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Automakers, Manufacturing Trade Group React in Horror to Washington Insurrection

Trump supporters staged an insurrection at the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.

The rioting that swept Washington, D.C. Wednesday triggered by President Donald Trump’s false and disproven claims of election fraud triggered a nationwide backlash with some of the most severe responses coming from groups that traditionally steer clear of electoral politics.

One of the harshest statements came from the National Association of Manufacturers which not only described the insurrection as an attack on “the vision of America,” but also called for the use of the 25th Amendment, which could lead to an immediate removal of Trump from the role of president.

“This is not the vision of America that manufacturers believe in and work so hard to defend,” said Jay Timmons, NAM’s president and CEO. “We are trying to rebuild an economy and save and rebuild lives. But none of that will matter if our leaders refuse to fend off this attack on America and our democracy — because our very system of government, which underpins our very way of life, will crumble.”

(Trump attacks GM, demands it move Chinese manufacturing operations “back to America.”)

The trade group’s statement also stressed that the rioting – which culminated in a mob takeover of the U.S. Capitol – “is not law and order (but) mob rule.” And it called Vice President Mike Pence to “seriously consider” calling on the Trump Cabinet “to invoke the 25^th Amendment to preserve democracy.”

Adopted Feb. 10, 1967, the 25^th Amendment covers issues related to presidential succession and incapacity. Among other things, it allows for a sitting president to be removed, either temporarily or permanently if deemed unable or unwilling to perform the duties of the office.

But it requires the vice president and a “majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide,” to declare in writing the president is “unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office.”

Were Section 4 of the amendment invoked, Vice President Pence would immediately become president, though only until President-elect Joe Biden were to be sworn in on Jan. 20.

In conversations with TheDetroitBureau.com, officials with several automakers expressed similar concerns about what could happen should Trump remain in office during the next two weeks, escalating his efforts to reverse the results of the November election. On Tuesday afternoon, the president told his followers gathered in Washington, including members of the white supremacist group Proud Boys, to go home. But he also praised them and further escalated his claims that the election was stolen.

Shortly afterwards, Twitter announced a 12-hour ban on posts by the president.

A Trump supporter carrying a Confederate battle flag wanders the Capitol Building. (Photo courtesy NBC News.)

(As Biden’s new Transportation chief, “Mayor Pete” will face massive list of automotive challenges.)

With so much at risk, automakers tend to avoid direct involvement in politics. Ford, General Motors and Toyota have all come in for beatings from the Twitter-loving Trump since he launched his campaign and captured the White House more than five years ago. But all three also, as an official with one company said on background, “felt it necessary to speak out” in light of the Wednesday riots.

“The peaceful transition of power is a cornerstone of American democracy, and regardless of politics the violence at the U.S. Capitol does not reflect who we are as a nation. It’s imperative that we come together as a country and reinforce the values and ideals that unite us,” said GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra in a statement to TheDetroitBureau.com.

With similar sentiments, Toyota said in a statement requested by TheDetroitBureau.com: “Lawlessness has no place in our society. Toyota urges everyone to demonstrate restraint and patience, and allow for the peaceful transfer of power that is the hallmark of our country. Tomorrow is a brighter day and democracy will, and always has, prevailed.”

The timing of Wednesday’s terrorist assault on the Capitol was no coincidence. It was intentionally planned to disrupt the Constitutionally mandated counting of the Electoral College votes that would complete the presidential election process and officially name Joe Biden the incoming president.

“On a day which should be a reaffirmation of one of the most important democratic ideals, the peaceful transition of power stemming from a free and fair election, we saw actions that are the antithesis of those ideals. Beyond the physical damage to our Capitol and the attacks on public servants, these were destructive acts against our shared principles and beliefs,” Ford Chairman Bill Ford and CEO Jim Farley said in a joint statement sent to TheDetroitBureau.com.

“There are no easy lessons to learn from this moment. It is clear that there will be more difficult days ahead as our country tries to overcome the things that challenge and divide us: a public health crisis, the lack of faith in public institutions, and a fractured sense of what we value as Americans.

“These problems can and must be resolved,” the two executives stressed.

(Trump attacks Ford after it agrees to a clean car deal with California.)

After a roughly eight-hour delay, during which rioters ransacked the offices of some lawmakers, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the counting of the Electoral College votes resumed.

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Japan Joins Growing List of Countries Set to Ban Sales of Gas-Powered Vehicles

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga supports the move to ban the sale of non-electric new vehicles staring in 2035.

Despite strong pushback from the country’s largest automaker, Japan has announced plans to halt the sale of vehicles relying solely on internal combustion engines after 2035.

The move means the Asian nation will join a growing list of countries planning to phase out vehicles powered by gas or diesel, including both the United Kingdom and Norway. A number of other countries, including France and Germany, are considering similar bans.

