AD #3057 – Polestar 2 Range Extended; Magna Takes on More EV Manufacturing; Dodge Durango Hellcat Review

This is Autoline Daily, the show dedicated to enthusiasts of the global automotive industry.

POLESTAR 2 LINEUP & RANGE EXPANDED
Polestar is expanding the Polestar 2 lineup. A single motor version is now available. It keeps the same 78-kWh battery as the dual motor models but its range is 260 miles compared to 233 miles. And if both models are equipped with the new available heat pump, range increases by another 10%. Horsepower in the single motor model is 231 horses compared to 204 horsepower on each axle of the dual motor version. Polestar is also adding a simplified version of the dual motor model to the lineup. Interior and exterior styling is the same for all models. Pricing will be revealed in the next few weeks and single motor Polestar 2s will arrive in the U.S. at the end of the year. The Launch Edition currently costs about $60,000, so the new models will likely be below that.

MAGNA TO MAKE EV STARTUP’S ELECTRIC SKATEBOARD
Israeli startup REE Automotive is a company that’s developed a modular electric vehicle platform. The “skateboard” design houses the battery in the floor, while the powertrain, suspension and steering components are all integrated into the wheel arches at the corners. The platform is designed for commercial applications and can range in size from small urban delivery vehicles to large vans. Last year, it signed a deal with Indian automaker Mahindra to develop and build electric commercial vehicles. And now REE is collaborating with the supplier Magna to help it manufacture and bring its platform to market. REE is targeting tech companies and new electric mobility companies that want to use its platform. Magna and REE will also look into creating “Mobility-as-a-Service” in the light-commercial vehicle segment.

YAMAHA MAKING PERFORMANCE ELECTRIC MOTORS
Yamaha is known for making motorcycles, but it also wants to power EV hypercars. It developed an electric motor with an output of up to 350 kW when operating on 800-volts. Yamaha says it’s a compact design that integrates the gear and inverter together and expects multiple units to be used together in performance EVs and other high-output applications. The company is now accepting commissions for developing prototypes.

VOLVO TEAMS WITH NVIDIA TO IMPROVE AV CAPABILITIES
Volvo is expanding its partnership with NVIDIA to improve the AV capabilities of its next-generation vehicles. It’s going to use NVIDIA’s DRIVE Orin technology, which will allow Volvo to increase its computing power and graphics processing to handle more complex driving situations. Volvo says it will be capable of “unsupervised autonomous driving” or what should be a Level 2 system that it calls Highway Pilot. The system will be available on Volvo’s upcoming SPA2 platform, which underpins the all-new XC90 that gets revealed next year.

BMW TEAMS WITH NVIDIA TO IMPROVE MANUFACTURING
Speaking of NVIDIA, it’s teaming up with BMW to help optimize its manufacturing. BMW will use NVIDIA’s Omniverse platform, which is a virtual factory planning tool that increases the precision, speed and efficiency of the planning process. Virtual planning is not new, but requires data from various platforms, which can cause compatibility issues and the data is not always up to date. Omniverse creates a highly detailed virtual representation of a plant and brings that data, which was coming from various platforms, into one area. This allows those building the plant or making modifications to it to collaborate in real-time. We think this is a tool BMW will use to optimize its EV manufacturing since making EVs requires new or different assembly steps as well as fewer workers.

BENTLEY TESTING RENEWABLE FUELS UP PIKE’S PEAK
Porsche isn’t the only brand under the VW umbrella that’s working with advanced biofuels and eFuels. So is Bentely. And it’s going to be showing off its capability in the downforce machine seen in front of you, which will be looking to break a time record up Pike’s Peak in late June. But the real hope is vehicles that run on these fuels will be able to travel in areas that have ICE bans since they have shown the possibility to reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions up to 85% compared to standard fuel. If that happens, companies, like Porsche and Bentley will offer renewable fuels to customers, so they can keep driving their cars, past and present for years to come.

GM LAUNCHING DOWNLOADABLE NAVIGATION APP
General Motors is giving customers who don’t have navigation built in their vehicles a solution. It’s launching a new downloadable, in-vehicle app called Maps+. Some of its features include, voice command activation for new destinations and directions with Alexa Built-In. Routing based on real-time traffic, speed and road hazard alerts and routing to nearby gas stations if fuel is low. The upgrade is for select 2018 and newer Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC and Buick vehicles. It will start rolling out at the end of the month and be available for all models by the end of the year.

DODGE DURANGO SRT HELLCAT REVIEW
We had a Durango SRT Hellcat roll through the Autoline Garage. As you probably guessed, the SUV is powered by the supercharged 6.2L Hellcat V8 found in the Challenger and Charger. It cranks out 710 horsepower and is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel-drive. And all we can say is “wow!” This thing will put a smile on your face. The engine sounds great at startup, and even better when you put your foot into the accelerator. It certainly makes running an errand much more exciting. And like most of FCA’s models, the interior is top notch. Ours featured suede on the seats and headliner, along with carbon fiber accents throughout the interior. And it comes with bolstered front seats, a flat-bottom performance steering wheel and other specific trim and badging.

But as fun as this model is, there are a few downsides. While the engine does sound good, the rumble can be a bit annoying during everyday driving. And this thing is the definition of a gas guzzler. At an EPA rated 13 MPG combined, you’ll be making lots of trips to the gas station. It’s also quite pricey. The SUV starts at about $82,500 but the model we drove had a few upgrades which pushed the price to just over $90,000. However, that hefty price is likely due to it being a limited model. Dodge is only going to build the SUV for the 2021 model year only. So if you’re interested in the Durango Hellcat, you don’t want to wait around.

But that’s it for today, thanks for watching and we’ll see you again tomorrow.