There’s been much hard, straight, optimistic us talk in recent days. Roads, automotive jobs and retailing plus ground-breaking automobile deals have been at the heart of the dialogue. and the uplifting tone is no doubt bringing smiles to American faces.
“We will build gleaming new roads, bridges, highways,” Donald Trump and transportation secretary Elaine Chao promised last week when discussing their imminent $1.5 trillion spending blitz on infrastructure. Trump is even said to be donating a large chunk of his presidential salary to America’s carry cause. Can’t remember the last time I heard a British leader dare utter politically incorrect swear words such as road, motorway or bridge; never mind offer some of his/her personal money to help fund them.
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• Opinion: Trump’s domestic auto firms are increasingly weak
Incoming CEO Jim Hackett is being brutally (or stupidly?) honest by conceding that Ford has “not done enough to be fit”. To turn things around, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Ford concentrating more on big pick-ups and profitable SUVs and less on the superminis and city automobiles that have notoriously tough margins.
Over the road at GM, CEO Mary Barra is threatening a full or partial pull-out from South Korea, before moving investment cash and jobs from Asia back to her native Detroit. As I’ve mentioned before, Korean auto workers are among the most expensive on earth, and are clearly pricing themselves out of the market.
Peugeot has added to its popular 3008 and 5008 SUV ranges with a new GT Line premium trim level. adding equipment from the top-spec GT model to the existing GT Line trim, it’s priced from £28,590 for the 3008 and £30,565 for the 5008.
For £2,125 (£1,850 for the 5008) more than GT Line, the new trim level builds on that spec by adding keyless entry and a push button start feature, plus a smart electric tailgate that can be operated by waving your foot under the bumper.
Further conventional kit enhancements include a multi-point massage function for the driver’s seat, heating for both front seats, and a blue-backlit panoramic glass sunroof. 19-inch two-tone diamond-cut alloy wheels also feature.
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Unlike flagship GT spec, GT Line premium is provided across the range on everything from the 1.2-litre PureTech petrol model to the 2.0-litre diesel. It’s available to purchase from dealers now.
Do you think the new GT Line premium trim level is good value? let us know below…
before I joined Aston Martin as CEO in 2014, a year or so earlier, Nissan, where I was COO at the time, had contemplated obtaining the British marque. For several reasons, the purchase never took off, however I was entrusted to a hefty amount of due diligence on the business, which proved vital as I mulled taking the top task some years later.
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From this due diligence, I quickly established Aston Martin needed to establish an SUV as a important element of the company’s survival. This was one of the non-negotiables that I provided to the board as I discussed handling the CEO position.
Aston Martin DBX vs Bentley Bentayga
The reason why I felt the requirement to have an SUV as part of the line-up was critical. It was because of market research study that showed 72 per cent of Aston Martin owners have one more brand’s SUV in their garage. This was a ready-made market for Aston Martin to operate in as well as it was an obvious location for the business to be.
On my third day at Aston, October 3 2014, I held a satisfying with my Head of style as well as I told him I desired an SUV crossover idea that would retain the Aston DNA as well as be called the DBX. The biggest difficulty was that I desired the design to be prepared for the 2015 Geneva motor Show, a simple six months away. The reason for that deadline was since Geneva is where I would outline my ‘Second Century Plan’ for the business as well as I desired the DBX as the backdrop, highlighting it as a cornerstone of Aston’s future.
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Tesla recently confirmed that it would open its Supercharger network to electric vehicles from other manufacturers – and the company has now taken the first tentative steps in realising this ambition with a new pilot scheme in the Netherlands.
Tesla has opened 10 Superchargers in Holland to non-Tesla drivers, who can charge their vehicles like they can at any other fast-charger, using the latest version of the Tesla app.
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The pilot is only open to vehicles that are compatible with CCS charging ports. There’s no word yet on whether the pilot programme will be extended to the UK.
EV chargepoints face regulatory crackdown
Tesla has also confirmed that non-Tesla drivers will be charged a slightly higher rate for charging their vehicles to offset the cost of outfitting the Superchargers with the necessary software to suit a broad range of electric vehicles. However, the company says this fee can be reduced by purchasing a charging membership.
Earlier this year, Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk outlined his vision for the Supercharger roll-out, although he mentioned that drivers of cars with older and slower charging standards would also be liable to pay more for electricity at a Supercharger point.
“If the charge rate is super-slow then someone will be charged more,” he said. “We’ll also be smarter with how we charge for electricity at the Supercharger,” suggesting prices may vary according to demand or the time of day.
Fiat has exposed pricing details as well as opened purchase books for the special edition (500)RED supermini as well as (500X)RED crossover, produced with partnership with worldwide charity (RED). The mild-hybrid (RED) variant of the hatchback starts from £16,435, rising to £22,995 for the all-electric model. The (500X)RED is priced from £24,125.
The new version can many quickly be distinguished from routine 500s by a distinct red colour scheme, which runs from the exterior to the dashboard, floor mats as well as seats. However, clients can likewise select from exterior shades other than red, including grey, white or black. as well as even if the purchaser opts for a colour from the rest of the range, the (500)RED gets logos at the front as well as rear, in addition to in the middle of the steering wheel.
Convertible Fiat 500X Dolcevita verified for UK market
Other tweaks to the 500 recipe include a contrast seat plan inside, where the driver’s seat is red however the others are in black. Single-colour red or black upholstery is likewise offered, with bespoke (RED) detailing. There’s a red anodised aluminium accelerator pedal, too, as well as clients will get an email from Fiat manager Olivier Francois welcoming them to the (RED) community.
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The all-electric (500)RED is provided in both hatchback as well as convertible body styles, as well as offered with a option of either 24kW or 42kW battery capacities. The convertible is only offered with the larger battery option, as well as commands a £5,650 premium over the £22,995 asking cost of the entry-level hard-top.
With the return of the star Wars film series just over the horizon, toy cars and truck maker hot Wheels has put together a variety of themed designs to money in on the new films. That’s not all, though – the business has likewise developed a full-size version of the Darth Vader car, based on the famous heavy breathing baddie.
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• finest TV cars and trucks ever
It’s unlikely that Darth Vader would requirement a car, provided his gain access to to a range of spaceships as well as a lot more significantly his death at the end of the film “Return of the Jedi”. That hasn’t stopped hot Wheels, however, with the brand creating a full-size cars and truck based on Vader’s a lot of unforgettable features.
The cars and truck features a carbon-fibre nose shaped like the popular Darth Vader helmet, custom-made red line tyres as well as even “heavy breathing sounds” to truly hammer house that Darth Vader connection. It likewise features a version of the 6.2-litre V8 engine from the previous-generation Chevrolet Corvette, creating 526bhp.
The cars and truck will be on screen at the San Diego Comic-Con event on 23 July in California, USA.