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The 53-year-old exec was forced out in wake of Nissan’s Ghosn scandal.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Apr.18, 2019
José Muñoz, Nissan's former chief performance officer, is joining Hyundai and will oversee U.S. operations as part of his duties.
José Muñoz, the widely admired Nissan chief performance officer forced out in the wake of the scandal surrounding former Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn, is moving to South Korea, where he will become the global chief operating officer at Hyundai Motor Co.
The 52-year-old Muñoz was considered a rising Nissan star and a potential successor to Ghosn but tendered his resignation in January, sources told TheDetroitBureau.com, in protest over the Japanese automaker’s handling of the Ghosn investigation. The 65-year-old Ghosn remains in a Japanese detention center accused of a variety of financial crimes, though skeptics contend he has become the victim in a power struggle between Nissan and its French alliance partner Renault.
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In his new post, Muñoz also will serve as president and chief executive officer of Hyundai Motor North America and Hyundai Motor America. (more…)
Tags: Hyundai names José Muñoz COO, Hyundai's new COO José Muñoz, Muñoz Hyundai Chief Operating Officer, Muñoz named Hyundai COO, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, former Nissan executive José Muñoz COO at Hyundai, hyundai news, paul a. eisenstein, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Asia Pacific, Automakers, Automobiles, Business, China, Coupes, Crossovers/CUVs, Europe, Executives, Hyundai, Markets, Minivans, NAFTA, Personalities, Pickups, SUVs, Sales, Sedans, South America, Technology, U.S./North America | No Comments »
Qiantu K50 will be modified for American market.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Apr.18, 2019
The Qiantu K50 will be produced in China, but sold in the U.S. through Mullen at a cost of $149K.
A California start-up wants to sell a Chinese-made battery-electric sports cars to American drivers, the Qiantu K50 by Mullen scheduled to make its debut in the U.S. market sometime in 2020.
With its classic, supercar silhouette, the K50 is expected to join an array of electric vehicles destined for U.S. shores that will either be produced in China or come from American factories operated by Chinese companies, such as Karma and Byton.
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The new sports car, perhaps more importantly, will be part of a wave of new entries likely to reshape the perception of electric vehicles, from slow and stodgy to sleek, fast and fun-to-drive. (more…)
Tags: Chinese-made EV sportster, Mullen Technologies, Mullen bringing Chinese EV to U.S., Qiantu K50 EV speedster, Qiantu K50 by Mullen, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, ev news, new Chinese-made EV sports car, paul a. eisenstein, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Asia Pacific, Auto Shows, Automakers, Automobiles, Business, China, Coupes, EVs, Electrified Vehicles, Europe, Events, Executives, Markets, NAFTA, New York, Personalities, Sales, Sales, South America, Sports Cars, Technology, U.S./North America | No Comments »
Sports sedan adds AWD and drift mode.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Apr.18, 2019
Kia's new Stinger GTS package allows drifters to go all out while still having all-wheel drive.
For a brand traditionally known for affordable, albeit plain-vanilla products, Kia delivered a major shock when it rolled out the Stinger sports sedan two years ago. Stinger quickly nabbed a string of awards and was a finalist for North American Car of the Year.
Now, the Korean carmaker wants to increase Stinger’s appeal with performance-oriented buyers, introducing a new version, the GTS, which adds a new all-wheel-drive system, dubbed D-AWD, that can let a driver drift to their hearts content.
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Set to reach showrooms later this year, the Kia Stinger GTS will remain one of the most affordable vehicles in its segment, with a base price of $44,995 for the rear-wheel-drive version, and $47,495 with D-AWD. (more…)
Tags: Kia GTS package, Kia NYIAS, Kia Stinger GTS, Kia Stinger debut, Kia Stinger for drifting, Kia's new drift able Stinger, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, kia news, new Stinger GTS, new york international auto show, paul a. eisenstein, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Asia Pacific, Auto Shows, Automakers, Automobiles, Business, China, Europe, Events, Executives, Kia, Markets, NAFTA, New York, Personalities, Product Reveals, Sales, Sales, Sedans, South America, Sports Cars, U.S./North America | No Comments »
The automotive equivalent of an everything bagel.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Apr.17, 2019
The Kia HabaNiro is an exercise showing where the automaker wants to take its electric vehicles in the future.
Kia is billing the appropriately named HabaNiro as a “spicy” take on its future EV strategy. Of course, the name offers a hint of where its going with the reference to Kia’s first long-range battery-electric vehicle, the Niro.
Like its sibling brand Hyundai, Kia has big plans to electrify during the coming decade, with a mix of hybrids, plug-ins, BEVs and even hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles. The HabaNiro, which was created at the Korean carmaker’s advanced design studio in California, is being billed as an “everything car,” or ECEV, and incorporates all sorts of creative design details and advanced technologies, including butterfly doors and Level 5 autonomous driving capabilities – as well as 300 miles of all-electric range.
