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  • Ford Cutting Mustang Mach-E Price Up to $3,000

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    The new Mustang Mach-E is set to arrive in showrooms shortly — with a price cut.

    If cost is keeping buyers from getting into a new electric vehicle, Ford is apparently trying to change a few minds, slashing as much as $3,000 off the sticker price of its new 2021 Mustang Mach-E electric car.

    The Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker has been tweaking different parts of its first long-range electric vehicle since showing it to the world late last year. The price cuts, which don’t affect the $7,500 federal tax credit, is just the latest touch up.

    Only the GT model doesn’t see any kind of price cut as the new EV is set to start rolling into dealerships later this month.

    (Ford will let you customize your new Mustang Mach-E before taking delivery.)

    Only the GT model doesn’t see a price cut, which are as large as $3,000, depending upon the model.

    The move, which were revealed in a dealer memo by MachEforum.com, is designed to help the vehicle “remain fully competitive in a segment that is seeing dynamic price changes.” In short, Ford is keeping with Tesla — specifically the Model Y.

    The new pricing is as follows:

    • Select RWD from $43,895 to $42,895
    • Select AWD from $46,595 to $45,595
    • CA Route 1 RWD from $51,800 to $49,800
    • Premium RWD from $50,000 to $47,000
    • Premium AWD from $52,700 to $49,700
    • First Edition from $59,300 to $58,300

    (As order banks open, Ford upgrades Mach-E performance specs.)

    The company noted it would reinvoice the existing vehicles and offer adjustments to customers where necessary. The pricing adjust is just the latest in a series of improvements to the EV Ford has been making as it nears its delivery date, which was already delayed due to the pandemic.

    The new Mach-E is expected to begin arriving in dealerships later this month.

    In June, it was announced that all versions of the Mach-E will get a boost in performance from what it had originally announced. The extended-range all-wheel-drive model, for example, will now be rated at 346 horsepower and 428 pound-feet of torque, up from the previously announced figures of 332 hp and 417 lb-ft. It is now expected to be able to hit 60 in the mid-5-second range.

    In May, Ford revised the charging time numbers for the Mach-E, revealing it boosted its charging capabilities by as much as 30%, getting an additional 61 miles of range in just 10 minutes using a 150 kilowatt-hour fast charger.

    (Ford reduces charging time for Mustang Mach-E by as much as 30 percent.)

    After that it announced that new owners will get 250 kilowatt hours of free charging through FordPass Rewards at Electrify America fast-charging stations. Electrify America has 13,500-plus charging stations across the country — the equivalent of about three “fill ups.”


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  • Battle Between Nikola, Hindenburg Heats Up with SEC Probe

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    Nikola’s Trevor Milton continues to deny many parts of the recent report from Hindenburg Research accusing the company of fraud.

    The battle between Nikola Corp. and Hindenburg Research is heating up as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is now investigating the EV startup based on some of the allegations laid out in a recent report by the short-selling research firm.

    Nikola, which recently finalized a $2 billion deal with General Motors, angrily denied the charges in the report, fraud being the most damning, and suggested it may file suit against the research firm about the allegations. Since then, the company has started working with SEC investigators. The SEC has not commented on the probe.

    “On September 11, Nikola’s legal counsel proactively contacted and briefed the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regarding Nikola’s concerns pertaining to the Hindenburg report. Nikola welcomes the SEC’s involvement in this matter,” the company said in a statement.

    (Nikola CEO Angrily refutes claims of short-selling research firm.)

    In the wake of the report, the Phoenix-based company revealed it engaged law firm Kirkland and Ellis to evaluate its options. The research report, which was released Sept. 10, is titled “How to Parlay an Ocean of Lies into a Partnership with the Largest Auto OEM in America.”

    Hindenburg Research’s report claims that Nikola committed fraud to get a deal with GM.

    While clearly a reference to the new deal with GM, the firm claimed on its website, “Today, we reveal why we believe Nikola is an intricate fraud built on dozens of lies over the course of its Founder and Executive Chairman Trevor Milton’s career.”

