesla-like infotainment screen for those seeking a more conventional look. The space in front of the passenger can be outfitted with an assortment of different woods and fabrics and even a version of the Star Pattern grille.

The EQS will “touch almost all of your senses,” said Kohl. Among other things, the product development team has come up with three distinctive, user-programmable “soundscapes.”

Sounding off

While battery cars aren’t entirely silent, they are significantly quieter than vehicles with conventional internal combustion engines. Motorists can enjoy the lack of noise or they can opt for one of the soundscapes, “depending upon the emotions of the moment,” said lead sound engineer Thomas Kuppers.

Silver Waves is meant to be soft and soothing;
Vivid Flux is “shimming and explosive,” a bit “techie but (with) warmth,” said Kuppers; and
Roaring Pulse is “pretty raw, with “the growl of thunder,” especially under aggressive driving.

“We haven’t finished yet,” Kuppers added, noting that, “There will be new soundscapes over the life of the vehicle that we will download through over-the-air updates.”

The new EQS will borrow from the conventional S-Class by also appealing to the sense of smell, Mercedes officials noted. The new BEV will have the ability to inject scents into the cabin, including some designed specifically for the new model.

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First Look: 2022 Bentley Continental GT Speed

The 2022 Bentley Continental GT Speed could be the last vehicle the luxury maker produces that relies solely on the W-12 engine.

It’s faster. It takes corners better. And it’s designed to make long trips pass by in comfort. The 2022 Bentley Continental GT Speed could prove to be a landmark product for the British automaker, potentially the last major model to rely solely on Bentley’s massive W-12 engine.

The automaker announced last November that it will offer only plug-in hybrids and pure battery-electric models starting in 2026, while going 100% BEV by 2030. That means that this new version of the GT Speed will have a relatively short, albeit glorious, life.

“It delivers the ultimate combination of driving comfort and performance,” said Matthias Rabe, Bentley’s engineering chief, during a Tuesday morning media webinar.

The pinnacle of the brand

The Continental is the brand’s all-time best seller and gets better for 2022.

The Bentley Continental, in all its forms, has been the most popular model in the company’s history, helping usher in a massive transformation of the brand since the car was introduced back in 2003. The Speed is the “pinnacle” of the line, said Rabe. And, for 2022, it gets an assortment of upgrades.

That starts with the 6.0-liter W-12 engine which gains an additional 24 horsepower. The 2022 model now punches out 659 hp and 664 pound-feet of torque, enough to hit 60 in 3.5 seconds. Top speed climbs to 208 mph. Power is directed to all four wheels through an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission.

A Bentley isn’t about straight-line performance, of course. And, to improve its road manners, the ’22 GT Speed adds all-wheel-steering and torque vectoring, along with an electronically controlled rear limited-slip differential. A driver who wants to push the limits can even switch off the GT Speed’s electronic stability control and drift the car “a little,” said Rabe — no mean feat considering its size and mass.

New carbon-ceramic brakes help scrub off speed.

Few surprises … until you look under the skin

2022 Bentley Continental GT Speed interior

The new GT has four bucket seats and a leather, wood and metal-accented interior offering a seemingly endless range of customization opportunities.

Visually, there are few surprises with the update. There’s the familiar, rectangular Bentley grille which gets a subtle tweak to its finish. There are new 20-inch twin-spoke wheels and gloss black accents are available. But the look is immediately familiar, with the distinctive crystal cut quad headlamps, the fastback roof and the three distinctive accent lines.

Inside, there are four bucket seats and a leather, wood and metal-accented interior that offers a seemingly endless range of customization opportunities. Among other things, buyers can choose from 15 different hues of leather and Alcantara.

The W-12 has been a distinctive symbol of the Bentley brand. The question is how much of a future it has. Bentley stunned industry observers when it laid out plans to go all electric late last year. It’s timing puts it well ahead of key luxury competitors, as well as more mainstream companies like General Motors, which expects to switch entirely to BEVs by 2035.

Electrifying opportunities

The decision followed a survey of Bentley owners, 58% of whom said “they would buy an electrified Bentley in next five years if one was available,” said the brand’s CEO Adrian Hallmark. “If it wasn’t above 50% we probably wouldn’t have been as bold about our plans for the future,” he added during the Tuesday web event.

2022 Bentley Continental GT Speed W12 engine

The new Conti sports the renowned W-12 engine — perhaps for the final time.

