AD #2308 – California Special Mustang Returns, Waymo Tests Autonomous Semis, How Achates Improved the OP Engine

On today’s show…Waymo is testing autonomous semi-trucks in Atlanta…Ford is bringing back a special version of the Mustang…and Achates shares how it improved the opposed piston engine. All that and more coming right up on Autoline Daily.

This is Autoline Daily the show for enthusiasts of the automotive industry.

WAYMO TESTING AUTONOMOUS SEMIS
Earlier this year, Waymo ordered thousands of Chrysler Pacifica hybrids to use for its driverless ride hailing service, that will kick off in Phoenix, Arizona this year. But the company isn’t just using the technology to move passengers around. Waymo will start testing autonomous semi-trucks in Atlanta this week, which will carry freight to Google’s data centers in the area. There will be human riders in the trucks to take over if needed. This is an area that’s starting to see a lot of activity. Last week Uber also announced plans to test autonomous semi-trucks in Arizona. It’s a good application for the technology because it will allow cargo to be moved faster and safer across the country.

CONTINENTAL BOOSTS 48V HYBRID PRODUCTION
The supplier company Continental is beefing up production of its 48-volt mild-hybrid system. The company just formed a joint venture with Sichuan Chengfei Integration Technology to build the systems in China, starting later this year. The new company, which Continental will own 60% of, will supply the systems globally. Continental says its 48V hybrid improves fuel economy in gasoline engines up to 21% and 9% in diesels. Renault and Audi started using the hybrid system last year, it’s also the supplier for the V6 version on the new Ram pickup and by 2025 Continental expects 48V hybrids to be equipped in 14% of new vehicles worldwide.

GM REVEALS BAOJUN 530
And speaking of China, GM along with its joint venture partners SAIC and Wuling just introduced a new compact crossover in the country. Called the Baojun 530, its available in eight variants with a choice of a 1.8L or 1.5L turbocharged engine, which can be mated to a six-speed manual or a dual clutch transmission. It starts at about $12,000 and runs up to $18,000.

And we’ll be back with some Ford Performance announcements right after this.

FORD BRINGS BACK CALIFORNIA SPECIAL MUSTANG
Unless you’ve been living in a doomsday bunker, you’ve probably heard that Ford is bringing back the BULLITT Mustang and soon another iconic pony car will join the ranks, the California Special. First offered as a production car in 1968, today the GT/CS features a blacked-out grille, front splitter, trademark fading stripe that runs from the 5.0 side badge to rear fender scoop, unique 5-spoke wheels and California Special badging on the trunk as well as throughout the interior. Also joining the lineup for 2019 is rev-matching on 5.0L V8 models with a manual trans, a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system and active exhaust for 4-cylinder EcoBoost models. The 2019 Mustang will be on sale this summer.

FORD UPDATES THE FIESTA ST
And speaking of Ford performance models, its European division is releasing more information about the new Fiesta ST. Under the hood will be a turbocharged 1.5L 3-cylinder engine that produces nearly 200-horsepower. It also features cylinder deactivation, very interesting for a 3-cylinder and active exhaust technology. To improve cornering, an optional mechanical limited-slip differential is available, while force vectoring springs, as Ford calls them, are standard. These are non-uniform, non-interchangeable, directionally-wound springs that are used to improve lateral stiffness. The new Fiesta ST hot hatch goes on sale in Europe this spring.

Coming up next, Achates explains why its opposed piston engine, is better than the versions that came before it.

HOW ACHATES IMPROVED THE OPPOSED PISTON ENGINE
The opposed piston engine was first created decades ago but it never caught on. However, Achates Power, a company that’s developing opposed piston engines, says its come up with a breakthrough. It says a Ford F-150 with its engine can get a whopping 37 MPG combined. On Autoline After Hours, we were joined by David Johnson, the President and CEO of Achates Power, and he shared what makes their opposed piston engine different from early versions.

(The AAH preview is only available in the video version of today’s show.)

For a deeper dive into Achates’ opposed piston engine, you can watch that entire discussion right now on our website, Autoline.tv or you can find it on our YouTube channel.

But that’s it for today, thanks for watching and please join us again tomorrow.