    The ongoing news temporarily put GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra on the hot seat during a question-and-answer session during her online appearance at the RBC Capital Markets Global Industrials Virtual Conference. Barra touted the new deal with the EV upstarts, saying that it was a great strategic fit for the automaker and its own electric vehicle development program.

    “It allows us to have more people using the technology, which gives us the advantage of scale, which will help us drive costs down,” Barra said.

    (GM forges $2B deal with Nikola to build trucks, develop new electric and fuel-cell technology.)

    “And then from a fuel cell perspective, using the Hydrotec fuel cell technology, and entering a new segment for us, a growth segment, again validating our fuel cell technology, I think it starts to unlock an all-new growth area for us as it relates to fuel cells.”

    GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra said earlier that the company had done due diligence on Nikola.

    However, when pressed about the allegations in the Hindenburg report, including that Nikola engaged in “lies and deception” in showcasing its electric vehicle technology, including staging a video that showed one of its trucks cruising down a hill, Barra said the company had conducted its due diligence before closing the deal. She then referred further questions about Nikola to representatives of the Phoenix-based company.

    Nikola was on the offensive earlier Monday, noting there were “dozens” of inaccurate statements in Hindenburg’s report, and it outlined several examples. It also made the same claims last week when the report was initially released.

    Aside from denying many charges, the company is also explaining some of the them in the report, such as towing one of its truck prototypes to the top of a hill and allowing it to roll down, appearing to be operating under its own power.

    (Nikola Motors begins taking reservations for Badger hydrogen/electric pickup.)

    “Nikola never stated its truck was driving under its own propulsion in the video, although the truck was designed to do just that (as described in previous point),” the company states. “The truck was showcased and filmed by a third party for a commercial. Nikola described this third-party video on the Company’s social media as ‘In Motion.’ It was never described as ‘under its own propulsion’ or ‘powertrain driven.’”


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  • Is Joe Biden a Modern Deep Throat for Corvette News? Maybe!

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    Did Joe Biden reveal future plans for an all-electric Chevrolet Corvette during a Detroit area campaign stop?

    If you’re looking to break news about future plans for the Chevrolet Corvette, Democratic president nominee Joe Biden may be better than another well-known Washington D.C. informant, Deep Throat.

    During a campaign stop Wednesday in Warren, Michigan, the former Vice President reminded a group of supporters that he’s a car fan. In fact, it’s pretty well known that he’s the proud owner of a dark green 1967 Corvette that he’s “owned since new.”

    However, for the second time in about a month, he may have given away some of GM’s future plans for the new ‘Vette: “But I gotta tell ya, I’m waiting for that electric one y’all just made that does 210 mph.”

    (Internal dokument confirms 1,000-hp Corvette C8 Zora.)

    GM officials have never formally announced plans for an all-electric version of the new C8 model of the Corvette, although they have trademarked the name “E-Ray” so it’s clearly on the company’s mind.

    GM insiders have dropped strong hints that an “electrified” Corvette is on its way, but they’ve also been blurry about what that would mean. During the preview of the eight-generation, or C8, Corvette in Orange County, California last year team members told TheDetroitBureau.com that the mid-engine sports car’s new platform was specifically designed to accommodate batteries.

    Democratic Party nominee Joe Biden is a big fan of the Corvette. He owns a 1967 model himself.

    That’s in line with a report posted here in April outlining the hierarchy of ‘Vettes to come during the current lifecycle. As has become the pattern, the C8 Stingray will be followed by models such as the Z06, the ZR1 and others, each delivering more extreme levels of performance.

    According to various sources, the next Corvette Grand Sport seems poised to be the first electrified model, pairing a hybrid drive with the current 6.2-liter V-8 to punch up from 495 to around 600 horsepower. The COVID-19 pandemic is expected to push the original 2023 launch back by about a year.

    That’s unlikely to be the 210 mph model that Biden was referring to. While that model might use the name “E-Ray,” it could also be the long-rumored Corvette Zora, Chevrolet’s answer to ultimate flagships like the Ferrari Enzo.