Though the shift to plug-based products is coming up fast, “I wouldn’t quite call (this) a swan song for the W-12. There is a life left in what is essentially a new engine,” said Hallmark, noting there will be a number of variants of the Continental and other models before 2026.

That said, “We’re not going to create a plug-in hybrid with a 12-cylinder engine,” he stressed. It would simply be too big once adding a 250-pound battery pack. So, by 2026, any GT Speed successor going hybrid would likely use the British marque’s 8-cylinder alternative.

Whatever approach Bentley takes, chief engineer Rabe is confident it will connect with buyers. Battery cars should deliver precisely what Bentley customers expect: a quiet, comfortable ride, yes, but electric motors also have the advantage of providing maximum, tire-spinning torque the moment they start turning.

A good run

For the near-term, Bentley is just bringing its first PHEV to market, a version of the Bentayga SUV that is rapidly becoming the automaker’s best-selling model-line.

But Bentley, on the whole, is having a good run. Despite a seven-week shutdown of production last spring caused by the COVID pandemic, the automaker recorded record sales of 11,206 vehicles in 2020. And demand is up about 30% so far this year. Hallmark is confident that the launch of the new Continental GT Speed will add to that momentum.

The new model will launch in the U.S. and Europe during the third quarter of 2021, reaching China and other key markets a few months later.

Think Americans Love Pickups? Check Out Kenya, Thailand and Argentina

By any measure, the Ford F-Series is the world’s best-selling pickup, though primary demand is in the U.S.

Americans are in love with their pickups, no question about it. If anything, automakers are struggling to keep up with demand for products like the Ford F-150 and Ram 1500 in the wake of last year’s pandemic shutdowns and this year’s chip shortages.

You might think of the pickup as a distinctly American product, however, that’s far from reality. In fact, if you’re looking at the countries where these trucks hold the highest market share, the U.S. doesn’t even land in the Top 10.

Kenya is the unquestioned king here, pickups accounting for an astounding 53% of its total new vehicle sales in 2020, according to industry data, with Thailand slightly behind with a pickup share of 47%. Our northern neighbor, Canada, also showed more truck love than Americans did last year, at 23%, with Argentina, at 22%, still two share points ahead of the U.S.

Now, all that said, the U.S. remains the overwhelming sales leader when you are talking raw volume. The Ford F-Series, Chevrolet Silverado and Ram pickup were far and away the three best-selling vehicles of any form in the U.S. last year, with combined volume of 1.945 million units. The GMC Sierra, ninth among all U.S. vehicles in 2020, adds 253,016 to that total. And we’ve so far only looked at full-size trucks.

The U.S. is an also-ran in the pickup market

Measured another way, the U.S. and Canada account for roughly nine out of every 10 pickups sold worldwide when you count everything from compact to heavy-duty models. But with a combined market share of around 20%, those trucks hold barely half the share of utility vehicles and even lag the declining sedan market.

The Toyota Hilux has earned a reputation as “king of the desert” in many parts of the world.

What’s unique about the U.S. is the focus on full-size and, especially, heavy-duty pickups. These products barely exist in many other markets and regions, with a handful of exceptions like the Middle East. That said, Detroit automakers are hoping to expand the appeal of these big rigs worldwide.

Ford launched the F-150 in Argentina last year, where the Ram 1500 already is on sale. The Chevy Silverado is expected to follow, according to LMC Automotive.

“As is the case in the U.S., pickups are prized in Argentina by a subset of the population who view them not only as practical, but also as a reflection of their lifestyle — a status symbol, if you will,” explains John Zekany, an LMC analyst focusing on the Americas.

“The bodystyle,” he adds, “also fits in well with the needs of Argentina’s agricultural sector, which accounts for a substantial share of the country’s GDP. Many of those who drive pickups would never dream of switching to a different vehicle type.”

What pickup buyers want varies by market

The ability to use pickups as combination work and lifestyle truck clearly appeals to buyers in many emerging markets, as is reflected by the pickup sales chart shown here.

The countries with the highest share of pickup sales. The U.S. doesn’t even fall into the Top 10. Source: Focus2Move.

What type of trucks they buy varies widely, however, from country to country. In many pickup-friendly markets, there are hefty tariffs and taxes that influence demand.

