You guys don’t buy them, so Chevy’s not going to build it in.
Quick poll: Who among you actually bought the seven-speed manual with the last-generation Corvette? Right, so don’t hold your breath for Chevrolet to install one in the new mid-engined C8 Corvette.
Sorry to burst your bubble, but don’t just take my word for it. Corvette’s chief engineer Tadge Juechter flat out said “no” to the prospect of a row-your-own Corvette when Motor Authority asked him. That’s it, just a flat response, “No”. The reason behind that decision comes down to take rate. Not enough people buy manual Corvettes, so it wasn’t worth tasking a supplier to build one for the new car. Instead, all 2020 Chevrolet Corvette models will get an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. With the Stingray, at least, that transmission comes mated to a 6.2-liter LT2 V8 engine putting out up to 495 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque with the optional Z52 performance pack.
See those paddles? That’s all you’re getting with the new Corvette. [Photo: Chevrolet]
The take rate for manuals on the Corvette has dropped to about 15 percent, according to Jeuchter. That’s actually not bad, considering the larger automotive landscape. However, it’s not enough to justify building a bespoke transmission at huge expense to accommodate the new mid-engined layout. Every year, the manual take rate drops because fewer people buy them, giving GM even less incentive to spend the money.
The 2020 Chevrolet Corvette isn’t the only car to drop the option, either. Ford won’t include a manual transmission in the Mustang Shelby GT500, either. You also get a dual-clutch there. Both companies want to cast a wider net to make as much as they can on these cars, and the market at-large just isn’t taking to rowing their own gears anymore.
So, a moment of silence for the seven-speed manual transmission. It was great while it lasted, but the history of the Corvette is automatic from here on out.
At the moment, Jaguar currently has three SUVs in its arsenal. There’s the new all-electric I-Pace, the baby E-Pace crossover and their volume seller, the F-Pace. However, as part of the World Car of the Year Awards, Jaguar gave up some of what’s coming down the pike in a few years. That includes the new all-electric XJ sedan, as well as a new SUV in the range-topping J-Pace.
While we now know the J-Pace is coming, there’s not much hard information on the model yet. We expect the car to top Jaguar’s lineup, slotting above the F-Pace. That decision would put the model on the same plane as the Range Rover, and this would likely be more of an aggressive and sportier version. Rumors suggest a Jaguar J-Pace would compete against big family haulers like the BMW X7 or Mercedes-Benz GLS.
Jaguar has not given a clue to what the J-Pace will look like, but we suspect it will borrow some styling cues from the smaller F-Pace. [Photo: Jaguar]
New model, new platform
Jaguar will reportedly build the J-Pace on the company’s new MLA platform. That platform will debut with the 2020 Land Rover Defender in a few months’ time. As for powertrains, we also expect Jaguar’s new range-topping SUV to have a range of gasoline, mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants. Whether they will use a diesel engine is a mystery, but they are still one of the few manufacturers to offer diesels in the U.S. across most of their range.
On top of that, the company also “gave a firm nod” to smaller crossovers as well, according to a CarsUK report. Jaguar would likely call a smaller model the A-Pace or B-Pace, depending on where in the market they want to compete. Right now, their E-Pace competes against cars like the BMW X1, Audi Q3, Mercedes-Benz GLA and Volvo XC40.
Enthusiasts may be cringing at the thought of a Bugatti SUV.
We live in a strange world — one where the SUV apparently reigns supreme. Gone are the days where we could rely on Lamborghini, Ferrari, Bentley or Aston Martin to give us an unadulterated sports car experience. They’ve all fallen to the SUV onslaught, and there’s a very good reason for that.
SUVs sell. That’s why, on the surface, these renderings from Sajdin Osmancevic musing what a Bugatti SUV could look like make some sense.
We all out in the buying public decided we want a car that does everything — performance, practicality, comfort, off-road capability, the works — to the point where every automaker has to shift toward SUVs if they want to move enough units to survive. Hence, the Bentley Bentayga, Rolls-Royce Cullinan, Lamborghini Urus, Aston Martin DBX, etc. This Bugatti Spartacus, as it’s called, is arguably the coolest-looking of the bunch. What I like about it is that it takes some of the cooler styling cues from the Chiron. However, it doesn’t just look like a Chiron on stilts. There’s some real presence here, although I’m not sure about the larger grille.
