Monday
Oct012018
OCTOBER 3, 2018
Monday, October 1, 2018 at 10:56AM 
(BMW images)
BMW has taken the wraps off the seventh generation of its iconic 3 Series sports sedan, which features a freshened design and improved suspensions, engines and technology. The new 2.0-liter, inline 4-cylinder powering the new 2019 BMW 330i delivers 255HP between 5,000 and 6,500 rpm and a peak torque of 295 lb-ft from 1,550 to 4,400 rpm. That's a 7HP increase in output and an extra 37 lb-ft of torque compared with the predecessor engine. The new version of the straight-six engine developed for the BMW M340i xDrive Sedan will produce 382HP and peak torque of 369 lb-ft. BMW says it achieves a 0–60 mph time of 4.2 seconds (provisional figure). The 330i and 330i xDrive (shown in white) will be here in March with prices starting at $40,200 + $995 Destination for the 330i. The M340i and M340i xDrive (shown in blue) Sedans will arrive in the Spring of 2019.
BMW has taken the wraps off the seventh generation of its iconic 3 Series sports sedan, which features a freshened design and improved suspensions, engines and technology. The new 2.0-liter, inline 4-cylinder powering the new 2019 BMW 330i delivers 255HP between 5,000 and 6,500 rpm and a peak torque of 295 lb-ft from 1,550 to 4,400 rpm. That's a 7HP increase in output and an extra 37 lb-ft of torque compared with the predecessor engine. The new version of the straight-six engine developed for the BMW M340i xDrive Sedan will produce 382HP and peak torque of 369 lb-ft. BMW says it achieves a 0–60 mph time of 4.2 seconds (provisional figure). The 330i and 330i xDrive (shown in white) will be here in March with prices starting at $40,200 + $995 Destination for the 330i. The M340i and M340i xDrive (shown in blue) Sedans will arrive in the Spring of 2019.
(Acura)
If cars aren't selling, what can a manufacturer do? Add content and cut the price, which is exactly what Acura did with its entry-level 2019 Acura ILX. It features design upgrades; AcuraWatch™ active safety and driver-assistive technology; an and enhanced dual-screen user interface with new graphics, quicker response, and Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™ integration. The 2019 ILX receives premium cabin appointments and an updated A-Spec sport appearance variant (shown). The Big News? The redesigned 2019 ILX, available with Premium, Technology and A-Spec packages, carries a MSRP starting at $25,900 (excluding $995 destination and handling), a $2,200 reduction from the outgoing model. The 2019 ILX A-Spec with Technology Package now lists for $31,550, a reduction of $3,550 from the 2018 model. The 2019 ILX begins arriving in dealerships October 10.
If cars aren't selling, what can a manufacturer do? Add content and cut the price, which is exactly what Acura did with its entry-level 2019 Acura ILX. It features design upgrades; AcuraWatch™ active safety and driver-assistive technology; an and enhanced dual-screen user interface with new graphics, quicker response, and Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™ integration. The 2019 ILX receives premium cabin appointments and an updated A-Spec sport appearance variant (shown). The Big News? The redesigned 2019 ILX, available with Premium, Technology and A-Spec packages, carries a MSRP starting at $25,900 (excluding $995 destination and handling), a $2,200 reduction from the outgoing model. The 2019 ILX A-Spec with Technology Package now lists for $31,550, a reduction of $3,550 from the 2018 model. The 2019 ILX begins arriving in dealerships October 10.