As a result, notes Zekany, the Ram 1500 is the only one of 11 imported models that generated sales of more than 1,000 vehicles last year. In Argentina, the locally assembled Toyota Hilux has captured a 27% share of the pickup market and 6% of the country’s overall new vehicle sales.

Midsize models like the Hilux are, for many buyers, not just more affordable but also more practical, especially when dealing with narrow roads and cramped local villages and cities. They’re also more fuel efficient, something owners in many parts of the world are acutely aware of.

The “king of the desert”

The Hilux has earned a reputation as the “king of the desert,” and it is especially popular in Africa, South America and the Middle East, according to research site Focus2Move. The Toyota now is the world’s fourth best-selling pickup, buyers in 140 different markets snapping up 457,876 of them last year.

New entrants will give pickup buyers even more options in the years ahead. Many of them are all electric, like this Rivian R1T.

Globally, it’s followed by the Ford Ranger – primarily the version sold outside the United States, the GMC Sierra, the Toyota Tacoma and the Isuzu D-Max.

One of the notable developments has been the rise of China’s Great Wall Wingle 5. It was number 9 last year, moving up from 12^th position globally in 2019. Significantly, Toyota landed its third pickup, the Toyota Tundra, on the charts in 2020, that full-size model rounding out the top 10.

New entries

The strong global demand for trucks has encouraged more players to get into the pickup market in recent years. Mercedes-Benz launched the X-Class a few years back and Hyundai is readying for launch the compact Santa Cruz. Meanwhile, a host of new start-ups are jumping in with all-electric models, including Rivian, Bollinger, Lordstown and Atlas.

If anything, global demand for pickups could grow even bigger in the years ahead.

Weather, Increased Demand Drive Gas Prices Higher

American motorists are paying more at the pump these days as demand rises and supply drops.

When it comes to gas prices at the pump, what goes down will eventually come up.

Motorists are paying some of the highest gas prices seen in over a year, according to AAA and GasBuddy.com. With the forced shutdown of Gulf Coast and some Midwest refineries due to recent winter weather, gasoline stocks have tightened and gas prices have skyrocketed.

On the week, 66% of state averages spiked by double digits (10-22 cents), driving the national average up by 13 cents to $2.63. That is the most expensive national average since October 2019.

Prices are jumping by double-digit amounts

Gasbuddy.com reported the national average price rose for the seventh consecutive week and at its fastest pace since Hurricane Harvey, rising 10.4 cents per gallon compared with the previous week to $2.63 as of Feb. 22.

Gas was priced the highest in California, Hawaii and Washington with the price as high as $3.54 a gallon.

The website compiled the data from more than 11 million individual price reports covering more than 150,000 gas stations across the country. Additionally, GasBuddy determined that the national average price of diesel jumped 8.7 cents in the week prior to Feb. 22 and stood at $2.84 per gallon.

Federal statistics released on Feb. 22 show how gas prices stood around the country. The average price per gallon (ppg) in the U.S. as of Feb. 22 was $2.63, a 13-cent ppg increase from the previous week. Gas in the East Coast region was $2.60 a gallon, up from the prior week price of $2.47.

In New England, gas prices reached a ppg of $2.56, up from $2.47 in just a week, while West Coast ppg hit $3.15, up from $3.04. Rocky Mountain ppg jumped to $2.43, from $2.39. Gulf Coast prices were the lowest as of Feb. 22, with ppg of $2.34, up from $2.21 the week before.

Cold Hits Production Hard

“With last week’s (Feb. 15 – 21) extreme cold shutting down millions of barrels per day in refinery capacity, gas prices have seen their largest weekly climb in quite some time,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy.

Gas prices are expected to drop in the next week or so, according to GasBuddy.com.

“The jump in price was the result of a dozen or so refineries, primarily in Texas, that were forced to shut down as the frigid temperatures threatened to wreak havoc on their exposed equipment. With the cold weather behind us, price increases should begin to slow later this week or next week, and so long as these refineries get back online in short order, we may see gas prices start to move back down in the next couple of weeks.

De Haan quickly tempered any joy about drop reminding that spring is coming, which means prices will rise again as “refineries start to transition to summer gasoline, so motorists shouldn’t jump for joy just yet.”

Weather playing a role

“When close to 40% of U.S. crude production is offline because refineries are closed, there is going to be pain at the pump until operations resume,” said Jeanette Casselano McGee, AAA spokesperson.