    Named for Zora Arkus-Duntov, the legendary General Motors engineer widely known as “the father of the Corvette,” it’s destined to be the “ultimate” version of the new C8 mid-engined ‘Vette. The Zora, according to conventional wisdom within auto circles, was supposed to rely on a gas-electric hybrid drivetrain that will deliver a full 1,000 horsepower through all four wheels.

    (First Drive: 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray.)

    Biden could have been referencing the Genovation GXE all-electric Corvette during his speech.

    Intriguingly, GM has hinted that its new Ultium-based electric driveline could make 1,000 horsepower – in fact, that being the number it has promised for the upcoming GMC Hummer pickup. So, that might suggest that a Corvette Zora could itself go all-electric, rather than opting for a hybrid driveline.

    Confounding the picture, GM President Mark Reuss has suggested the automaker’s plans now call for skipping hybrids in favor of pure battery power – something that doesn’t gibe with reports of upcoming Corvette hybrids of any form. But the ‘Vette team has a history of working outside the box and could get a bit more freedom.

    Then, of course, there’s the possibility that what the Democratic presidential candidate was referring to isn’t actually a factory-built Corvette at all. There are a number of companies now converting conventional, gas-powered vehicles to run on battery power. It’s quite possible that’s what Biden was referring to in his comments in suburban Detroit on Wednesday.

    “I can’t wait to get to set behind (the wheel of) that all-electric Corvette that goes 210 miles per hour,” he said. “Last year, that converted Corvette set a speed record of 210.2 miles per hour — an electric vehicle.”

    One conversion company, Genovation GXE, is now promoting what it claims to be “the world’s first street legal all-electric car to break the 200 mph barrier.” (That might come as a surprise to Croatia’s Rimac whose C_2 hits 258 mph.)

    Genovation’s electric ‘Vette set a new record of 210.2 mph, then broke it two months later clocking 211.8 mph.

    Last September, Genovation raced its converted C7 Corvette to 210.2 mph, setting a new record in the process. The Rockville, Maryland-based company then tweaked the sports car a bit more and posted an even faster time in December of 211.8 mph.

    (GM reveals flexible EV platform, new “Ultium” batteries.)

    Whether that was the car Biden was referring to is unclear but, with GM officials declaring that the company is “on a path to an all-electric future,” all signs point to the likelihood that it’s only a matter of time before we’ll be able to plug in a battery-powered Corvette.

    (Paul A. Eisenstein contributed to this report.)

     

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  • Mercedes-AMG Project One Hypercar Caught Testing

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    The Mercedes-AMG Project One, the hypercard based on F1 technology, is inching closer to its release date.

    We’re still waiting to find out more about the Mercedes-AMG Project One – as in how much more than 1,000 horsepower the hybrid hypercar’s Formula One-derived powertrain will be able to punch out.

    For now, we’ll have to settle for rudimentary details and know that whatever the final figure comes in at, the next special edition developed specifically by and for AMG will be obscenely quick, somewhere in the 2 second 0-to-60 range, with a top speed expected to reach 350 km/h, or about 220 miles per hour.

    First unveiled at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show and originally intended to hit the road late last year, part of the celebration of AMG’s 50th anniversary, the project fell behind schedule and appears to have been further delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Exactly when it will now be unveiled is still unclear though the automaker hints that with the “final” version of the drivetrain now being put through its paces, it is “ever closer to production.”

    (Mercedes-AMG Project One hypercar caught track testing.)

    Why is it taking so long? There’s no question this is the most complicated project ever undertaken by AMG, especially from a powertrain perspective.

    First unveiled at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show and originally intended to hit the road late last year, the Project One has been delayed a few times.

    “The adaptation of a complete Formula1 drive unit for a road-legal hypercar is a tremendous undertaking,” the German performance brand said in a release accompanying this images of the Project One in testing

    “This adaption will result in new standards being set for performance in a road-going vehicle,” no easy trick trying to balance its track heritage with the need to ensure it can handle day-to-day driving duties that will likely include spells caught in traffic.

