AD #2576 – Lincoln Corsair Walkaround, Toyota Refreshes the Highlander, China EV Bubble About to Burst?

This is Autoline Daily reporting on the global automotive industry.

AAA CALLS FOR ADAPTIVE DRIVING BEAM HEADLIGHTS
To help improve safety while driving at night, the AAA says it’s time to allow vehicles equipped with Adaptive Driving Beam Headlights on U.S. roads, as they are in Europe and Canada. If you’re not familiar with the technology, the high beams are always on and when the car detects another vehicle, that area is shaded to prevent glare. The AAA says they improve lighting by as much as 86% compared to low-beam lights. While there is similar technology in the U.S. that automatically switches between high and low beams, which helps, however the low beams stay on when other cars are present, and that mitigates its effectiveness. We’ve had experience with adaptive driving beam headlights and they work really well, so we think it makes sense to adopt the technology too.

CHINA EV BUBBLE ABOUT TO BURST?
China wants to significantly boost the number of electric vehicles on its roads but some analysts are worried that the EV bubble is about to burst. According to Bloomberg, there are 486 EV manufacturers registered in the country, which is triple the amount from just two years ago. That’s because it’s not just automakers investing in electrics. Internet, electronic and even real-estate moguls are pouring money into EV startups. EV sales are expected to hit 1.6 million vehicles this year in China but that’s just 4% of all passenger car sales, and that isn’t enough demand to support all those brands. The Chinese government also slashed subsidies for EVs to encourage manufacturers to innovate instead of relying on subsidies. That’s why analysts are saying we’re likely to see a number of EV companies go under or get gobbled up by larger automakers.

Still to come…a look at some of the latest reveals in New York.

NISSAN UPGRADES GT-R NISMO
Godzilla just got a little bigger and badder. Nissan made a number of race inspired upgrades to the GT-R NISMO. There’s a ton of carbon fiber on this car, including the front and rear bumpers, front fenders, hood, roof, side sill covers, trunk and rear spoiler, which contributes to a weight loss of nearly 70-pounds. Scalloped vents on top of the fenders were modeled after the GT3 GT-R and help improve downforce and smooth out aerodynamics. New turbochargers, also from the GT3 car, is said to “enhance the acceleration response by 20%.” Other highlights include a revised titanium exhaust system, updated suspension tuning and carbon ceramic Brembo brakes.

NISSAN CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OF GT-R & Z CAR
Nissan also celebrated the 50th anniversaries of the GT-R and the Z car with a couple of special edition models. Both feature a number of unique 50th anniversary touches inside and out.

TOYOTA REFRESHES THE HIGHLANDER
Toyota took the wraps off the new Highlander, which is built on a new platform and features updated styling. Two powertrains are available, a 3.5L V6 that’s mated to an 8-speed automatic, which is expected to deliver 22 MPGs combined. It’s also offered with a hybrid, which consists of a 2.5L four-cylinder engine and two electric motors. It’s estimated to deliver 34 MPGs combined, which is a 17% improvement over the current Highlander Hybrid. The new SUV is also now available with Toyota’s safety suite of driver assistance technologies. The regular Highlander hits dealer showrooms in the U.S. in December while the Hybrid will be available in February of 2020.

NEW GENESIS CONCEPT IS MINTY FRESH
Genesis revealed a sleek, compact car called the Mint. The electric concept has a range of 200 miles and was created by the company’s design studios in Europe, Asia and the U.S. One of its wildest features is how you gain access to the rear. it doesn’t have a traditional trunk, instead, you can access it through two scissor-style doors on either side of the vehicle. While this won’t make it to production, the Mint concept is meant to show off the company’s vision of a future city car.

JAGUAR UPDATES THE XE
Jaguar refreshed the XE sedan for 2020 and this is a bit more than your standard refresh. At the front, the bumper has been reworked, the headlamps are slimmer and the grille and lower vents are wider. The rear bumper has also been updated as has the rear taillights and valance. The interior has been redesigned with greater use of soft-touch materials. Customers can also choose an optional 10-inch upper touchscreen. Other technology highlights include more driver assistance features and a new digital rear view mirror, similar to what GM has been using. The 2020 XE will start arriving this summer with a starting price of nearly $41,000, including destination charges.

There was one more, big reveal in New York yesterday, the new Lincoln Corsair. John talked with the chief engineer of the new SUV, and that’s coming up next.

LINCOLN CORSAIR WALKAROUND
(The Lincoln Corsair walkaround is only available in the video version of today’s show.)

Thanks for that report John. And for even more New York Auto Show coverage, be sure to tune into Autoline After Hours tomorrow afternoon. John and Gary will be talking about the latest reveals, so tune in to see what vehicles they think stole the show.

But that wraps up today’s report, thanks for watching and we’ll see you tomorrow.