Vehicles with internal combustion engines won’t be banned entirely. Automakers will still be able to market hybrids in Japan, regulators ruled. Even so, the plan released on Christmas Day was a significant victory for Japanese environmentalists considering it was strongly opposed by key industry leaders, including Toyota President Akio Toyoda who warned earlier this month that a broad shift to electric vehicles could cause the auto industry’s traditional business model “to collapse.”

(Toyota boss Akio Toyoda remains EV skeptic.)

Akio Toyoda, Toyota’s top officer, is against the ban.

As the head of Japan’s largest and most powerful company – and in his role as the head of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association – Toyoda hoped to convince regulators to back off on the proposed ban. But it had widespread backing from other quarters, including Japan’s new Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.

In October, shortly after assuming his post, Suga had pledged to cut Japan’s carbon dioxide emissions to net zero by 2050 while indicating he supported a shift to battery-powered vehicles.

Global sales of electrified vehicles remain modest, running in single digits in all but a handful of markets, even when including hybrids, PHEVs and fuel-cell vehicles, as well as pure battery-electric vehicles. But demand is expected to increase sharply as key obstacles, such as range, cost and public charging, are addressed. It also will help that scores of new BEVs are scheduled to go into production in the coming years, proponents say.

While Japanese automakers were pioneers with their early push to bring hybrids to market, “Japan is very far behind” in terms of developing more advanced products relying solely on battery power, Masayoshi Arai, an official with the country’s

Nissan is one of a few Japanese automakers dedicating resources to a move to EVs.

Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, said last week.

Toyota only recently introduced a BEV model in Europe, though it has announced plans to add two more – one through the flagship Toyota division, a second under the Lexus badge. It also this month revealed an all-electric microcar targeting the Japanese home market. Only the Nissan and Mitsubishi brands, among Japanese automakers, have committed significant resources to the development of pure battery-electric vehicles and, even then, they have fallen behind key foreign rivals in terms of bringing new products to market.

(Toyota hopes to boost interest in hydrogen tech with second-generation Mirai.)

Toyota officials have, throughout the years, pointed to numerous concerns about BEVs, including their cost, limited range and other obstacles to widespread consumer acceptance. For his part, company chief Toyoda said this month that he feared a switch to all-electric models would seriously disrupt the classic automotive industry business model. He also raised questions about whether Japan’s electric grid could supply the needed energy — and, if it did add the generating capacity, he warned, that could actually increase the country’s reliance on fossil fuels.

With the debut of the 2021 Mirai fuel-cell vehicle, Toyota’s hoping to spur interest in the tech again.

For his part, Japan’s new prime minister is downplaying such concerns and said that efforts to address greenhouse gas production “should be tackled as a strategy for growth, not as a limitation on growth.”

Downplaying the need for new coal or natural gas plants, the plan released by the Japanese government would add up to 45 gigawatts of new offshore wind generating capacity by 2040.

With the Christmas Day announcement, Japan becomes the second member of the Group of Seven, or G7, to lay out specific plans to ban non-electrified vehicles.

The UK originally had planned to do so by 2040 but now has pushed that target date up to 2030. Like Japan, its ban will continue to permit the sale of hybrids – but only through 2035, at which point only pure, zero-emissions vehicles will be able to be sold in Great Britain. That will include both BEVs and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles.

Despite its reticence about EVs, Toyota rolled out a new battery-electric car Dec. 25: the C⁺pod.

A handful of other countries, including Norway, have also laid out ZEV transition plans. So have some states and regions – including California and the Canadian province of British Columbia. A number of cities, such as London, Paris, Berlin and Mexico City, plan to bar vehicles not running in zero-emissions mode, meanwhile. China, meanwhile, has laid out plans to have “New Energy Vehicles,” plug-based models, reach 20% of the market by 2025. It is considering a total ban at a later date.

(Britain to ban sale of all new gas and diesel cars by 2030.)

With most of the country’s automakers reluctant to bring plug-based models to market, demand has grown far more slowly than in many other major regions. The Ministry of Economy, Industry and Trade noted that consumers purchased only 6,000 PHEVs and BEVs during the third quarter of 2020. By comparison, demand tripled in Europe to 270,000 – all-electric models accounting for roughly three-quarters of Norwegian sales. China, meanwhile, is expected to again top 1 million plug-based models for all of 2020.

Like What You Drive and How it’s Equipped? Thank the Military

The new Jeep Wrangler hybrid is the latest descendent of the original Willys-Overland MA.

Americans can take some things for granted, particularly how much our armed forces contribute to our health and well-being on a daily basis. Typically, it’s military’s technology needs that lead to breakthroughs in consumer products, like M&Ms and Cheetos.

Correspondingly, if you love driving your sport-utility vehicle with satellite navigation on a touchscreen while wearing aviators, thank the military. A surprising amount of what we take for granted in our cars, trucks and SUVs originated somewhere in the world as a military RFP.

So let’s march back in time, shall we?