    The drivetrain stays close to the current F1 equation, starting out with a single-turbo 1.6-liter V-6 that is closely related to what Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton sits in front of in his own race car – though it revs to “only” about 11,000 RPMs due to the difference between track and street fuels. According to some early reports, the engine is still expected to turn out more than 600 horsepower, or an astounding 375 hp per liter.

    The hypercar pairs the internal combustion engine with four electric motors, two on the front axle, another on the rear. Don’t worry about the math. The fourth motor is built into that turbocharger and eliminates traditional turbolag since it doesn’t have to wait for exhaust gases to build up and spin its impeller

    The Project One hypercar races from 0-to-60 mph in about 2 seconds, hitting a top speed of about 220 mph.

    blades.

    (Mercedes-AMG Project One takes F1 onto the streets.)

    Dubbed an MGU-h, or motor generator unit-heat, it makes about 80 kilowatts and can rev up to a screaming 100,000 RPMs. The primary motors are believed to produce about 120 kW each, or something on the order of a collective 482 hp.

    Each of the driving motors has its own single-speed gearbox and the front units can be varied in speed, slightly trimming power to one side or the other to help torque vector, or steer into a turn.

    That was among the many technical challenges facing engineers working on the Mercedes-AMG Project One, notes the automaker.

    Mercedes-AMG built the Project One to mark AMG’s 50th anniversary, but there is no finish date.

    “In many aspects, such as noise level, the development team ventured into uncharted territory with this project, working with great tenacity and exceptional engineering expertise to find solutions that could be developed to production maturity.”

    Another challenge was working out the complexities of the hypercars active aerodynamic technology, from front louvers to the big rear spoiler.

    (Mercedes-AMG GLA 45 is the everyday driver you can take to the track.)

    Work has continued at both the AMG development center in Affalterbach, as well as at the Mercedes test track in Immendingen. With the program seemingly accelerating and near production-ready prototypes now being tested, the automaker confirmed it “will soon be tested on the north loop of the Nurburgring” from where we imagine plenty of additional pics will start appearing.


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  • Tesla Chooses Texas for Next Gigafactory

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    In case you were wondering if Texas or Oklahoma was the site for the new Gigafactory, that’s Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas on the left.

    Things are coming up roses for Tesla these days – yellow roses – as the California-based EV maker announced it will build its next Gigafactory on a 2,000-acre plot of land just outside Austin, Texas.

    Tesla CEO Elon Musk revealed the choice – Tulsa, Oklahoma was the other finalist – during the company’s second quarter earnings call. He said the site, which is on the banks of the Colorado River, would be an “ecological paradise” with a hiking and biking trail open to the public, should open sometime next year.

    The plant, dubbed GigaTexas, will build a variety of vehicles, including the new Cybertruck and the Tesla semi. It will also handle Model 3 and Model Y production for the eastern half of North America. He also noted that Tulsa could still be in line for a future factory. After announcement, Musk was quick to point out the company will still grow in California.

    (Tesla reports $104M Q2 profit; fourth consecutive quarter of profits.)

    “We expect California to do Model X and S for worldwide consumption, and 3 and Y for the western half of North America. We also think the Tesla Roadster … would make sense in California. I think this is a nice split between Texas and California.”

    Tesla’s Cybertruck is one of four products that the company will build at GigaTexas once it’s complete.

    In addition to what is going to get built where in the U.S., Musk addressed potential future products and how they fit into the company’s plans.

    “It would be reasonable to assume we’d make a compact vehicle of some kind, and probably a high capacity vehicle of some kind,” he said. “These are likely things at some point. I do think there’s a long way to go with 3 and Y, Cybertruck and semi. There’s a long way to go with those. I think we’ll do the obvious things.”

    While future product is critical to the company’s long-term growth, Musk says he’s got his eyes on a short-term prize: full-self driving. The CEO has long predicted that (insert year here) will be when FSD will be available in vehicles.