“The good news is the nearly two dozen impacted refiners are expected to restart operations this week, if they haven’t already. That means regular gasoline deliveries will resume and impacted stations will be re-fueled.”

In the week prior Feb. 22 there were reported refinery outages in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee and Kansas. AAA reported that gas prices are likely to be volatile until crude production is back to normal levels. Motorists can expect these more expensive prices to stick around, but large spikes are likely to subside.

Midwest sees big increases

According to AAA, the nation’s top 10 largest weekly increases were as follow: Ohio, up 22 cents; Arizona, up 21 cents; Iowa, up 19 cents; Minnesota, up 18 cents; Georgia, up 18 cents; Michigan, up 17 cents; Wisconsin, up 16 cents; Nebraska, up 16 cents; Indiana, up 16 cents; and Maryland, up 15 cents.

The nation’s top 10 least expensive markets as of Feb. 22 were: Mississippi, $2.27; Louisiana, $2.31; Texas, $2.32; Arkansas, $2.35; Alabama, $2.35; Oklahoma, $2.36; Utah, $2.38; Missouri, $2.38 ppg; Tennessee, $2.40; and South Carolina, $2.42.

The most expensive were California at $3.54 a gallon followed by Hawaii ($3.35) and Washington ($2.98).

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Carmakers Withdraw from Trump Lawsuit Against California

Several automakers withdrew from the lawsuit by the Trump administration to revoke California’s ability to make its own emissions and fuel economy rules.

The ink was not even dry on Pete Buttigieg’s confirmation as Secretary of Transportation by the U.S. Senate when several automakers announced they were “withdrawing” from the lawsuit filed by the Trump administration to roll back the State of California’s right to set its own emission and fuel economy standards.

Toyota, Fiat Chrysler and Subaru joined General Motors, which pulled its support for the suit last November, in dumping the effort. Previously sided with Trump administration’s effort, encapsulated in federal lawsuit filed in the fall of 2019 to shut down California’s role in setting the nation’s automotive policy.

The automakers insisted they were not trying to punish California for its aggressive stance on climate change but to campaign for “one national standard” that could be applied across the United States.

However, the world has changed dramatically since the previous administration initially filed suit with the support of GM, FCA and Toyota as well as Hyundai, Kia, Mazda and the National Auto Dealers Association.

(GM throws support behind California in emissions court battle with Trump.)

GM pulled its support for the lawsuit against California in late November.

For one thing, after a boisterous campaign that led to record voter turnout, Trump is no longer president and California has expanded its fight against climate change by moving aggressively to foreclose the sale of new vehicles with internal combustion engines throughout the state by 2035.

California Governor Gavin Newsome tweeted his support for the move, offering his thanks for “dropping your climate-denying, air-polluting, Trump-era lawsuit against CA.”

He added, “Good start. Now it’s time to join forward-looking carmakers in the CA framework to protect our air and planet.” Other automakers, including Ford, BMW, Honda and more forged a new deal with the state on mandates that were tougher than the Trump standard, but less stringent than the Obama administration’s benchmarks.

Edmunds, the internet-based car buying service, is predicting sales of electric vehicles will set a record in 2021 and as of last week, General Motors is saying it plans to exit the business of selling cars with combustion engines by 2035 and become carbon neutral by 2040.

The Coalition for Sustainable Automotive Regulation, which also sided with the Trump administration in its battle against California, reiterated its support for having just one nationwide emissions standard, but said it was leaving the litigation “in a gesture of good faith,” towards the Biden administration.

Toyota was joined by several automakers in the move to pull out of the legal battle with California.

In his first full day of office on Jan. 21, the Biden administration had asked to “pause” the litigation around the California standards.

“In a gesture of good faith and to find a constructive path forward, the CSAR has decided to withdraw from this lawsuit in order to unify the auto industry behind a single national program, with ambitious, achievable standards,” the CSAR said in a statement.

CSAR’s move follows the lead of General Motors, which was also initially on the side of the Trump administration but exited in November following Biden’s election victory, according to The Hill, an online publication that follows development on Capitol Hill.

(California moves to block Trump fuel efficiency standard.)

The list of CSAR members include Kia, Mazda, Mitsubishi and Subaru, according to the organization’s website.

And it comes following the Biden administration’s decision ask the court to pause the litigation, after it identified the former Trump administration’s rule as one it would seek to review and potentially reverse course on.