What about history?
Still, must we sacrifice every historic sports car brand at the altar of big, heavy, ponderous SUVs? Well, no actually, according to Bugatti CEO Stephan Winkelmann. To this point, he has stressed Bugatti won’t follow in Lamborghini or Bentley’s footsteps. “There will be no SUV from Bugatti,” he flatly told reporters. Making such a vehicle wouldn’t “do justice to the brand or its history.”
Winkelmann has thus far resisted an SUV under the Bugatti name, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it will never happen. He was the President and CEO of Lamborghini too, and we still have the Urus now. Until recently, Rolls-Royce resisted the idea as well, and now we have the Cullinan. Nothing is set in stone in the automotive industry, and trends change. As much as enthusiasts may cringe, they don’t dictate automakers’ decisions. Customers do.
Sure, we’re talking about Bugatti here, where only a few select people will ever be able to afford one. The market for the Chiron is only so big, after all. Across every spectrum of the market, though, we’re seeing more SUVs because customers are voting with their cold, hard cash. We Americans, in particular, really seem to want performance SUVs, so it’s definitely unwise to flatly rule this car out.
What do you think — would you be interested in a Bugatti SUV? Granted, for most of us that translates to, “Would you dream about buying a Bugatti SUV?” Let us know in the comments. Sajdin Osmancevic also has more great-looking renderings on his Behance page, and they’re definitely worth checking out.
H/T to CarScoops for reporting on these renderings.
Hyundai revealed the revised 2020 Sonata Hybrid Monday.
This revised model has a solar roof to increase electric range.
The Sonata Hybrid and its electric motor put out a combined 193 horsepower.
Fuel economy numbers for the U.S. have not been announced yet, but it should manage more than mpg combined.
Same styling, with better range
We’ve seen the striking 2020 Hyundai Sonata, and now the Sonata Hybrid model has followed suit. Hyundai announced the new model today, and it does have some unique features over the gas-powered models.
The 2020 Hyundai Sonata has a solar roof to extend the car’s all-electric range.
On the styling front, the 2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid is nearly identical to its gas-powered counterparts. However, you do get the option of a solar roof. With six hours of daily charging, the company claims an owner will get an extra 800 miles of travel distance on the batteries each year.
Under the hood, the 2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid still has a 2.0-liter gasoline engine like before. The engine alone puts out 151 horsepower. The electric motor makes a more modest 51 horsepower, but it does also manage 151 lb-ft of torque on its own. Together, the system routes 193 total horsepower to the front wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission.
Another feature Hyundai is talking up is the Active Shift Control, or ASC. It’s meant to make the shifts from that six-speed unit a bit smoother by way of matching the electric motor up to the same speed as the engine and transmission. Hyundai claims that also makes shifts 30 percent faster, down from 500 milliseconds to 350. Fuel economy is still a question mark, but the old Sonata Hybrid managed 41 mpg combined. We expect this new model to manage at least similar, if not better results.
Hyundai has not announced pricing for the 2020 Sonata Hybrid just yet. That information should be available closer to launch. What do you think of the new model? Check out more on the conventional model below:
As American drivers, have to face up to the fact that our roads, on the whole, suck. Particularly in areas with harsh climates, the roads are riddled with cracks that will shake the fillings from your skull and potholes that can shatter your spine. With the 2020 Lincoln Aviator, though, Lincoln has a system called Adaptive Suspension with Road Preview. As its name suggest, it attends to detect the road ahead to know when it’s about to hit potholes.
Using air suspension in a luxury car is hardly new. However, the adaptive suspension comes with either the standard coil springs or the optional Air Glide suspension. Lincoln says this system uses 12 sensors throughout the vehicle to read the road ahead. It will keep an eye on different conditions like steering, acceleration, body movement and braking, and adjust the air suspension accordingly. If the 2020 Lincoln Aviator sees it’s about to hit a pothole, for instance, it will firm up the shock absorbers so it doesn’t crash when it does hit. The company states it can read the road up to 500 times per second to find imperfections. When it sees one, it will change the suspension settings up to 100 times per second.