Sport-utility vehicles

Regardless of which SUV you drive, they all owe their existence to the U.S. military. In July 1940, they put out an RFP for a “light reconnaissance vehicle” that would weigh less than 1,300 pounds, have a wheelbase of less than 75 inches, measure less than 36 inches tall, employ four-wheel drive with a two-speed transfer case and could carry 600 pounds. Its body must be rectangular, have a fold-down windshield, three bucket seats, and blackout and driving lights. Ok, the weight target was later revised, but otherwise, the proposal became the Willys-Overland MA, known today as the Jeep, a vehicle whose character now overshadows the entire automotive industry.

(Ford hypes Mach-E, taking it on “Electric-Vacation.”)

Navigation systems, like Hyundai’s on this 10.25-inch display screen, came from the military.

CPUs

The central processing unit, or CPU, is the part of the computer that actuates software, and a typical new car contains between 25 and 50 of them on average, with luxury cars containing more than 100 in some cases. But the first digital, programmable computer was developed during World War II at the University of Pennsylvania as an electronic calculator to help the war effort. But it could hardly be considered a desktop PC. Weighing 30 tons, it occupied 40 cabinets with 18,000 vacuum tubes, 10,000 capacitors, 6,000 switches and 1,500 relays. And here you thought your laptop was heavy.

Satellite navigation system

That guidance your vehicle receives comes from global positioning satellites orbiting the earth, first developed bythe United States Navy, which built the first satellite-based navigation system in 1959 to track its Polaris nuclear submarines. Each satellite uses multiple atomic clocks, developed by a Columbia University professor in the 1940s, to calculate the time within 100 billionths of a second. Dubbed Transit, the system measured the Doppler shift in the satellite’s radio transmission as it orbited. This required prior knowledge of its orbit. Modern satellites do the reverse, transmitting their position form earth, for faster response.

(Auto workers move up in line for COVID vaccine.)

Capacitive touchscreens

The massive touchscreen on the Tesla Model Y is also born out of a military technology.

If you love the convenience of a touchscreen, thank the Brits. It was born in 1965 at the United Kingdom at the Royal Radar Establishment, the advanced research arm of Britain’s Air Ministry. The screen is actually multiple layers of glass and plastic coated with a conductive material. Touching the screen completes an electric circuit, commanding the operating system to respond. Initially used by air traffic controllers, it wouldn’t reach consumers until the arrival of the Hewlett-Packard HP-150 in 1982, a PC running MS-DOS on a 9-inch Sony touch-sensitive CRT. The first touchscreen in a car was unveiled three years later in the 1986 Buick Riviera.

Radar

New vehicle driver assistance safety features like automated cruise control use radar to add an extra edge of safety. Radar was developed as far back as 1888 by German physicist Heinrich Hertz, who discovered that radio waves could be transmitted and speed measured. But it was Christian Hülsmeyer, a German engineer, who took Hertz’s principles and attempted to sell radar to the German military in the early 1900s. They weren’t interested, but the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C. was. They began working with it in 1922. By World War II, radar was commonly used by the U.S. military to track ships and planes.

The 2021 Escalade has available Night Vision which helps instill confidence on night drives.

Night vision

Ponder the battlefield advantage of having devices that use infrared light to see where there is no light. Initially developed by the Germans in World War II, they were too unwieldy, despite magnifying light 1,000 times. After World War II, the U.S. Army worked with RCA for the next couple decades to develop night vision devices, which were used during the Vietnam War. But it wouldn’t be perfected until the 1990s, where they played a crucial role in Operation Desert Storm. First offered as an automotive option by Cadillac, it’s now a common option on high-end automobiles for navigating dark country roads and avoiding deer, not the Viet Cong.

(Volvo confirms small EV in the works.)

Aviator glasses

OK, it’s not a part of your car, but you might wear them while driving one. Now a fashionably classic design icon, aviator sunglasses were developed after test pilot Shorty Schroeder flew a biplane above 33,000 feet. Schroeder’s insulated goggles fogged, so he lifted them, only to have his eyes freeze over. Miraculously, Schroeder managed to land the plane. The incident shocked his friend, Lt. John Macready, who then worked with Bausch & Lomb to develop the glasses, which debuted in 1936 as Ray-Ban Aviators. The glasses were far lighter than goggles and featured green lenses that maximized vision by reducing glare.

For GREAT deals on a new or used Nissan check out Mossy Nissan Kearny Mesa TODAY!

McLaren Artura Hybrid Supercar to Debut in 2021

McLaren introduced its new Artura hybrid supercar, but provided only scant details.

McLaren has offered up a new name for, and more details about, the hybrid supercar it plans to bring to market next year.

Like competitors such as Aston Martin and Ferrari, McLaren wants to take advantage of the incredible, off-the-line torque that electric motors can deliver. It has already toyed with the advantages hybrid drivetrains can deliver with the limited-run P1 and Speedtail models. The McLaren Artura would be its first series version.