“Abeyance will further the Court’s interests in avoiding unnecessary adjudication, support the integrity of the administrative process, and ensure due respect for the prerogative of the executive branch to reconsider the policy decisions of a prior Administration,” the administration said in court.

It is also seeking to hit pause on other rules including the prior administration’s methane regulations.

Meanwhile, Buttigieg, the former mayor South Bend, Indiana, who has been tapped by Biden to serve as Secretary of Transportation, and to help lead the new administration’s fight to curb climate change, was confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

The automakers’ decision to withdraw from the lawsuit makes it easier for Buttigieg to discuss a new round of initiatives for the industry and bring California’s interests into the discussion. Relations between Washington and California had been strained during the Trump era.

California, however, has a well-established role in setting automotive policy on issues relating to air quality since the late 1940s and early 1950s when the collision between Southern California’s unique environment, vibrant automotive culture and explosive economic growth had led to the creation of a smog layer that threatened the health of young children and older residents.

The choking smog led to a series of laws, regulations and subsequently court decision that gave the state of California’s statement government, which is now in the hands of Democrats beholden to environmental groups rather than the oil industry, the right to control air quality.

(Trump confirms mileage standards cut, elimination of California clean air waiver.)

In 2007, the U.S. Supreme Court in Massachusetts vs EPA, gave states the authority to curb emissions of greenhouse gasses, which contribute to climate change.

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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.

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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 Plans No Job or Brand Cuts, Expects to Have 39 “Electrified” Vehicles by End-2021

Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares and Chairman John Elkann are all smiles during the official debut of the new company.

Despite aims of achieving about $6 billion in synergies through the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and France’s Group PSA, there are no plans to drop brands or eliminate jobs, Carlos Tavares, the CEO of newly formed Stellantis, declared Tuesday.

If anything, the company expects to see opportunities to enhance the performance of its 14 brands and gain traction in markets and market segments where it is weak, Tavares said during a nearly two-hour media briefing. But the Portugese-born executive did warn that “headwinds” could force Stellantis to pull back in some places, notably Latin America, if it can’t maintain a profitable business strategy.

“Our commitment on this merger is that we will not shut down plants as a consequence of the merger,’’ Tavares said, later adding that there are no plans to eliminate any brands, either, though a formal strategy for rebuilding some of the weaker marques, such as U.S.-based Chrysler and Italy’s Fiat and Alfa Romeo, is still in the works.

(Stellantis enjoys warm welcome from European investors.)

The merger was formally announced in December 2019 but took more than a year to pull together as FCA and PSA not only negotiated terms but also had to deal with unions and regulators around the world. The final details fell in place last month and shareholders from the two companies each voted in favor of completing the deal by margins of more than 99%.

Workers take the covers off the new Stellantis sign at North American headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan.

The merger created what is now the world’s fourth-largest automotive manufacturer, behind Toyota, Volkswagen and the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance. And its size, diverse brand, product and market portfolios will serve as “a shield” said Tavares. That “helps keep affordability, helps keep the customer base and helps prevent bad things from happening.”

Tuesday’s lengthy media session was aimed at providing a sense of the direction Tavares sees for Stellantis while also addressing some of the many questions that have popped up during the last 13 months.

There has been widespread speculation that brands such as Fiat and Chrysler could be eliminated considering the challenges of maintaining a portfolio of 14 separate marques. But Tavares insisted Stellantis is up to the job, pointing to how it has handled its acquisition of Opel/Vauxhall from General Motors. Prior to that deal, the German-based unit had run up nearly two decades of losses. But it was profitable within a year of the purchase, Tavares noted.

One of the keys to the merger will be taking advantage of scale, the CEO said. That will allow more efficiency in product development and purchasing – which should yield 80% of the 5 billion euros in “synergies” Tavares has promised.

For one thing, weaker brands will benefit by being able to share product platforms and components developed for the broader enterprise – though Tavares stressed that it will be essential to make sure buyers can clearly differentiate between what he described as “sister cars,” say, Dodge, Fiat and Peugeot models that share the same underpinnings.

A mix of new and old with the new Stellantis sign in the foreground and the Chrysler Pentastar in the background.

“The importance is scale and the opportunity to purchase more effectively,” said Stephanie Brinley, principal analyst with IHS Markit, adding that Stellantis “also will benefit from having more cash that can be used to develop systems for more vehicles than (FCA and PSA) each could have done alone.”

