Oh Nissan, please get the Next GT-R and Z right! [Photo: Nissan]
It’s been a long time since the last Nissan GT-R and 370Z were introduced. The current Nissan GTR was basically introduced in 2007 and the Nissan Z – 2009. That’s a long time for any automobile, but especially long for performance cars that need to keep up with the competition.
There have been a few signs of life regarding the next GT-R and Z – but some of the signs are not that encouraging. Considering how poorly sports cars are selling, and North America’s current love affair with crossovers, the future is bleak. Still, things could turn around.
2020 Nissan R35 GT-R [Photo: Nissan]
Here’s what we know about the Nissan R35 GT-R
In a recent Top Gear story, Hiroshi Tamura, Chief Product Specialist for the Nissan GT-R and for NISMO, was asked about the 2020 Nissan R35 GTR was the end of the current generation of the vehicle.
“Is it final? Hmmm,” Tamura-san says. “The traditional, conservative answer is ‘I cannot tell you’… but I don’t know what our next mission will be, our next assignment.”
The popular prevailing rumor regarding the next Nissan GT-R (R36) is that it will either be all-electric or some sort of hybrid. This obviously stresses out GT-R fanboys (and a majority of the motoring world) – especially if they add weight and lower performance.
The 50 Anniversary Nissan Z (Photo: Nissan)
Nissan says, “Keep the faith.”
Top Gear also had a conversation with Nissan Chief Planning Officer Philippe Klein who said, “Yes, you should keep the faith, because we do! The driving experience is very high on our priority list. EVs are very fun to drive. And we’re moving our petrol powertrains to electrification with hybrid e-power. In the end we would like the regulations to take nothing away from how fun the car is to drive.”
(Photo: Nissan)
The next Nissan Z
In many ways, the next Nissan Z is a more important car for Nissan as it represents a great return on investment. It appeals to a larger demographic and it has a deep-rooted history with the North American consumer. It represents the “everyman” sports car… well it once did. The base model Nissan Z starts just over $30,000.
In a recent interview, Nissan Design Chief Alfonso Albaisa said, “The Z-car, oh my god. Huge pressure. You can imagine I’m completely excited that I am in the position to work on that.” Rumor has it, the next Nissan Z concept will debut at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show.
2019 Nissan 370Z NISMO. (Photo: Nissan)
The wild rumors about the next Nissan Z are even crazier than the Nissan GT-R. They range from sharing an engine with Mercedes-Benz (a-la BMW and Toyota with the Supra), a four-door, a crossover, a tiny coupe, an electric car, a mild hybrid… someone may have even suggested steam power.
What’s crucial is the performance and price. The next Nissan Z needs to match or beat the Toyota Supra while still being somewhat affordable. It would be a big “plus” to have a manual transmission variant, but; to that end, it will take a small miracle to see the next Nissan Z in showrooms.
We will keep an eye on Nissan’s Next GT-R and Z. With any luck, we will hear a lot more in the next few months.
FordWagen VolksFord… who doesn’t like “FordWagen?”
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.
[Photo: TFLcar]
In this week’s Ask Nathan:
What’s going on with Ford and Volkswagen?
You love and hate the Chrysler 200 (AND Fiat 500L)?
Scotty vs Doug?
What’s going on with Ford and Volkswagen’s relationship? [Photo: TFLcar]
It what’s becoming a consistent topic (luxury pickup trucks), we received an email from a fan about a possible BMW X7 Pickup Truck.
Q: Via Twitter (NathanAdlen@Twitter) Let’s call them FordWagen VolksFordorVWMoCO… Ford and Volkswagen look like they are about to merge.
Is there a chance that Volkswagen is going to buy up Ford?
What’s going on?