Road Preview uses a forward-facing camera mounted near the rearview mirror. It will watch the road 50 feet in front of the car to inform the adaptive suspension of incoming bumps between 2 and 8 inches high.
Optional powertrains
Apart from the suspension, the 2020 Lincoln Aviator comes with two powertrain options. The standard 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 with 400 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque starts at $52,840. Prices go up from there, with the “Grand Touring” hybrid models running up to $89,540. That’s for a Black Label model. The 2020 Lincoln Aviator will arrive in dealerships later this summer.
One of the remarkable things about this Land Rover Discovery vs Range Rover Sport SVR video is the fact that over $50,000 splits them on price. Despite that price disparity, they are both unique, capable and utilitarian. The Land Rover Discovery is extremely capable off-road, especially with its Diesel engine. The Range Rover Sport SVR is a street brawler with its supercharged V8.
The Land Rover Discovery vs Range Rover Sport SVR. [Photo: TFLcar]
They are both Land Rovers after all… right?
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) markets them separately, and we simply call them by the names they were given. They both are based on a D7 platform; however, the Range Rover Sport is a shorter, smaller vehicle as it does not have a third-row, or as much cargo capacity.
Land Rover Discovery vs Range Rover Sport SVR. Which is best? [Photo: TFLcar]
By the numbers: Range Rover Sport SVR
Sporting a 575 horsepower, 5.0-liter Supercharged V8 that makes 516 lbs-ft of torque, the SVR comes with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It’s quick shifting and the paddle-shifters work well. That power is awesome, however – it’s also thirsty with a combined 16 mpg… damn.
The SVR weighs about 5,100 lbs and it has a tow rating of 6,613 lbs.
By the numbers: Land Rover Discovery TD6
Equipped with a 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6, (which was co-developed with Ford and Peugeot) the Discovery makes 254 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque. Like the SVR, an eight-speed automatic transmission is standard.
The Discovery weighs about 5,000 lbs and it has a 7,716-lbs tow rating.
It is true that both of these vehicles have off-road capability. The Land Rover Discovery is far more off-road worthy. The Discovery has a proper, locking rear differential, beefier tires and better overall dimensions for off-road driving
The Range Rover Sport SVR has some of the Discovery’s off-road capability, but it’s mainly built as a street vehicle that can terrorize sports cars. Its wheels and tires, suspension setup and overall character make it more of a track car.
In this video, you’ll see some of the technical differences between the two.
This is the Toyota FT-4X – could it be the face of Toyota’s new SUV? (Photo: TFLcar)
Toyota NEEDS to build this! … or something like it.
Nathan and The Fast Lane Car team are here to answer your (reasonable) questions. Interesting and/or entertaining emails will be posted to this column. If it’s relevant in the automotive universe, there’s a chance we may know something about it. The author’s email address and full name will be omitted – leaving your first name, initials or nickname, your preference.
Toyota’s New SUV? Maybe something like it? The Toyota TJ Cruiser Concept [Photo: Toyota]
In this week’s Ask Nathan:
Toyota’s New SUV?
Is the new Chevrolet ugly?
Ask TFLtruck?
This is the popular Toyota FT-4X concept. [Photo: Toyota]
Big news about the yet to be named, upcoming Toyota SUV.
Q: Via Twitter (NathanAdlen@Twitter) Do you know anything about this news? About Toyota’s new SUV? =0
Is it a SUV or a crossover? Is it a gas or electric vehicle? Will it have a frame?
IZ Hawaii
A: Yes! I know, it’s exciting – right? Toyota and Mazda announced they are building a joint assembly plant in Huntsville, Alabama. It was supposed to be for more Corollas from Toyota and Mazda was building a new SUV (possibly the upcoming CX30). Things have changed.