Designed to replace the current Super Series, the new hybrid will pair the electric drive system with a twin-turbo V-6. That engine will be smaller than what’s on the existing line and is widely expected to come in with a displacement of around three liters.

(McLaren eyeing synthetic fuels for future models.)

The Artura, meanwhile, is expected to provide some electric-only drive capabilities, though they would likely be limited. McLaren has so far not indicated any plans to add a plug-in hybrid to its line-up but may need to eventually.

The Artura builds on what the company gleaned from the development of the Supertail.

A number of markets are now enacting new limits on the use of internal combustion engines. That includes the automaker’s home market, the UK banning vehicles solely powered by IC engines as of 2030, and all hybrids by 2035.

McLaren isn’t offering any hard details on power or performance but there seems little reason to believe it would launch a hybrid model that couldn’t at least match the 563 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque currently produced by its 570S model.

There would be the advantage of the instant torque that electric motors can deliver, but there’s also the reality that a hybrid drive system will add to the car’s weight.

(McLaren taking orders for new supercar.)

In a statement, McLaren CEO Mike Flewitt said the product development team is taking multiple steps to minimize that extra mass. “Every element of the Artura is all-new – from the platform architecture and every part of the High-Performance Hybrid powertrain, to the exterior body, interior and cutting-edge driver interface – but it draws on decades of McLaren experience in pioneering super-lightweight race and road car technologies to bring all of our expertise in electrification to the supercar class.”

The P1TM hypercar was the starting point for the Artura.

Another unanswered question is how many motors the McLaren Artura will feature. It may launch with a single motor in a rear-wheel-drive configuration but, if current practices hold, it’s expected to offer even higher-performance versions that would add another motor on the front axle.

Facing the new wave of government mandates, the auto industry is ramping up its collective electrification efforts. That’s particularly true in the exotic and performance segments where there are few other alternatives available.

(McLaren shows us the light – light weight – with new 765LT.)

Aston Martin is already working on a hybridized replacement for its Valkyrie line and recently announced plans to work with Mercedes to offer electric drivetrain technology in other product lines. The Mercedes-AMG performance line will be hybridizing and Maserati has plans for an all-electric version of its MC20 supercar. Even Ferrari is getting into the battery-car game. The SF90 Stradale is its first street-legal plug-in hybrid and it has announced plans to have a pure battery-electric model in its line-up by around 2025.

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Chevrolet Charging into Electric Aftermarket with K5 Blazer Conversion for SEMA Show

Chevrolet will showcase a 1977 K5 Blazer converted to all-electric propulsion at SEMA360.

Crate engines have been wildly popular for decades with car enthusiasts, giving them a way to beef up stock vehicles. Chevrolet has a long history of offering these powerplants, but now is honoring that tradition with a modern twist: eCrates.

In fact, some of those doing electric conversions are using old EV1 motors, General Motors’ long-dead first attempt at electric vehicles. However, there are several options available for those looking to get the instant torque only an electric motor can provide while keeping those vehicles on the greener side.

At this year’s virtual SEMA show, called SEMA360, Chevy will be showing what it thinks can be done with their eCrate motors by revealing a 1977 K5 Blazer that has been converted to an all-electric powertrain. The setup used in the K5 Blazer-E should be available from the company sometime next year, pushing aside the aforementioned EV1-powered conversions.

(Chevrolet teases 2022 Bolt EV makeover — and new Bolt EV.)

“As GM introduces a new fleet of electric vehicles, it creates an exciting opportunity to bring EV technology to the aftermarket,” said Jim Campbell, GM U.S. vice president of Performance and Motorsports.

The K5 Blazer-E uses a Bolt EV electric motor, delivering 200 hp, paired with a Chevrolet Performance electronically controlled 4-speed automatic.

“Our vision is to offer a comprehensive line of Connect and Cruise systems from Chevrolet Performance – delivering a solution for every customer ranging from LSX V-8s to eCrate conversions,” Campbell said.

The K5 conversion uses a 60-kWh battery pack sitting the cargo area behind the driver and front-seat passenger to provide the power for a 200-horsepower electric motor as well as all of the necessary power inverters, converters and additional equipment needed to make it a fully functional 33-year-old vehicle — with an electric powertrain.

This isn’t the brand’s first foray into the eCrate conversion segment. It’s already done two other vehicles: an eCOPO Camaro in 2018 and an E-10 pickup last year. The efforts acted as development projects for the brand’s Electric Connect and Cruise electric vehicles. The converted vehicles also attracted plenty of attention.

“Minutes after Chevrolet showed the E-10 concept, customers started calling to ask how soon they could build their EV project,” said Russ O’Blenes, Chevrolet director of engineering, Performance and Racing, in a statement.

(Chevy squeezes 21 more miles out of Bolt battery for 2020.)

Power for the K5 Blazer-E is supplied by a 400-volt Bolt EV battery pack with 60 kilowatt-hours of usable energy installed in the cargo area.