HyMan
[Photo: TFLcar]
A: It’s just a partnership – for now. This is an expansion on what they already agreed on. Per the company’s joint statement:
Volkswagen to join Ford in investing in Argo AI, the autonomous vehicle platform company, at a valuation of more than $7 billion. Tie-up allows both automakers to independently integrate Argo AI’s self-driving system into their own vehicles, delivering unmatched global scale
Ford will use Volkswagen’s electric vehicle architecture and Modular Electric Toolkit (MEB) to design and build at least one high-volume fully electric vehicle in Europe for European customers starting in 2023, more efficiently advancing its promise to deliver expressive passenger cars while taking advantage of Volkswagen’s scale
Ford and VW on track to develop commercial vans and medium pickups for each brand in select global markets starting in 2022; sharing development costs to generate significant synergies
The Volkswagen-Ford global alliance – which does not involve cross-ownership between the companies – is expected to create annual efficiencies for each company
Say what you will about the current partnership, I see some good and (possibly) bad aspects of both. The technology and platform sharing can speed new product to our showrooms faster. We could see some nifty new products too. Unfortunately, this could be the harbinger for deeper partnerships which have the potential to kill jobs.
We’ll see.
N
We reviewed the 2015 Chrysler 200. It had great power, nice interior, cramped back seat, mediocre quality, an unloved 9-speed and all-whee drive. [Photo: TFLcar]
The next question is actually a series of comments from a viewer. I answered a few – because I’m cool like that. These were taken from a recent TFLnow video.
Q: Pentastar Nate: Y’all loved the Chrysler 200 in your review now it’s on every bad list you all have.
A: That’s because the more time we spent with it, the worse it seems to have become. The issues with the nine-speed were pretty bad.
Pentastar Nate: YOU SAID YOU LOVE THE FIAT 500L in your review of the damn Fiat 500L O. M. G. FAKE !
(Photo: TFLcar)
A: O.M.G! NEVER said I loved it. YOUR words pal! Dear god!
I did say that, when it came out, it was unique and I liked the turbo power. The interior is comfortable and there’s good cargo room too. It was pretty good in traffic and it was a cinch to park.
It’s terrible to look at. It’s horribly unreliable. MPG is mediocre. 0 to 60 is blah. Look, they misread what Americans are looking for. It should have been completely replaced by the much better 500X.
2015 Chrysler 200 Limited – usually, they give us the best examples of their cars. The base models are not very good. (Photo: TFLcar)
(In response to Andre trying to be nice about the Chrysler 200)
Pentastar Nate: Thanks for the kind words of the Chrysler 200 Andre. But DOESN’T every Mercedes loose its resale value? And doesn’t HONDA use the same 9 speed. It’s not TRYING to cover up. Forum reviews don’t lie.
A: Yes they do – but that’s not the point.
Ten companies can use the same component, but the PROGRAMMING of said component can be and is different. EVERYONE did a recall to fix it.
According to Forbes, “Recall notices will be sent to around a half million owners of 2014-2015 Jeep Cherokee and 2015 Chrysler 200, Jeep Renegade and RAM ProMaster vehicles equipped with the affected gearbox. The nine-speed is also used in the 2016 Fiat 500X; 2014–2017 Range Rover Evoque and 2015–2017 Land Rover Discovery Sport, 2015–2016 Honda Pilot, and 2015–2017 Acura TLX, though those models are not – at least not yet – involved in the campaign.”
It wasn’t until FCA updated the software that their nine-speed improved. It’s not just our words, it’s theirs. I tried telling you and emailing you before – so maybe these answers will help.
N
Scotty Kilmer [Image: YouTube via screencap]
The last question comes from someone who is not a fan of Scotty Kilmer or Doug DeMuro.
Q: Nathan, who do you like or hate more? Scotty Kilmer or Doug DeMuro?
Honestly. Scotty is a Toyota shill and Doug is in AutoTrader’s pocket. Do you like or respect either? Are they competition for you and Roman?
Marion
A: They both have positive points. I don’t see them as direct competitors as Doug does good work with exotics and older cars. Scotty is a seasoned mechanic and cuts to the chase based on his experience.
We do car reviews, news and automotive entertainment. It’s a different kind of baseball from those guys. We follow different rules and we have different goals.