After several interviews from various sources, it looks like this small SUV or crossover could slot under the RAV4. The Toyota C-HR has no AWD variant and it’s not selling like hotcakes, so this could be something else.
There are three main choices here.
Will it be a Jeep Wrangler competitor?
That’s pretty doubtful. Toyota already has a Wrangler fighter, the body-on-frame 4Runner. A new one is due soon and, other than building something new from the ground up that has solid axles, I doubt it will fight the Wrangler. A Jeep Renegade competitor, on the other hand, now that’s possible.
Will it be an EV or hybrid?
There’s a very good chance of either. Toyota just rolled out a bunch of EV concepts that will see some sort of production in the next few years – overseas. These platforms could be part of this upcoming vehicle. Also, Toyota has a good track-record with off-road-ish hybrids.
Will it be the Toyota Corolla of crossovers?
I think that’s what they will aim for.
N
It still looks like a Corvette – from the rear. (Photo: Chevrolet)
The next question comes from a Corvette fan who is terribly upset at the looks and transmission of the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette.
Q: Via Twitter (NathanAdlen@Twitter) Nathan! WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH GM!? HAVE YOU SEEN THE NEW CORVETTE!?!?!?!?!?
I mean YUCK! And there is no manual transmission option!!!!!!! This is the first Corvette in over 60 years with no manual option!
T’Zora
A: I hear you.
While I think that looks are subjective, I personally like the rear design over the front. It will take some time to get used to, but there are positives. The main point is that the performance numbers, for a car this inexpensive (it starts at under $60,000) is mindblowing.
I am thrilled about the 495 horsepower and the midship engine setup, but I am sad about GM not providing a manual transmission. That’s a real shame. Perhaps we will see one in a later edition?
One can only hope.
N
Ike Gauntlet shirts (Photo: TFLtruck)
The last question comes from TFLtruck fan who wants his questions answered.
Q: Hi Nathan, I think your responses to readers questions on TFL car was a great idea.
Can you please do the same on TFLtruck?
Thanks,
Jay
A: Hi Jay – thanks for the email!
We have two ways to get your TFLtruck questions answered. Just about every Thursday, unless we’re out of town, we have our Talkin’ Trucks show on YouTube on our TFLnow channel. It runs 4-4:30 Mountain Time.
You can also send in your questions directly to Andre at Ask@TFLtruck.com
Hope that helps!
N
Speaking of trucks and Toyotas…
From day one, The Fast Lane Car has made it our policy to answer as many questions and comments as we can. We get thousands of emails and comments and feel that, as part of a tight-knit automotive community, having an open dialogue with you keeps things fresh and exciting.Got a question for Nathan? Drop him a line at: asknathan@tflcar.com.
The Trump Administration recently announced it was pulling back from the $140-per-vehicle fine for missing new government-mandated fuel economy requirements, back to the original $55 fine which was established in the 1990s. The Obama-era policy penalty increase was aimed at lowering the overall fuel consumption and a lowering the carbon footprint for automakers. Now, the Trump administration said it was issuing final rules to suspend those penalties. At the time they went into effect, automakers protected the hike, saying it could add $1 billion in compliance costs to meet the new rule.
The Obama-era rule mandated a full-fleet efficiency average requirement of 46.7 mpg by 2026. The Trump administration is seeking to lower the full fleet efficiency average to a 37 mpg rule. Some automakers welcome the decision, while environmental groups stress the mandate should remain in place.
Industry insiders and environmental organizations worry that the fine will not curtail automakers from polluting and may slow the development of more efficient vehicles. [Photo: Volkswagen]
According to a Reutersreport as posted in the New York Times: “Environmental groups urge the administration to retain the increase, noting U.S. fuel economy fines have lost nearly 75% of their original value because the fines have only been increased once — from $5 to $5.50 in 1997 — in more than four decades.”
Some automakers welcomed the Trump administration’s decision to roll back the penalties. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles told Reuters it paid over $77 million dollars in fines for failing to meet the new fuel economy requirements. As a compromise, 17 automakers last month urged a “midway” approach between the Obama-era standards and the Trump administration’s most recent proposal.