(VW)
The VW Group is going all-in for electrification, whether the consumer public is ready for it or not. VW insists that its ID. family of vehicles is set to make e-cars affordable for millions of people. The first of this new generation of e-cars will make their debut in 2020. A sales volume of 150,000 e-cars is planned for 2020, set to rise to more than one million by 2025. The ID. family is based on the VW Group's modular electric drive toolkit (MEB), specifically developed for 100 percent electric vehicles. The first wave of these vehicles will include around 10 million e-cars based on MEB technology across all Volkswagen brands. The ID. family will feature new E3 end-to-end electronics architecture and a new operating system called vw.OS. The battery’s modular layout allows scalable ranges from about 200 to 340 miles. Volkswagen is investing nearly $7 billion into e-mobility, $1.5 million of which is budgeted for component production plants in Braunschweig, Salzgitter and Kassel. Volkswagen is also a member of Ionity, a joint venture working to develop and expand the network of charging stations on highways throughout Europe. Editor-in-Chief's Note: Ready or not, here it comes. As I've said previously, one of the toughest advertising jobs in automotive history will be the marketing of these all-electric vehicles. A giant "we'll see" at the very least. -PMD
The VW Group is going all-in for electrification, whether the consumer public is ready for it or not. VW insists that its ID. family of vehicles is set to make e-cars affordable for millions of people. The first of this new generation of e-cars will make their debut in 2020. A sales volume of 150,000 e-cars is planned for 2020, set to rise to more than one million by 2025. The ID. family is based on the VW Group's modular electric drive toolkit (MEB), specifically developed for 100 percent electric vehicles. The first wave of these vehicles will include around 10 million e-cars based on MEB technology across all Volkswagen brands. The ID. family will feature new E3 end-to-end electronics architecture and a new operating system called vw.OS. The battery’s modular layout allows scalable ranges from about 200 to 340 miles. Volkswagen is investing nearly $7 billion into e-mobility, $1.5 million of which is budgeted for component production plants in Braunschweig, Salzgitter and Kassel. Volkswagen is also a member of Ionity, a joint venture working to develop and expand the network of charging stations on highways throughout Europe. Editor-in-Chief's Note: Ready or not, here it comes. As I've said previously, one of the toughest advertising jobs in automotive history will be the marketing of these all-electric vehicles. A giant "we'll see" at the very least. -PMD
(Porsche images)
Editor-in-Chief's Note: In the latest entry from the "Fools And Their Money" File; no manufacturer, and I mean no manufacturer in the world knows how to relieve its True Believers of their hard-earned cash better than Porsche. The latest evidence of this? Porsche has unveiled a new "935" race car at their “Rennsport Reunion VI” at Laguna Seca (WeatherTech Raceway) in California. A coldly calculated homage to the legendary Porsche 935/78, the 700-horsepower competition vehicle will be produced in a limited number of 77 units. “This spectacular car is a birthday present from Porsche Motorsport to fans all over the world,” says Dr. Frank-Steffen Walliser, Vice President Motorsport and GT Cars for Porsche AG. “Because the car isn’t homologated for any series, engineers and designers didn’t have to follow the usual rules and thus had freedom in the development.” Translation? It's a glorified track or "clubsport" car designed to extract as much money from Porsche enthusiasts as possible. Based on the street-legal 911 GT2 RS, most of the body has been replaced or supplemented by carbon-fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) parts. It is 191.5 inches (4.87 meters) long and 80.1 inches (2.03 meters) wide. Porsche PR minions say that many of the details of this new track car echo details of previous Porsche racers, to wit - the aerodynamically enhanced rims remind you of the 935/78; the LED lights on the rear wing end plates are adopted from the 919 Hybrid LMP1 race car; and the side mirrors come from the current Le Mans-winning 911 RSR, with the exposed titanium tailpipes modeled on those from the Porsche 908 from 1968.
Historical references are also visible in the cockpit. The knob on the gearshift lever has a laminated wood design and is reminiscent of historic Porsche race cars such as the 917 and the 909 Bergspyder as well as the street-legal Carrera GT super sports car. The carbon fiber steering wheel and the color display behind it have been taken from the 2019 911 GT3 R. A safety cage, racing bucket seat and a six-point safety harness are included. A second seat for a passenger is available as an optional extra. Air conditioning is also included.
Power comes from 911 GT2 RS, transferred to the 310 millimeter wide rear wheels via a seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) dual-clutch transmission with rigid mounts. Six-piston aluminum monobloc racing calipers are equipped on the front axle, in combination with internally ventilated and grooved iron brake discs with a 390-millimeter diameter; the rear axle is fitted with four-piston calipers and 355-millimeter discs.