I admit, I occasionally watch both. I like Doug’s review of old sports cars. Scotty is great when you want to cut to the case with what may go wrong with various cars and components.
True, I may not always agree with their assessments, I often disagree. That’s the beauty of the net – you can disagree. They may have their favorites and they may dislike others, but they are not in anyone’s pocket. Promise.
N
Speaking of fun, exciting, sexy car reviews…
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.
Of course, we have to break it in again with a drag race.
For those who have followed our Thrifty 3 series, you already know that TFL’s Tesla Model 3 has been out of action for some time now. In fact, after it got in a crunch, it has been out of commission since mid-April. Now though, after three months, we finally have it back! But why did it take nearly three months to fix it?
While we do have a Tesla facility nearby in Littleton, Colorado, they weren’t properly equipped to handle this sort of repair. What’s more, State Farm only has one approved Tesla repair shop they use in the area, which is Rickenbaugh Collision Center in downtown Denver. By the time all the parts were sourced, the damage repair costs totaled over $10,000. That included replacing the rear trunk lid, rear driver’s side quarter panel, a broken taillight, the rear bumper plus all the connecting pieces underneath, as well as both front and rear glass.
As to why it took so long, we spoke to both Rickenbaugh and Tesla, and both came back with the same answer. Tesla said that Rickenbaugh took too long in the parts ordering process, while Rickenbaugh said Tesla was slow to actually come through on replacement parts. Who’s right? It’s honestly impossible to say from the outside, but at least we finally have the Tesla back.
Will the Tesla Model 3 crush the Range Rover Sport SVR in a drag race?
Time for a drag race!
To that end, it’s time to get back to seeing what it’s like to live with an electric car. Since we’ve had the Tesla away so long, we’re breaking it back in using a TFL tried and true method — a drag race!
Against our Tesla Model 3 Dual Motor, we’ve pitched one of the most ridiculous performance SUVs out there right now. The 2019 Range Rover Sport SVR is the fastest Range Rover you can buy at the moment. With a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 under the hood, this SVR makes 577 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. It routes that power to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. It’s also pricey, with our tester coming in at $131,520. That’s nearly triple the price of our Tesla Model 3.
But is it faster? Sad day for enthusiasts of internal combustion, as the Model 3 does take the Range Rover here at a mile above sea level. Even still, the Range Rover Sport SVR has a completely different character and these two don’t directly compete. However, we also have a brand new G20 BMW 3 Series in the TFL office, and that does compete against luxury cars like the Model 3.
Stay tuned to next week’s Thrifty 3 series to see that comparison! If you missed out on last week’s insanely fast drag race, check that out below:
Volkswagen rolled the final Beetle off the assembly line in Puebla, Mexico Wednesday.
In the Beetle’s place, Volkswagen will build the Tarek crossover instead.
The Volkswagen Tarek slots below the larger Tiguan and Atlas.
Production is slated to start in 2020, with sales starting in the U.S. by late 2021.
The small crossover will slot below the Tiguan.
This Wednesday, Volkswagen rolled the final Beetle off the assembly line in Puebla, Mexico. In its place, the company plans to tool up to build the Tarek crossover in its place. We learned the Tarek would come to the U.S. market back in May, and Volkswagen de Mexico CEO Steffen Reiche confirmed that the Puebla plant would start production of the new CUV. Volkswagen will build the crossover alongside its larger sibling, the Tiguan.
The Puebla assembly plant also builds the current-generation Volkswagen Jetta and the Golf.
Now, the company will start building the Tarek in 2020. We expect it to go on sale from there in North and South America near the end of 2021. Despite its arrival being two years away, the crossover already exists as the Tharu in the Chinese market. This crossover likely won’t make it to the European market, as they already have the Volkswagen T-Roc instead.
Another crossover?