Often vehicles SEMA are wild takes on the original machine, but the goal of the K5 conversion is to make it look as close to normal as possible. However, the upgrades are the latest technology offered by Chevy with 90% of the new parts coming from the Bolt EV.

Obviously, the first thing that had to go was the K5’s 175-hp 400 cubic-inch V-8, three-speed automatic, fuel system and exhaust. Aside from the previously mentioned 200-hp electric motor, Chevrolet Performance installed an electronically controlled four-speed automatic. The rest of the Blazer drivetrain is original, including the transfer case, driveshaft and axles.

The battery pack providing the juice to the system is a 400-volt Bolt EV battery pack. The system uses so many of the Bolt’s components, it retains many of the benefits of the system, such as shock protection, battery heating and cooling, battery-overcharge protection and even regenerative braking, GM engineers added.

Anticipating demand for these conversions, Chevy created a certification program for dealers and aftermarket companies. Performance vehicle stalwart Lingenfelter Performance Engineering is piloting the training and certification program. As part of that, they will get the tools and equipment needed to work with high-voltage systems and charging stations used by the vehicles, GM officials said.

The K5 Blazer-E gets special badging.

“The K5 Blazer-E demonstrates what is possible for customers who want to convert their vintage truck to a daily driver with the instant torque and unique driving experience of an EV. For customers who want more extreme performance, the modular eCrate system will have virtually limitless applications,” O’Blenes said.

(GM EV program charging ahead despite pandemic.)

As the program moves forward, GM will find ways to incorporate its Ultium batteries and supporting technology, the company noted. In addition to the K5 conversion, the brand is showing off several Tahoe and Suburban aftermarket performance parts at the show.

Joseph Szczesny contributed to this story.

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2021 Jaguar E-Pace Gets “Thorough Freshening”

The Jaguar E-Pace gets a significant exterior update for the 2021 model year.

There was a time when the corporate suits wouldn’t even consider a station wagon, never mind an SUV – but these days, Jaguar sales are dominated by its three utility vehicles, starting with the E-Pace that is getting a significant update for the 2021 model year.

Among other things, Jaguar tweaked the exterior to put it more in line with the looks of the bigger F-Pace, as well as XF sedan that is also being refreshed for 2021. The cabin, likewise, gets updated, though the most notable changes come in the form of the new, curved 11.4-inch touchscreen that manages the latest version of the Jaguar Pivi Pro infotainment system.

“E,” here, might stand for entry, and with the demise of the XE sedan, the 2021 Jaguar E-Pace becomes the cheapest product offered by the British automaker. Make that “the least expensive” model in the Jaguar line-up. With a starting price of $42,045, a full $1,045 more than the outgoing 2020 model, the E-Pace is anything but cheap.

(Jaguar celebrating 60 years of E-Type with limited-edition models.)

The E-Pace exterior update is inspired by it the look of its F-Pace sibling.

From a styling standpoint, Jaguar has been pushing to bring its entire portfolio more in sync with the big F-Pace that currently serves as the brand’s flagship (at least while we wait for the complete makeover of the XJ sedan).

There’s a new mesh grille framed by chrome brightwork, new LED headlights, an updated bumper and more sculpted hood up front. More subtle changes to the sides and roofline, Jaguar claims, are inspired by the F-Type sports car. The 2021 E-Pace also gets new wheels.

Inside, there are subtle changes, such as the “cricket-ball” stitch for the soft upper trim on the shifter, and new soft-touch materials around “driver touch points,” including a knee pad. But what you’ll likely notice immediately is the introduction of new technology.

The 11.4-inch touchscreen handles the Pivi Pro system that comes standard on mid and upper trim packages. If it’s anything like the technology we’ve been seeing on other new Jaguar – and Land Rover – models, you can expect it to be not just quicker but also more intuitive. Among other things, you won’t have to drill down through as many menus to operate the most common functions. All versions of the 2021 Jaguar E-Pace will now feature both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto – though not the new wireless versions. Wireless smartphone charging is available.

(First Look: 2021 Jaguar F-Pace.)

A new, 12.3-inch Interactive Driver Display has also been added to the option list, meanwhile. It not only replaces conventional gauges but also shows turn-by-turn navigation instructions and other useful information.

The E-Pace gets two engine options for the new model year, carryovers from 2020.

On the powertrain side, the 2021 E-Pace sticks with the two options offered on the outgoing SUV. The P250 and P250 SE models go with a 246-horsepower turbo-4. Sport 300 models get the mild-hybrid 2.0-liter inline four bumping power up to 296 hp. Both engines send powerr to all four wheels through a 9-speed automatic.

The E-Pace 300 Sport features Jaguar’s Active Driveline AWD system which can shift rear torque from left to right using two independent, electronically controlled wet-plate clutches. The E-Pace 250 models, on the other hand, are fitted with the Jaguar Standard Driveline AWD system which can disconnect the driveshaft to the rear axle, effectively functioning as a front-drive system when power demand is light and traction is good.

