Porsche Taycan Receives Updates; Porsche Brings Back Classic Colors

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Porsche’s Taycan will receive some updates for the new model year, including additional range, new connectivity options, and classic exterior point options.

Porsche has a new Paint to Sample system which adds a whopping 65 colors on top of the 17 original ones. These include, Acid Green, Moonlight Blue Metallic, Rubystar Red, Viola Metallic, Riviera Blue and others that are a call back to models like the 964 generation 911.

A premium version of Paint to Sample, Pain to Sample Plus allows customers to submit a custom color. This will run one a mere $8,568 and a minimum six-month wait time.

The current model will receive some technology based updates to the drivetrain that will increase its range.  Additionally, the Taycan’s thermal management and charging functions will have improvements. This will include a system to use waste-heat from the electronic components to improve the regulation of battery temperature.

Android Auto will now be compatible with Porsche Communication Management system which will come with an improved, higher quality voice control system. Also, a there will be an optional remote parking assistant package available for the Taycan.

Finally, access to Porsche’s destination charging program will be improved. The program includes 2000 destinations at which Taycan owners can charge their vehicles free of charge.

 

Nissan’s New Z Model a Nod to the Past

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In a new world of electric sports cars Nissan Motor Co has unveiled a new model Z that will be strictly gasoline-fueled and with a manual transmission.

Nissan’s COO Ashwani Gupta was quoted as saying, “We just listen to our fans.”

The automaker’s chief operating officer said that is the way fans want it. Gupta also noted that customers asked specifically for 400 horsepower and a manual transmission (however, there will be an automatic transmission option).

In the United States the new Z will be available for purchase in spring 2020. The new Z will be an important part of Nissan’s continued pandemic recovery.

The Z has been the face of Nissan’s financial turn-arounds in the past. During a slump in 1999, the lustrous new Z prototype helped revive interest in Nissan from consumers in the wake of Nissan being rescued by Renault SA.

Like other automakers releasing new models Nissan faces supply shortages like semiconductors and other challenges as Delta variant surges sweep the world. Gupta said that despite these issues semiconductor supply lines had recovered somewhat just recently.

Honda Resurrects the Integra

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Honda is resurrecting their famous Integra name after 15 years and will introduce a new “compact premium” car that will arrive in 2022.

The Integra name was used by Honda from 1986 until 2006 and included four generations of the famed sports coupe’.

Acura, the American market premium brand from Honda, announced the return of the Integra. They stated that Integra will rejoin the performance brand’s product portfolio as a new compact premium entrant.”

They stated that the new Integra will maintain the original’s “fun-to-drive spirit.”

There are still a lot of unanswered questions such as if the Integra would be available outside of North America or whether Honda or Acura would produce a Type R or Type S version, respectively.

The new Integra could be produced at Honda’s Marysville, Ohio plant. It would be a logical production replacement to the NSX and could very well be using some basics from the Civic.

The original Honda Integra, launched in 1985, replaced the Quint as a sports coupe’. It was originally built in Japan and was one of just two cars branded as Acura when the brand launched in America.

 

New Range Rover PHEV Spotted in the Wild

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Land Rover is entering the final stages of development on the fifth-gen Range Rover SUV and experts expect a full reveal is just a few months away as a prototype has been photographed on public roads.

Some sightings have seen or captured a barely visible charging port, giving away a few details about one 5th Gen Range Rover’s powertrain. It also tells us that like the current Ranger Rover P400e it seems that as far as looks the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle will be identical to is gasoline brother.

A Range Rover PHEV was also spotted this week in the UK.

The new Range Rover line is expected to be unveiled in early 2022, just about 10 years after the launch of the current model.

Land Rover expects the semiconductor shortage to continue affect production through September. They are predicting a shortfall of 50% as far as number of cars produced.

The new Range Rover model will be an important part of Jaguar Land Rover’s pandemic/chip shortage recovery. The PHEV version, along with others, will be keystones in the auto maker’s journey towards total electrification.

Aston Martin’s DBX SUV a Huge Success

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Aston Martin recently reported a massive 224% sales increase to its dealerships. These sales numbers were largely due to their first SUV, the DBX.

The DBX SUV, which has only been available for about a year, accounted for more than half of Aston Martin’s sale of 2,901 vehicles between January and June.

Aston Martin stated that with the success of their first SUV, the DBX, they have delivered two other new vehicles will help position the company for continued growth.

The DBX went into production in July 2020 has widened the appeal of the company in one of the most lucrative segments of the auto market, SUVs, and has been profitable for Aston Martin’s rivals.