    However, after years of missed deadlines, the company may be on track to meet his latest goal of having it available sometime this year. He called it the “most important thing” on his very full agenda, adding “everything else is pretty small by comparison.”

    (Texas offers Tesla $80M in incentives for new gigafactory.)

    Musk has been selling the FSD to buyers for several years now but increasing the price for the dormant technology during the past few years, starting at $5,000 to add it and now it sits at $8,000 and it’s going to get pricier as it gets closer to launch. However, there’s a good reason to charge so much money for the technology, Musk believes, as you’ll get what you pay for — and then some.

    Tesla is getting ready to produce its first heavy-duty model, the all-electric Semi. It, too, will be built at the new plant in Texas.

    “I think the upgrading of the fleet to full-self driving, essentially with an over-the-air software update, I mean may go down as the biggest asset value increase in history as a step change,” he said. “Overnight … you’d have like, I don’t know, a few million cars suddenly becoming five times more valuable.”

    Those vehicles also become an even bigger revenue stream for Musk and Tesla as then he can begin to sell access for services, like shopping, games, movies, etc. that could be used by drivers as they allow their vehicle to drive them to their destination.

    In fact, Musk is using an advanced test version of the technology now and says he can drive from his home to the office without intervention. While he wouldn’t commit to it being ready this year, he suggested he thought it would be, then it would be a matter of governmental approvals.

    (CEO Musk sees big growth coming soon for Tesla.)


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  • Nissan Donates EV Ambulance to Tokyo Fire Department

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    Nissan donated a battery-electric e-NV400 ambulance to Tokyo’s ambulance fleet.

    Nissan Motor Co. has donated an electric-powered ambulance to the Tokyo Fire Department.

    The EV being added to the Tokyo Fire Department is based on a 3.5-ton Nissan NV 400 with seating for seven and zero emissions. Plans call for it to serve with other ambulances with gasoline engines in the Ikebukuro branch through a collaboration among Nissan, the Tokyo Fire Department and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Nissan officials said.

    “Nissan strongly believes in sustainable mobility and strives to contribute to a world with zero emissions and zero fatalities,” said Ashwani Gupta, representative executive officer and chief operation officer at Nissan. “This project is another great example of our efforts to enhance accessibility of eco-friendly vehicles to local communities.”

    (Nissan plans for restructuring call for $2.8 billion in cost cuts.)

    Nissan’s new ambulance is being used by Tokyo’s fire department.

    The EV ambulance package was developed by Gruau, a major European emergency vehicle bodywork company. It is based on a converted Nissan NV400 currently on sale in Europe and the bodywork, was done by Autoworks Kyoto to fit with Japanese regulations and designed to meet customer needs.

    The introduction of the first EV ambulance in the Tokyo Fire Department fleet is part of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s “Zero Emission Tokyo” initiative.

    The Nissan EV Ambulance is equipped with an electric stretcher making for easier operations by the firefighters and ambulance attendants.

    (Nissan’s Taxi of Tomorrow gets go for Big Apple debut.)

    The noise and vibration levels in the vehicle are significantly lower in comparison with a traditional gasoline-powered vehicle, helping reduce negative impact on patients as well as on staff handling sensitive medical equipment on-board the vehicle.

    Nissan is expanding its battery-electric van offerings to meet the needs of different segments.

    Two lithium-ion battery packs support its EV capabilities (33 kilowatt-hours) with an additional battery (8 kWh) allowing longer use of electrical equipment and the air-conditioning system. The ambulance can also turn into a mobile source of power in case of a power outage or natural disaster.

    Nissan officials also said they expect the EV Ambulance to be inexpensive to maintain and efficient to charge. The expense of charging the vehicles lithium-ion battery with the 33-kWh capacity is expected to be relatively minimal, Nissan officials said.

    (Nissan officials predict first full-year loss in a decade.)

    Nissan has recently introduced the electrified version of the e-NV200 van and added the XL Voltia trim level aimed at delivery companies. The roof of the rear cargo area has been raised to allow for the driver to stand up straight while in the back of the van.


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