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“We imagined a car for everyone and nearly everything,” said Tom Kearns, vice president of design for Kia Design Center America. “Then, when we saw the finished product, we were blown away by the imagination of the HabaNiro’s creators and its laboratory of technology and we want it in our driveways. Today.” (more…)
Tags: HabaNiro, Kia HabaNiro, Kia NYIAS, Kia's electrification strategy, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, ev news, future Kia EVs, kia news, kia niro concept, new EV plans from Kia, new york international auto show, paul a. eisenstein, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Asia Pacific, Auto Shows, Automakers, Automobiles, Business, China, EVs, Electrified Vehicles, Europe, Events, Executives, Kia, Markets, NAFTA, New York, Personalities, SUVs, Sales, Sales, South America, Technology, U.S./North America | No Comments »
High-torque engine is five years behind schedule.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Apr.17, 2019
Mazda finally put a diesel in to one of its products: the 2019 CX-5 crossover.
Nearly five years after Mazda originally planned to launch its SkyActiv-D powertrain, the Japanese automaker is finally ready to make its first diesel engine a reality.
It pulled the wraps off the new powertrain at the New York International Auto Show on Wednesday, the oil-burner getting its first American application under the hood of the familiar Mazda CX-5 crossover. The diesel joins a growing mix of Mazda engine alternatives that just a year ago saw the launch of the breakthrough homogeneous-charged SkyActiv-X technology.
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“As Mazda continues our climb toward premium, we will offer more powertrain choices that premium customers expect,” said Jeffery Guyton, the newly appointed president of Mazda North American Operations. “I am happy to share that Mazda’s SkyActiv-D 2.2-liter diesel engine is joining the U.S. powertrain line-up with our debut model, the 2019 CX-5 Signature AWD with SkyActiv-D.” (more…)
Tags: 2019 Mazda CX-5, Mazda NYIAS, Mazda debuts new diesel, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, diesel-powered Mazda CX-5, first-ever Mazda diesel, mazda news, new CX-5, new Mazda diesel, new york international auto show, paul a. eisenstein, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Asia Pacific, Auto Shows, Automakers, Automobiles, Business, China, Crossovers/CUVs, Diesel, Europe, Events, Executives, Markets, Mazda, NAFTA, New York, Personalities, Product Reveals, Sales, Sales, South America, Technology, U.S./North America | No Comments »
I-Pace takes World Car of the Year title.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Apr.17, 2019
Jaguar's Ian Callum, center, celebrates the I-Pace being named World Car of the Year at the New York International Auto Show.
It’s not common to find Ian Callum, the normally garrulous Jaguar global design chief, at a loss for words, but that’s precisely what happened, at least momentarily, when the British automaker’s first battery-electric vehicle, the I-Pace, was named World Car of the Year during a ceremony at the New York International Auto Show Wednesday morning.
Of course, it didn’t hurt that Jaguar pulled off a first-ever hat trick during the show’s media preview, also being named World Car Design of the Year as well as World Green Car of the Year.
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“I’m speechless for once,” said Callum, taking a deep breath before regaining his composure as he accepted the third – and most important – trophy of the morning. “This is astonishing — my Oscar moment.” (more…)
Tags: Ian Callum Jaguar, Jaguar I-Pace wins award, Jaguar World Car awards, Jaguar three category wins, Jaguar wins, TheDetroitBureau.com., World Car honors, auto awards, auto news, paul a. eisenstein, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Asia Pacific, Auto Shows, Automakers, Automobiles, Business, China, Crossovers/CUVs, EVs, Europe, Executives, Jaguar, Luxury Vehicles, Markets, NAFTA, New York, Personalities, Sales, South America, U.S./North America | No Comments »
Plug-in and full battery-electric models now in the works.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Apr.17, 2019
The 2020 Lincoln Corsair breaks cover in NY.
Check the dictionary and you’ll find a variety of different meanings for the word, “corsair.” It can be used to describe a pirate ship, as well as a World War II fighter plane, though Joy Falotico prefers the Latin definition, “journey,” or “course.”
That would seem more appropriate for Lincoln, the brand Falotico runs, because the Corsair is the newest in a series of recent models that are starting to put the luxury marque back on track after years of struggle.
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Replacing the old Lincoln MKC, and making its debut at this week’s New York International Auto Show, the Corsair gets a complete new look, a lot more upscale features and, about a year from introduction, it will also add a new plug-in hybrid drivetrain – with Lincoln likely to also add an all-electric version soon afterwards, Falotico told TheDetroitBureau.com during a conversation in New York ahead of Corsair’s official NYIAS debut.