Crossover mania is still in full swing in the United States. Some of the best-selling cars in the country are CUVs like the Toyota RAV4, Nissan Rogue and Honda CR-V. Volkswagen naturally wants to expand in the market, particularly as smaller crossovers are cropping up to fill out the entire spectrum. Now, most manufacturers have everything from a tiny city runabout to massive, three-row family haulers.
Currently, Volkswagen just sells the compact Tiguan and mid-size Atlas. The Audi brand is much more complete, with the Q3, Q5, Q7 and Q8. So there’s still room for Volkswagen to move, even beyond the Tarek. The company also unveiled a five-seater Atlas Cross Sport, which will sit between the Tiguan and three-row Atlas in the lineup.
In the Chinese market, the Volkswagen Tarek currently uses two engines. The standard powertrain is a 1.2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, while a 1.4-liter is optional. Both mate up to the company’s ubiquitous seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Volkswagen has yet to announce which engines the U.S. will get, but we suspect the 1.4-liter engine is the most likely. That engine currently lives in both the Jetta and the Golf, so all the cars at the Puebla plant can use the same engine.
H/T to The Drive and Rob Stumpf for his reporting on this story.
After just two model years, GM decided to drop the 1.6-liter diesel engines from the 2020 Chevy Equinox and GMC Terrain lineup. It was one of the most efficient crossovers on sale, but the demand just isn’t there to continue building it. Kevin Kelly, a Chevrolet spokesperson, broke the news to The Car ConnectionFriday.
“We did discontinue the diesel engine option in the 2020 Chevrolet Equinox due to low demand,” Kelly said. It’s not terribly surprising, given the low demand for diesel engines in the wake of several emissions and fuel economy scandals. In the Equinox/Terrain twins, the turbodiesel managed 28 City / 39 Highway / 32 Combined mpg on front-wheel drive models. All-wheel drive versions lost 1 mpg on the highway.
Now, one of the last remaining affordable diesel cars will be the longly anticipated Mazda CX-5. Weirdly, though, the diesel engine will only be available on the top-end Signature trim, with all-wheel drive. That’s the most expensive trim level, priced from $42,045 with the diesel engine. The Equinox was much more affordable, starting at just $30,795.
There are some sound reasons why prospective buyers went for the gas engines instead. Gasoline is cheaper than diesel at the moment, and the 1.5-liter turbo engine manages similar fuel economy around town to the diesel. The peppier 2.0-liter turbo engine was only $100 more expensive, and you didn’t have to deal with the noise and roughness of the diesel engines in the process.
If you are a fan of the diesel models — I know there are some of you out there — 2019 is your last chance to pick up a Chevy Equinox or GMC Terrain with a diesel engine. You may be able to get some deals, too.
Correction 7/11/19: We incorrectly cited Autoblog as the original source for this story earlier today. The Car Connection originally broke the story. We apologize for the error.
If recently leaked photos are accurate, this is the 2021 Acura MDX. [Photos: Acurazine forum]
How did the 2021 Acura MDX and a new flagship sedan — or possibly the redesigned TLX — suddenly appear? The story goes: an Acura RDX owner was digging though images on the car’s head unit, loaded it into his Android developer toolkit, and what do you know? Suddenly, these images appeared. He posted the photos to the Acurazine website.
These appear to be images that will be standard in upcoming Acura models – in a year or so. Indeed, Acura did not mean for the general public to see these images just yet.
Fortunately, the exterior and interior designs look pretty cool. If these turn out to be real representations, we’re in for some more good looking Acuras in the near future.
What we see on the 2021 Acura MDX
The Acura MDX looks like it has an all-new front end. Not just a redesigned grille — the whole nose is new. The section under the new grille is completely unique showing overlapping lines that feed into large air intakes. The headlights are even more aggressive looking. The rear end looks tighter and a bit more shapely than before.
We get a nice peek at the interior of the MDX too. Apparently, the gauge cluster and ambient lighting color are meant to change depending on the drive mode. Speaking of drive mode, user RDX.god posted several images covering what could be all the possibilities. The drive modes supposedly range from Comfort to Normal, Slippery, Lift, Sport, Sport+, Snow and Personal. That’s a whole lot of choice, if those all find their way into the new MDX or Acura’s upcoming sedan.
