Car News-Global and Domestic

[bobins]

^^^^^^^
Ta for that, very useful summaries.

[NewcastleFalcon]

I've watched old films of the testing of cars over arduous trips in and around the Alps and over the testing grounds like Millbrook, and even up and down Porlock Hill.

It is quite unbelievable that the world's biggest automaker (by volume of cars produced) in 2022, with the launch of its first ever all electric vehicle has initiated a total recall of the Bz4X.

Well maybe its that they have made some schoolboy error with the electric powertrain, or some fault with the battery. Its their first after all.

No, the worlds biggest automaker recalls all of its new EV because.....the wheels could come off.

Toyota’s bZ4X recall isn’t going great – company offers car buyback
https://electrek.co/2022/08/03/toyotas- ... r-buyback/

Toyota announced the bZ4X recall in late June, citing a potential for the new EV’s wheels to fall off. Though it did apply to all bZ4Xs produced, since it happened soon after the car’s launch, it is still a relatively small recall – only 2,700 vehicles.

Regards Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

I've watched old films of the testing of cars over arduous trips in and around the Alps and over the testing grounds like Millbrook, and even up and down Porlock Hill.

Toyota’s bZ4X recall isn’t going great – company offers car buyback
https://electrek.co/2022/08/03/toyotas- ... r-buyback/

Toyota announced the bZ4X recall in late June, citing a potential for the new EV’s wheels to fall off. Though it did apply to all bZ4Xs produced, since it happened soon after the car’s launch, it is still a relatively small recall – only 2,700 vehicles.

If only Toyota had done the same type of testing a 1950's Vauxhall Velox and Wyvern went through their engineers would have soon discovered whether the wheels were likely to come off or not.

Nice link to a bit of film currenty languishing in the FCF On TV thread archives, waiting on another click to bring it into the spotlight again.

While in the 1950's part of the testing for the Vauxhall Velox and Wyvern involved driving 50 times up and down Porlock Hill, they also took them to "The Continent" up to the Alpine Passes to put them through their paces.

Dug out an excellent little film which I enjoyed. Loads of that clipped English pronunciation from the narrator with a few lovely phrases. Its lost within the On TV thread many pages back but well worth a watch

Link
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=55857&p=599002&hili ... ck#p599002

REgards Neil

[Gibbo2286]

All the testing in the world by the makers can't simulate what happens to the cars when put in the hands of public lunatics Neil.

[NewcastleFalcon]

Interesting read,

Electric vehicle SMR (Service Maintenance Repair) price hike warning for fleets

https://www.fleetnews.co.uk/news/latest ... -smr-costs

...and the seemingly perverse reason for the price hike...

Service Maintenance and repair of fleet electric vehicles, is cheaper in labour time, parts costs (no oil changes/exhaust/ and less wear and tear on braking components due to regenerative braking.)

..and the solution create a special Labour rate of £125/hour electric vehicle servicing for the workshops, to retain profitability because there is less work to do.

Fleet Assist was contacted recently by a franchised garage that was considering implementing a specific BEV servicing labour rate of £125, an 89% increase over the equivalent labour cost of servicing ICE cars.

REgards Neil

[Hell Razor5543]

Interesting read,

Electric vehicle SMR (Service Maintenance Repair) price hike warning for fleets

https://www.fleetnews.co.uk/news/latest ... -smr-costs

...and the seemingly perverse reason for the price hike...

Service Maintenance and repair of fleet electric vehicles, is cheaper in labour time, parts costs (no oil changes/exhaust/ and less wear and tear on braking components due to regenerative braking.)

..and the solution create a special Labour rate of £125/hour electric vehicle servicing for the workshops, to retain profitability because there is less work to do.

Fleet Assist was contacted recently by a franchised garage that was considering implementing a specific BEV servicing labour rate of £125, an 89% increase over the equivalent labour cost of servicing ICE cars.

REgards Neil

They will probably suggest that, because of the high voltages involved, they have to take exceptional health and safety precautions (which will require specialist equipment and training).

[bobins]

At what point does it become a cartel ?

[NewcastleFalcon]

Its the British Motorshow opening Day today not at Earl's Court or the NEC but at Farnborough. Very very little fanfare.
Today the British Motor industry and its former marques are all owned by international investors, and the backbone of the UK manufacturing of vehicles is provided by Stellantis/BMW/Tata Motors and Nissan with BMW and VW "taking care" of Rolls Royce and Bentley Cars respectively but at the same time producing some spectacularly ugly vehicles like the Cullinan and the Bentayga.

60 years ago, I think British Pathe did a decent job of jazzing up the 1962 show at Earls court with the usual cheery background music, and the lively commentary, although a bit premature as it turned out for the "common market bit".

Worth a token 6 minute nostalgic view of the moving pictures, rather than a stale screenshot.



Regards Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

Jaguar Land Rover converting Halewood factory to build EVs

The fairly common now I-pace is manufactured currently in Austria.

Jaguar Land Rover revealed its global EV strategy “Reimagine” last year, which involves Jaguar becoming an all-electric brand by 2025 (they already have the I-Pace out) and Land Rover to follow with six EVs by 2030, including the first electric Land Rover due in 2024.

[NewcastleFalcon]

6 minute trip around the Britain's Biggest car maker

Not my first choice of Electrifying presenter, or indeed of the cringey award, but gives a free tour of what's going on at Sunderland...



Still ploughing on with the Qashqai and the Juke, in hybrid versions now as well as ICE, but they certainly have churned out plenty of them, but as elsewhere they will move to all-electric and the battery gigafactory on site will contribute to that vision.

Regards Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

Who are currently the biggest European Auto Manufacturer (by market capitalisation)

Turns out its Porsche who have recently exited VW Group and had a well-supported Initial Public Offering, taking their Market Valuation higher than it's former parent VW Group.

https://electrek.co/2022/10/07/porsche- ... in-europe/

The league table as of round about now is

Porsche Group – €84 billion
VW Group – €77.7 billion
Mercedes-Benz – €57.2 billion
BMW – €47.5 billion
Stellantis – €39.7 billion

Occasionally Porsche crop up on here, making their synthetic petrol in Chile and some ugly extra-large and heavy expensive SUV things, and probably produced their last decent looking vehicle in the 1960's, but seems like the investors must like what they are doing and their plans. Must still be enough well-heeled customers for them to chase, as well as their brand loyal customer base built up over a long history.

Regards Neil

[Gibbo2286]

I wonder how long before one of these presenters get prosecuted for concentrating on talking to the camera instead of the road.

[mickthemaverick]

... and probably produced their last decent looking vehicle in the 1960's,
Regards Neil

I must have missed that one!!

[NewcastleFalcon]

Time to head for the classic under 10k thread, if you want to stop and get off. Of course many of the classics won't have electric windows and rain sensitive wipers.

Hyundai Group will transform entire lineup to fully-connected, Software Defined Vehicles by 2025


You probably don't have to read the article to get the gist, very much the way things have already gone, and are going. I have a feeling consent will have been assumed to have been given when you agree to buy the product.

Regards Neil

[mickthemaverick]

Hyundai Group will transform entire lineup to fully-connected, Software Defined Vehicles by 2025


Regards Neil

I'm beginning to think they have got hold of Gerry Anderson's vehicle designs!!