(more…)
Tags: 2019 NYIAS, 2019 ny auto show, 2020 lincoln MKC, Lincoln NY, Lincoln crossover, auto news, car news, lincoln bev, lincoln electric, lincoln mkc, lincoln news, lincoln phev, lincoln plug-in hybrid, lincoln suv, paul a. eisenstein, paul eisenstein, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Auto Shows, Automakers, Automobiles, Business, China, Concept Cars, Crossovers/CUVs, EVs, Electrified Vehicles, First Drive, First Look, Fuel Economy, Infotainment, Lincoln, Luxury Vehicles, Markets, New York, Product Reveals, SUVs, Safety, Safety, Sales, Technology, Technology, Trends, U.S./North America | No Comments »
Buyers will have to put up with a manual top – but the tradeoff is a 502-hp GT3 engine.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Apr.17, 2019
Porsche is bringing back a historic name with its new 911 Speedster, which debuted at the NYIAS.
It’s a name that dates back almost seven decades, so Porsche whipped up plenty of enthusiasm when, last year, it showed off two 911 Speedster Concepts. Now, the German automaker is turning concept into reality, unveiling a limited-edition production model at the New York International Auto Show.
In some ways, the new Speedster goes back to basics with a cloth tap that has to opened and closed manually, but the trade off is a two-seater that draws power from the same engine used in the 911 GT3 and GT3 RS models. The 502 horsepower package will launch the Speedster from 0 to 60 in just 3.8 seconds, with a top track speed of 192 mph.
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Despite a price tag of $274,500 – not including the $1,250 delivery charges – the 2019 Porsche 911 Speedster is expected to sell out relatively quickly. (more…)
Tags: Porsche 911 Speedster, Porsche lightweights 911, Porsche offering new model, Porsche's new 911 variant, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, new Porsche speedster, new york international auto show, paul a. eisenstein, porsche nyias, porsche speedster, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Asia Pacific, Auto Shows, Automakers, Automobiles, Business, China, Coupes, Europe, Events, Markets, NAFTA, New York, Porsche, Product Reveals, Sales, Sales, South America, Sports Cars, U.S./North America | No Comments »
Is this the “ideal city car” for the Big Apple?
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Apr.16, 2019
The Genesis Mint concept could hint at a high-end city car using the brand's upcoming battery platform.
Genesis is plugging into this year’s New York International Auto Show – quite literally, with the Mint, a battery-electric city car concept making its debut at a media preview.
Targeting the likes of the now all-electric Smart fortwo, the two-seat Genesis Mint could be “the ideal city car (for) New York, suggested Manfred Fitzgerald, Executive Vice President and Global Head of the Genesis Brand.
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Whether the luxury brand has specific plans to bring the Mint to market is uncertain, but company officials have confirmed they are working up a flexible battery-electric “architecture” that will be used for an assortment of future all-electric vehicles, with the first likely due to market in about two to three years.
(more…)
Tags: 2019 NYIAS, 2019 ny auto show, Genesis NYIAS, auto news, battery car, car news, city car, concept cars, genesis concept, genesis g70, genesis mint, genesis mint concept, genesis new york, genesis news, paul a. eisenstein, paul eisenstein, smart fortwo, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Auto Shows, Automakers, Automobiles, BMW, Business, Concept Cars, Coupes, EVs, Electrified Vehicles, Environment, First Look, Genesis, Luxury Vehicles, Markets, New York, Product Reveals, SUVs, Sales, Sales, Sedans, Smart, Technology, Trends, U.S./North America | No Comments »
Low-volume sport sedan will be followed by two electric crossovers.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Apr.16, 2019
Two years late, Aston Martin debuted its battery-electric speedster, the Rapide E, at Auto Shanghai.
Few countries are plugging into battery-power more rapidly than China, so it would seem appropriate that Aston Martin would bring its first all-electric model, the Rapide E, to Auto Shanghai for its formal debut.
Originally intended to be developed as part of a joint venture with China’s LeEco, the project is nearly two years behind schedule and, with the Chinese start-up pulling out of the project, Aston now plans to build just 155 of the battery-electric vehicles. But it says it will use what it has learned for future BEVs, including both a plug-based version of its upcoming DBX crossover, as well as the Lagonda crossover due out in 2021.
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Calling the unveiling of the Rapide E “a huge moment for Aston Martin,” CEO Andy Palmer said that it “signals Aston Martin is prepared for the huge challenge of an environmentally responsible and sustainable future. As a car company we cannot afford to passively allow that future to come to us; we have to actively chase it. (more…)
Tags: Aston Martin Auto Shanghai, Aston Martin Rapide E, Aston Martin battery-electric, Aston Martin's new EV, TheDetroitBureau.com., aston martin news, auto news, new Rapide E, paul a. eisenstein, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Asia Pacific, Aston Martin, Auto Shows, Automakers, Automobiles, Business, China, EVs, Electrified Vehicles, Europe, Events, Markets, NAFTA, Sales, Sales, Shanghai, South America, Sports Cars, Technology, U.S./North America | No Comments »