The new "935" weighs 3,042 pounds, identical to the road-legal 911 GT2 RS. This "new" Porsche 935 can be ordered now from 701,948 Euro plus country-specific VAT. In the U.S., this non-street-legal vehicle will be imported and sold by Porsche Motorsport North America of Carson, California, and U.S. specific pricing will be announced at a later date. Customers will receive their vehicles from June 2019 at exclusive delivery events. So, basically it's a glorified 911 GT2 RS aimed at the fops who don't know any better and who think this is somehow a good deal on a "special" car, when it's just this side of a tape and stripe job "special edition" for a whole lot of money. Congratulations to all of the "sports" who allow themselves to be duped by this latest Porsche money grab, you're one of the biggest tools in the shed. -PMD
Editor-in-Chief's Note: In the latest entry from the "Fools And Their Money" File; no manufacturer, and I mean no manufacturer in the world knows how to relieve its True Believers of their hard-earned cash better than Porsche. The latest evidence of this? Porsche has unveiled a new "935" race car at their “Rennsport Reunion VI” at Laguna Seca (WeatherTech Raceway) in California. A coldly calculated homage to the legendary Porsche 935/78, the 700-horsepower competition vehicle will be produced in a limited number of 77 units. “This spectacular car is a birthday present from Porsche Motorsport to fans all over the world,” says Dr. Frank-Steffen Walliser, Vice President Motorsport and GT Cars for Porsche AG. “Because the car isn’t homologated for any series, engineers and designers didn’t have to follow the usual rules and thus had freedom in the development.” Translation? It's a glorified track or "clubsport" car designed to extract as much money from Porsche enthusiasts as possible. Based on the street-legal 911 GT2 RS, most of the body has been replaced or supplemented by carbon-fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) parts. It is 191.5 inches (4.87 meters) long and 80.1 inches (2.03 meters) wide. Porsche PR minions say that many of the details of this new track car echo details of previous Porsche racers, to wit - the aerodynamically enhanced rims remind you of the 935/78; the LED lights on the rear wing end plates are adopted from the 919 Hybrid LMP1 race car; and the side mirrors come from the current Le Mans-winning 911 RSR, with the exposed titanium tailpipes modeled on those from the Porsche 908 from 1968.
Historical references are also visible in the cockpit. The knob on the gearshift lever has a laminated wood design and is reminiscent of historic Porsche race cars such as the 917 and the 909 Bergspyder as well as the street-legal Carrera GT super sports car. The carbon fiber steering wheel and the color display behind it have been taken from the 2019 911 GT3 R. A safety cage, racing bucket seat and a six-point safety harness are included. A second seat for a passenger is available as an optional extra. Air conditioning is also included. Power comes from 911 GT2 RS, transferred to the 310 millimeter wide rear wheels via a seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) dual-clutch transmission with rigid mounts. Six-piston aluminum monobloc racing calipers are equipped on the front axle, in combination with internally ventilated and grooved iron brake discs with a 390-millimeter diameter; the rear axle is fitted with four-piston calipers and 355-millimeter discs. The new "935" weighs 3,042 pounds, identical to the road-legal 911 GT2 RS. This "new" Porsche 935 can be ordered now from 701,948 Euro plus country-specific VAT. In the U.S., this non-street-legal vehicle will be imported and sold by Porsche Motorsport North America of Carson, California, and U.S. specific pricing will be announced at a later date. Customers will receive their vehicles from June 2019 at exclusive delivery events. So, basically it's a glorified 911 GT2 RS aimed at the fops who don't know any better and who think this is somehow a good deal on a "special" car, when it's just this side of a tape and stripe job "special edition" for a whole lot of money. Congratulations to all of the "sports" who allow themselves to be duped by this latest Porsche money grab, you're one of the biggest tools in the shed. -PMD