In the first half of 2020 Aston Martins losses were at about 315 million dollars and fell to just $126 million by the end of 2020.

 

Ford May Ship Chip-less Vehicles to Dealerships to Be Finished Later

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As a fix to the global chip shortage Ford Motor Co is considering shipping unchipped vehicles to dealerships to finish as chips become available. While the vehicles would be un-driveable to consumers, the vehicles would help fill dealership lots which are becoming more and more baren by the day.

When the chips on back-order become available dealership techs would insert the components in the vehicles, some of which might even be pre-sold and then immediately sent to the homes of consumers.

Ford spokesperson Said Deep stated that Ford is still investigating if dealerships are interested  and noting is for certain yet.

Shipping won’t happen right away. If Ford goes forward shipping could happen by the end of the year.

Dealership technicians already possesses the skill set and tools to do the work as it is very much like recall orders and repairs they deal with all the time. The logistics are all in place, Ford and its dealerships just have to make the decision to move forward.

For would hold vehicle titles until the vehicle is 100% complete and drivable for a buyer. This doesn’t allow Ford to record the sales any sooner than normal.

 

SAIC States Chip Shortage Will End After 3rd Quarter

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The Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation has stated that they expect the semiconductor crisis in the global auto industry that they expect the situation to be alleviated by the 3rd quarter.

SAIC Chairman Chen Hong made the statement during the annual shareholders general meeting. He stated specific that the chip shortage can be ended by late July. While OEM manufacturers struggled to produce in June, according to SAIC, things will be back to normal in the 3rd quarter.

Chen, when pursued further, said that the chip shortage would not affect the company’s annual target of selling 6.8 million vehicles.

Company president Wang Xiaoqiu state the lack of chips has had a great impact on the company. Though he also noted that SAIC’s total performance had not been affected.

Chen Hong noted that the shortage of chips had changed the relationship between OEM’s and chip makers. While previously OEM’s didn’t work directly with the chip makers, they now do. And with the increase in smart vehicles, SAIC is trying to increase its supply chain.

 

Porsche Recalls 43,000 Taycan EVs Over Software Issue

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Porsche, well known luxury sports car maker, recalled 43,000 electric Taycan cars when they found a glitch in the software that can cause the electric engine to suddenly shut down.

The recall is out for all Taycan vehicles produced and delivered by June according to Porsche. Porsche is offering a free software update to fix the issue.

The Taycan was launched just last year.

Porsche told the press that while there are no known accidents associated with the software issue, it had been observed in 130 Taycan vehicles.

The Taycan is a low riding, four-door, sports car. It has a 280 mile range. It is Porsche attempt to attract high-end customers into their EV market.

Porsche noted that an over-the-air software update would not be possible for the Taycan and that owners should expect a one-hour visit to fix the issue.

General Motors Invests in Lithium to Supply EV Production

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General Motors has invested in a U.S. lithium plan to might become the country’s largest. This would also make GM the first automaker to create its own source for a resource critical for batteries and the electric vehicle industry.

The deal comes at a time as automakers worldwide race for access to lithium and other important EV materials.

GM said it’ll make an investment in the multimillions to help develop the Controlled Thermal Resources ltd’s Hell’s Kitchen geothermal brine project which is near California’s Salton Sea southeast of LA.

GM stated that this will potentially supply the automaker with a large amount of the lithium they need. The company declined to mention a specific investment amount. As travel restrictions ease GM’s scientists and engineers will visit the site.

While Great Wall Motor Co and BYD (both Chinese automakers) have previously made a similar move to invest in lithium producers, GM is taking it more than just one step further. Other automakers may make similar investments as lithium demand is suspected to increase by 20% over the next four years.

Ferrari Reveals New Hybrid Sports Car

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Ferrari revealed their new plug-in hybrid sports car, though known for their roaring gas engines Ferrari makes another step into the electric motor era.

The 296 GTB is Ferrari’s third hybrid in series production. The SF 90 Stradale and convertible SF 90 Spider came before.

Ferrari stated the 296 GTB was designed for the peak of pleasure driving and that they hope the new model may attract those who were not interested in Ferrari before.

The basic two-seater will start at $321,000 USD and the high-performance version, Assetto Fiorano,” will cost about $359,000 with a top speed over 205 mph.

The296 GTB will be fitted with V6 turbo engine with the 122KW electric motor will produce 830 horspower. The electric only range of the vehicle will be around 25 km.

The Italian sports car and racing company known worldwide stated that their goal is to have a fully electric vehicle by 2025.