One other plus for the new model year: Jaguar extends the E-Pace warranty to five years and 50,000 miles.

(From track to street to track with the Jaguar I-Pace.)

While you can get into the base 2021 Jaguar E-Pace P250 S for $42,045, the better-equipped P250 SE is likely to be the big seller and carries a starting price of $47,145. The 300 Sport starts at $51,045. Expect to see the updated SUV reach U.S. showrooms around the end of the year.

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Ford, Honda Top Latest “Most Stolen” Lists

Ford and Honda topped the lists of U.S. auto thieves in 2019.

New statistics show that if you drive a Ford F-Series pickup, your vehicle is more likely to be stolen than any other.

The National Insurance Crime Bureau released its annual “Hot Wheels” report that chronicles annual trends in auto thefts using data from across the U.S.

Suffice to say, since the F-Series has been the best-selling vehicle in the U.S. for decades, finding it atop this list isn’t all that surprising. In fact, 38,938 F-Series trucks were stolen in 2019 with the 2006 model year being the most popular among car thieves.

(Auto theft fell 3.1% in 2018; California had most stolen vehicles.)

However, the most stolen vehicle in the U.S. last year was the 200 Honda Civic with 4,731 of them being swiped off the streets. The aforementioned 2006 Ford pickup finished third overall. Hondas have led the way both in terms overall thefts and specific thefts by model year for some time.

Ford’s “ascension” to the top spot overall is really a sign of the popularity of pickups as four full-size pickup models found their way onto the “Most Stolen” and “Top 10 Model, Makes and Years” list in 2019.

Following the Ford F-Series on the “Most Stolen” list was the Honda Civic, Chevy Silverado line-up, Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima, Toyota Corolla, Dodge/Ram pickups, GMC Sierra line-up and Honda CR-V.

When it comes to the specific models, the 2000 Civic was followed by the 1997 Honda Accord, 2006 Ford F-Series, 2004 Chevrolet Silverado, 2019 Ram, 2001 CR-V, 2015 Altima, 2001 Dodge pickup, 2019 Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee and 2018 GMC Sierra.

(Honda adds new tech, tweaks styling to keep 2021 Accord fresh.)

Although newer vehicles do have more built-in safeguards, it there’s one thing that these new lists make clear, those won’t stop a car thief from trying to – and successfully – steal your vehicle. In 2019, the top three model years stolen were 2018 vehicles (47,859 thefts), followed by 2019 models (45,188 thefts), and 2017 models (39,425 thefts).

The NICB offers suggests vehicle owners be proactive in the protection of the vehicles, employing common sense tactics, such as not leaving keys in vehicles, locking doors and parking in well-lit areas. The group also recommends having a warning device such as an alarm or other device to let potential thieves know the vehicle is protected.

It also recommends a device that can immobilize your vehicle to prevent thieves from hot wiring your car, kills switches, fuse cutoffs or wireless ignition authentication. Finally, the group says tracking devices can help limit the damage done to a stolen vehicle as police can track the vehicle to a location. Some of these devices will even let the owner do so.

Car thefts are on the decline after three years of increases from 2015 to 2017. In 2018, the number dropped 3.1% to 748,841 vehicles, according to FBI statistics. Final numbers for 2019 haven’t yet been released.

(Ford planning mid-2022 launch for F-150 EV.)

About $6 billion was lost to motor vehicle theft in 2018. The average dollar loss per theft was $8,407. Motor vehicles were stolen at a rate of 228.9 per 100,000 people in 2018, down from 237.7 in 2017. In 2018, 748,841 vehicles were stolen, down 3.1 percent from 772,943 vehicles in 2017.

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Former VW, Porsche, BMW and Tesla Execs Join Forces at New EV Startup

Several top former auto execs are joining forces at Piech Automotive. The first EV will be the GT2 coupe.

While it may not be quite as well known as that of the Porsche family, the Piech name is equally storied among automotive insiders and enthusiasts. Together, these frequently squabbling relatives can lay claim to having helped create two of the European industry’s most important brand names: Porsche and Volkswagen. And now, the Piech name will be applied to a new sports car being launched as part of a new, all-electric marque based in Switzerland.

Piech Automotive plans to have its first model, the GT2, in showrooms late in 2022, with at least two other models to follow.

The company might be dismissed as just one of the many startups hoping to profit from the global transition from internal combustion to electric propulsion, but there are several reasons why it deserves a closer look. The most significant is the fact that it is being run by a high-powered group of former Porsche, BMW, Tesla and Volkswagen executives, notably including one Matthias Mueller.

(Mueller out, Diess in at VW — and more shakeups to come.)

The Piech GT2 will reportedly race from 0 to 62 mph in less than three seconds.

Mueller was a one-time head of the Porsche brand and rose to become the CEO of Volkswagen AG after the German automaker’s diesel emissions scandal broke in 2015. He was subsequently ousted in a boardroom coup three years later, replaced by Herbert Diess who had been recruited from BMW.