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

That should prove particularly important when it comes to developing the electrified and autonomous vehicles that are expected to radically transform the globally transportation industry over the coming decade. While it’s unclear how soon self-driving technology will be ready for market, EVs are expected to gain significant traction over the next several years, Tavares expecting that they “will represent more than one-third of vehicle sales, possibly more in Europe,” by the end of the decade.

“Our company will have to be carbon neutral,” Tavares said, adding that he expects the new Biden administration will push for further reductions in carbon dioxide emissions. “This is going to be at the core of our long-term strategic plan.”

At the time of the merger – officially completed last weekend – Stellantis had 29 electrified vehicles, ranging from hybrids to plug-ins to pure battery-electric vehicles. Just by the end of 2021, Tavares revealed, that will grow to 39 models. And, by 2025, he said, “There will be electrified versions of all new models.”

What Tavares and Mike Manley, then CEO of FCA, started is now complete.

How many of those will be BEVs, however, he did not reveal, raising his concerns about the higher cost of producing all-electric vehicles and how that could price some traditional buyers out of the new vehicle market.

The reality is that many key strategic decisions have yet to be formalized, Tavares indicated during the Tuesday briefing. That includes how to prop up weaker brands and improve the presence of Stellantis in weaker markets. That notably includes China, where neither FCA nor PSA were strong players. Latin America is another challenging region — as was underscored by Ford’s announcement last week that it will end manufacturing operations in Brazil.

While analyst Brinley said she believes Stellantis can largely hold to its early goals, especially finding ways to maintain its current brand portfolio, she said the company ultimately might wind up cutting some jobs. But she doesn’t think factory workers are the ones who should be concerned.

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

“There will be some areas where there will be job redundancies,” though not in plants, said Brinley. More likely this could occur in places like marketing and purchasing, and even some in engineering, “operational areas where they just won’t need as many employees” as they did when FCA and PSA operated independently.

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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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A Week With: 2021 Toyota Sienna Limited AWD

The 2021 Toyota Sienna Limited AWD comes with a new hybrid powerplant.

Are you secure enough – make that brave enough – to drive a minivan? For many, the answer is no.

Its image tarnished long ago by the sneeringly chauvinistic and emasculating epithet “soccer mom,” the segment continues to wither under the assault of crossovers, which are little more than cross-dressing minivans.

No, seriously, they are. Consider this: they have seating for up to eight, lots of cupholders and rear-seat entertainment systems. Just like a minivan. Except their perceived wardrobe’s faint nod to off-roading gives them an alleged image boost. But let’s face it, they’re a minivan, with a less practical shape that limits their utility compared to a minivan.

But this bit of common sense eludes buyers, and so the minivan’s U.S. market share continues to crater, plunging 86% during the past decade from 7.1% of U.S. light vehicle sales in 2010 to 2.4% in 2019, before falling to mere 1% last year.

(Toyota goes “all-hybrid” with new Venza, Sienna models.)

The Sienna offers seating for seven passengers while still getting more than 35 mpg in combined driving.

Part of the segment’s plunge is no doubt due to Dodge’s decision to discontinue the long-in-the-tooth Dodge Grand Caravan, a darling of rental fleets and those who needed the cheapest minivan available – and what wallet-challenged parent doesn’t? Despite the overall drop in volume in 2020, Fiat Chrysler remained the leader in the segment, followed by Honda, Toyota and Kia.

Overview: And yet dollar for dollar, nothing beats the value provided by a minivan. And for 2021, Toyota is distinguishing its rugrat hauler by offering it solely as a gas-electric hybrid in LE, XLE, XSE, Limited and Platinum trim levels.

Exterior: A decade ago, Toyota tried marketing the third-generation Sienna as the “Swagger Wagon” with little luck, as it was a definitely wagon, but lacking in any swagger. But you could be forgiven for using the term on the fourth-generation Sienna, which was designed by Toyota’s styling studios in Newport Beach, California, and Ann Arbor, Michigan, its appearance was allegedly inspired by the Shinkansen Japanese Bullet Train. Boasting an outrageously oversized jaw capped by aggressively slanted LED headlamps, it’s best described as expressive.