Acura flagship sedan (new TLX?)
This shows some new Acura sedan — possibly the redesigned TLX.
This is a far less telling vehicle as it looks different than the sedans Acura currently carries. Different to the point that it doesn’t look like a replacement to the RLX – which is currently the flagship sedan. The rear glass doesn’t match the RLX at all.
Almost Italian-looking, this Acura flagship sedan is a vast improvement in exterior design.
Perhaps it’s a new TLX? If Acura really wanted to come out of left field, they may use this sedan to revive the old Legend nameplate.
We have no technical information, naturally, but we do know that Acura is rumored to be presenting a new flagship at Pebble Beach this August. Stay tuned for a lot more from Acura, including a behind-the-scenes with their racing team!
The steering wheel from the upcoming C8 Corvette. [Photo: Chevrolet]
The C8 Corvette will be revealed July 18.
Yes, by now we have seen Chevrolet’s upcoming C8 Corvette from the outside over and over and over again. Now, though, GM published a small peek at the steering wheel ahead of the car’s official debut on Thursday, July 18. While the exterior is a radical overhaul from the C7’s design, this steering wheel looks fairly familiar. The more things change?
Chevrolet did square off the steering wheel at the top as well as the bottom, and added a center stripe for good measure. The cruise control buttons, voice command and menu selection buttons remain more or less where they were in the old Corvette, although they are laid out a bit differently (old C7 interior below for comparison).
One of the major changes from the old design is the two-spoke design. Unlike the old car, the C8 Corvette does not have a three-spoke wheel. Chevrolet also made the shift paddles silver this time. What’s more, they are more obvious both by sight and touch, so you’re not just flicking at pieces of small, black plastic when you’re hooning your C8 Corvette on the track.
The new steering wheel for the C8 Corvette looks a lot more purposeful than the last generation. On that basis, I’m curious to see what Chevrolet has in store for the rest of the car. Stay tuned next week for the official reveal!
They’re already more expensive anyway, thanks to dealer markup.
I’ll come right out and admit it: I love the Honda Civic Type R. When we had one in our office a few weeks ago, I wasn’t sure about all the factory boy racer bits, like the splitter, the side skirts, tightly bolstered sport seats and the massive wing on the back. It ultimately won me over, and is one of the few cars we review I’d want to own myself. However, that may be difficult, as Honda just bumped the starting price on the 2020 Civic Type R to $37,230 in the United States.
When the car first went on sale back in 2017, Honda put a sticker price starting at $34,775. That put it cheaper than the Ford Focus RS and the base Subaru WRX STI. Granted, with all 306 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque going to the front wheels, it’s exactly half as all-wheel drive as those two. But trust me, the Honda Civic Type R grips so well, the front-wheel drive just doesn’t matter.
Over time, Honda kept bumping up the price through the 2018 and 2019 model years. The company pegged the 2019 model’s starting price at $36,620. Now, it’s $610 more expensive for 2020, with no apparent changes in sight. For 2019, the Civic Type R did get an updated Display Audio system and changed some of the interior buttons a bit. It’s by no means lacking, and Honda keeping the formula the same means it’s still just as good now as it was in 2017, if nothing else.
Still a decent price against the competition
Here’s the thing: Honda likely realized it made this car too inexpensive in the first place. Of course, manufacturers do tend to raise prices slowly over a car’s life to keep up with inflation. The car is $2,500 more than the first model year, but good luck actually finding one for around $35,000. Dealers have been marking this car up these past few years. Even used examples are difficult to find under $35,000.
Still, if you can snipe a 2020 Honda Civic Type R around MSRP, it’s still something of a bargain, if not quite as much as the older ones were. The 2019 Volkswagen Golf R starts off at $41,290, while a new WRX STI starts at $37,480.