Mueller now will serve as the chairman of Piech Automotive and his appointment comes at a critical time.

The BEV startup first showed off what was then called the Piech Mark Zero concept at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show and has been pushing for funding ever since. It expects the next funding round underway now will help it raise enough capital to take the sports car into production – newly renamed the Piech GT2.

In what is now the norm for electric vehicle design, the GT2 will rely on a skateboard-like platform that will be flexible enough to handle multiple “top hats,” or bodies, with two more apparently in development, according to the company.

Also in an approach becoming quite common among high performance BEV brands, the GT2 will rely on a three-motor layout, one on the front axle, two in the rear. The combined package set to deliver 450 kilowatts of power, or 603 horsepower. That will be enough, Piech claims, to hit 100 kph, or 62 mph, in “under three seconds.”

The new GT2 will put out 603 horsepower and can be charged from zero to 80% full in just 40 minutes and 40 seconds.

(EVs cost half as much as gas-powered vehicles for maintenance.)

While the size of the battery pack hasn’t been disclosed, the two-seater is said to have a range of 310 miles using a long-range pack, and 250 miles with the standard one. These are based on the European WLTP test cycle so, if the Piech GT2 comes to the U.S., it would likely come in 10 to 20% lower.

Recharging, meanwhile, will take as little as 40 minutes and 40 seconds from empty to 80% of capacity, Piech claims. While details of the sports car’s electric architecture hasn’t been released that would clearly indicate it can use the latest 350 kilowatt public fast chargers and operates at or above 800 volts.

Currently, the only vehicle capable of using such chargers to their full capacity is the Porsche Taycan, though it is expected to become more the norm in the years ahead as it brings charging times down to what motorists currently expect when filling a gas tank.

As for the Piech name, it is one of the family branches of the family tree linked to Ferdinand Porsche. He’s the engineering genius who helped create the original “people’s car,” or Volkswagen, and who later went on to lend his name to the eponymous Porsche sports car company.

Matthias Mueller once headed up VW and is now Piech Automotive chairman.

His most notable heir, at least within the auto industry, was Ferdinand Piech who was named Volkswagen AG CEO in 1992 and later became the company’s chairman. Piech eventually became embroiled in the diesel scandal and other controversies. He died in August 2019 at the age of 82.

(Former Volkswagen chief Ferdinand Piech dies at 82.)

Mueller, who was considered a Piech protégé, will join an assortment of former industry leaders running the new EV startup. That includes its new technical director, Klaus Schmidt, who was once a senior figure at BMW Motorsport, as well as Jochen Rudat, who set up Tesla’s European distribution network.

First Look: 2021 Jaguar XF

Jaguar’s not giving up on the “saloon” market as evidenced by the new XF sedan.

There was a time when the idea of a Jaguar SUV seemed totally incongruous. These, days, however, models like the E- and F-Pace dominate the British marque’s sales. But don’t expect to see Jaguar walk away from its classic sedan line-up. An all-new version of the top-line XJ is in the works and, for 2021, the brand has a significant update of the XF line ready to roll into showrooms in the coming weeks.

It may be just a “mid-cycle refresh,” in industry parlance, but the changes for the new model year are significant, with updated styling intended to fall more in line with the big F-Pace crossover, new powertrain options, an upgraded interior that includes a next-generation infotainment system, and the ability to use smartphone-style over-the-air software updates.

“Taking inspiration from the F-Type,” Jaguar suggests. The 2021 XF “saloon car” adopts ultra-thin quad headlights that also pick up on the sports car’s Double J-Blade daytime running lights. But the overall look is more in line with the current version of the F-Pace crossover, starting with the bolder grille finished in a diamond mesh design.

(First Look: 2021 Jaguar F-Pace.)

“The significant new elements of the XF create a more dynamic stance for the car, but the small details are just as important,” said Adam Hatton, Jaguar Exterior Design director. “Bringing the heritage-inspired detailing to the grille and headlights adds that touch of depth and luxury with a link to Jaguar’s unparalleled past, while the Leaper emblem on the side vents is instantly recognizable and provides an added visual flourish.”

It may be just a “mid-cycle refresh,” in industry parlance, but the changes for the new model year are significant.

Inside, the cabin now adopts open-pore woods and laser-etched speaker grilles, while adding the new JaguarDrive Selector. The updated XF also gets a new active noise cancellation system.

“From its driver focused cockpit to the enhanced tactility, comfort and convenience, the interior has been fully transformed,” said Julian Thomson, Design Director, Jaguar.

But passengers are first likely to notice the 11.4-inch HD curved glass touchscreen that anchors the more driver-focused cockpit. The screen itself curves gently to follow the profile of the instrument panel. And it links the driver to the new Pivi Pro infotainment system. An upgraded version of the technology found in the outgoing model, it features twin-SIM technology, the two separate 4G LTE modems capable of speeding up operations ranging from audio streaming to the download of software using the XF’s new over-the-air, or OTA capabilities.