”’… Aggressively sculpted side panels and muscular wheel arches suggest it’s got some SUV DNA in it, but it doesn’t. It’s certainly distinctive, something that couldn’t be said of the previous Sienna …”

Interior: Surprisingly, the cabin is a welcome counterpoint to the over-caffeinated exterior. The cleanly styled instrument

The Sienna’s interior is clean and crisp, offering the driver easy access to all controls.

panel features cupholders and a flat shelf on which to place smaller items and includes a wireless charging pad. It’s augmented by what Toyota calls its “Bridge Console,” a very tall center console that puts the major controls within easy reach with a massive center console bin that doubles as a small refrigerator. There’s also an opening underneath for front seat occupants to place a purse or manbag.

As you might expect, there are three rows of seats, with second row Captain’s chairs, with Platinum and Limited grades getting “Super Long Slide” seats that slide back and forth a whopping 25 inches. The test vehicle’s second-row thrones doubled as recliners, although they work best for those far less than six feet tall. And they fold, but not flat into the floor like Chrysler’s Stow ‘n Go seats. But legroom is impressively spacious in the first two rows, and acceptable in the third. With all of the seats in use, there’s 33.5 cubic feet of schlepping space, growing to 101 cubic feet when they’re not.

(Can minivans regain their cool factor?)

The Sienna is powered by a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder paired with electric motors that put out a combined 245 horsepower.

Powertrain: The biggest change comes under the hood, where a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder and dual electric motor hybrid powertrain replaces last year’s V-6. Generating 245 horsepower, the Sienna loses 51 horsepower to the V-6, but it gains at the gas pump.

For 2021, the EPA rates the front-wheel-drive Sienna at 36 mpg in combined city/highway driving, and 35 mpg with all-wheel drive. Both figures are 15 mpg better than their respective 2020 counterparts, reducing annual fuel costs by an estimated $750 annually. By comparison, Chrysler new Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid runs 32 miles on electricity, returning 82 MPGe in combined driving, and 30 mpg running purely on petrol. Toyota rates the Sienna’s towing capacity at 3,500 pounds.

Technology and Safety: Being a family hauler, you’d expect a full slate of standard safety systems, and you’d be correct. Toyota’s second-generation Toyota Safety Sense is standard, and includes pre-collision system with pedestrian detection/lowlight detection, blind spot monitor, rear cross traffic alert, dynamic radar cruise control, lane departure alert with steering assist, lane trace assist, automatic high beams, and road sign assist.

Toyota also includes its Star Safety System, which adds stability control, traction control, electronic brake-force distribution, brake assist, and anti-lock brakes with smart stop technology. There’s also a 10-inch color head-up display that can be controlled through voice recognition or steering wheel switchgear.

There’s also an available digital rear-view mirror that eliminates obstructions in the cabin from blocking your rear view as well as an optional 360-degree view camera, and Curb View, which helps prevent scuffing tires when parallel parking.

But most occupants will be more concerned about the tech package. A nine-inch touchscreen is standard, and is flanked by shortcut buttons, as well as a volume and tuning knob for the audio system. Speaking of tunes, a six-speaker AM/FM/XM audio system with, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and Amazon Alexa compatibility is standard, and includes seven USB ports, voice recognition and Bluetooth. It can be upgraded to a JBL Premium audio system with 12 speakers, a subwoofer and 1,200-watt amplification.

Driving impressions: Being a hybrid, it’s little surprise that this van is exceptionally quick, quiet and tranquil at lower speeds, as it’s running purely on electric and your children are behaving. This changes when you need extra grunt, as the gas engine comes on with a mighty roar, although it proves powerful enough to move this minivan with moxie.

The new Sienna offers plenty of cargo space whether full up with passengers or empty.

Thanks to Toyota banishing the 2020 Sienna’s rear twist-beam axle, handling is far more precise and far less floaty. Credit the new multilink rear suspension. Overall, it makes for a very serene, controllable yet somewhat engaging driving experience.

(Kia replacing Sedona minivan with new Carnival line.)

Wrap Up: No matter what its looks, the 2021 Toyota Sienna is still a minivan. It proudly proclaims what you’ve accomplished: You’ve gone forth, you’ve multiplied, and now you need space for the whole family. It’s not hip or trendy — but there’s nothing wrong with that.

Kudos to Toyota for a truly impressive update that injects some flavor into a vehicle that has always been blandly practical at best. The 2021 Sienna delivers the amenities, practicality and driving experience that’s every bit as good as its archrivals, and fuel economy that beats them all.

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