For 2021, U.S. buyers will have two powertrain options, a 246-horsepower version of the 2.0-liter turbo-four cylinder offered in the various versions of the Jaguar XF P250. The inline-four gets a bump up to 296 hp in the XF P300 R-Dynamic SE with power sent to all four wheels.

(Jaguar celebrating 60 years of E-type with limited-edition models.)

The P25- can hit 60 in just 6.5 seconds, according to Jaguar, the P300 cutting that to 5.8 seconds.

One thing missing from the new XF is any form of hybrid powertrain, something parent Jaguar Land Rover has begun adding to a number of other model lines. That includes the 2021 F-Pace update which adds mild hybrid technology in the U.S. and a new plug

U.S. buyers will have two powertrain options, a 246-horsepower version of the 2.0-liter turbo-four cylinder offered in the various versions of the Jaguar XF P250.

-in hybrid system for buyers in Europe and several other markets.

That said, company officials hinted that there could be more to come under the hood of the XF during the next few years.

The XF P300 also features a new JaguarDrive Control system, the rotary knob located next to the JaguarDrive shifter allowing a motorist to choose from four different modes. The system automatically adjusts vehicle functions including steering, transmission shifts, throttle response and the adaptive suspension damping system. Those dampers can respond to road conditions and driver inputs as frequently as 500 times a second.

Three separate configurations of the 2021 Jaguar XF will be offered.

(Jaguar announces pricing, simplified line-up as F-Type makes North American debut.)

Jaguar has not yet released fuel economy numbers for the sedan, nor has it said if there will be any increase in pricing. The 2020 XF starts at $51,100 before factoring in delivery fees.

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Ford Outperforms GM, FCA in Third Quarter Sales

Ford said the F-Series finished the third quarter strong with a 17.2% increase in September.

Ford Motor Co. outscored its Detroit rivals, General Motors and Fiat Chrysler during the third quarter by reporting a smaller sales decline and picking up share in the pickup market.

Ford, reporting a day after GM and FCA, was down 4.9% compared to a year ago. GM and FCA reported 10% declines during the third quarter as the industry showed signs of recovering from the impact of Covid-19 pandemic, which stalled sales last spring.

“Despite the challenging pandemic environment, our retail unit sales were down only 2 percent and we had our best third quarter of pickup truck sales since 2005,” said Mark LaNeve, Ford vice president of sales marketing and service. “F-Series finished the quarter on a high note with September sales up 17.2% with over 76,000 F-Series pickups sold. This is a testament to our winning product portfolio and the performance of our great dealers.”

(U.S. new car sales show signs of life in September.)

Volvo Cars enjoyed its best September sales results since 2004.

FCA’s Ram pickup deliveries slipped 3.4% year over year to 156,157 pickups during the third quarter as the Chevrolet Silverado pickup from GM fell 5.4% to 145,525 units. Subaru and Toyota reported sales gains in September as actual sales gains versus the previous year.

Volvo Cars USA maintained its upward momentum trend announcing its fourth consecutive month of year-over-year growth. Retailing 10,274 cars in September 2020, the strong result represents 10.2% growth over the same period last year and marks the best September result for the brand since 2004.

Honda brand sales climbed 11% as trucks set a September record with a 20.4% jump, while Acura September sales increased 16.6% on strong performances from MDX, RDX and ILX. “September marks a high-water mark for Honda sales this year with double-digit gains and our first month in positive territory since the pandemic began,” said Dave Gardner, executive vice president of National Operations at American Honda.

(Automakers expected to report strong September sales.)

Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today reported total September sales of 24,237 vehicles, an increase of 28.7 percent compared to September 2019. Mitsubishi Motors North America Inc. (MMNA) today reported third-quarter 2020 sales of 24,857 vehicles, an increase of 1.5% over the same period in 2019, and up a significant 49% over the previous quarter of 2020.

Mitsubishi Motors saw sales rise 1.5% versus last September and a 49% compared with the second quarter of 2020.

Volkswagen of America reported its sales 7.6% and Porsche Cars North America Inc. said third quarter U.S. retail deliveries rose 5% from the same period a year ago, continuing a recovery trend from coronavirus lockdowns in the first half of 2020.

September 2020 sales benefitted from two extra sales days, and the Labor Day holiday weekend, which fell in August for 2019 results. Incoming figures from reporting automakers are reflecting year-over-year improvements for the month, and on an unadjusted volume level the sales tally for the month is expected to be up 2-3% year over year the first time since February 2020 the market will realize a monthly y/y improvement,” noted IHS analysts Stephanie Brinley.

(Tesla hits quarterly delivery record but Wall Street is not impressed.)

“The SAAR reading for the month is expected to improve from the 15.2 million unit reading in August, possibly bumping against a 16-million-unit pace. But this would still be well below the 17.2 million unit reading of September 2019,” she said.