Tag Archives: Safety

Ford Recalls Nearly 185K F-150s

admin • December 23, 2021

Ford announced it’s recalling almost 185,000 F-150 full-size pickups. The 2021 and 2022 model-year trucks are experiencing driveshaft problems that could cause it to fracture.

All-new F-150 — Ford is recalling nearly 185,000 F-150 pickups from the 2021 and 2022 model years.

The issue only affects certain F-150 Crew Cab 4×4 pickups, according to the filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The company’s began examining the issue since July.

The truck’s underbody thermal/acoustic insulators can loosen over time. If they come in contact with the truck’s aluminum driveshaft, they can cause scoring or marks. If this goes on long enough, the heat generated each time can eventually crack the driveshaft.

Potential results if the issue is not repaired

“A fractured driveshaft may result in loss of motive power,” the report states, “unintended vehicle movement while the vehicle is in park if the parking brake is not applied, and may result in secondary damage to surrounding components.”

Additionally, once fractured, the driveshaft could break loose and touch the ground, causing the driver to lose control of the pickup, potentially resulting in a crash. The company is unaware of any accidents or injuries caused by the problem.

2021 Ford F-150 - at work site — Some Ford F-150 pickups are facing issues with the aluminum driveshaft on the truck.

Owners are advised to look for a “loose underbody insulator.” They should also listen for a rattling, clicking or clunking noise due to the loose insulator coming in contact with the driveshaft. The scoring or marking on the driveshaft described earlier may also be visible.

Next steps

Ford’s taken steps to resolve the problem during production by swapping the underbody thermal acoustic insulator for an under-carpet thermal patch at the two plants — Dearborn (MI) Truck and Kansas City (KS) Assembly — already.

Dealers received the notice Tuesday, and owners will begin receiving notices in the mail shortly. They will be instructed to make an appointment with their dealer to have “positive attachment features adde to the underbody insulators.”

They’ll also inspect the driveshaft for scoring or marks that may have already occurred. This will be done at no expense to the truck owner.

As of Dec. 7, Ford received 27 reports of fractured aluminum driveshafts possibly related to sagging underbody insulators on the F-150s, the automaker said in an Automotive News report.

NHTSA Opens Investigation into Tesla Gaming Software

admin • December 22, 2021

Patton plays games driving Model 3 — Journalist Vince Patton demonstrates its possible to play video games while driving his Tesla Model 3.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) it is investigating 580,000 Tesla vehicles sold since 2017 that allow those seated up front to play games on the infotainment touchscreen while the vehicle is in motion.

The investigation stems from a complaint filed with agency earlier this month by Vince Patton, a retired journalist from Portland, Oregon.

The formal safety investigation, which was announced Wednesday, covers 2017-2022 Tesla Model 3, S, X, and Y vehicles. NHTSA opened the investigation “based on reports that Tesla gameplay functionality, which is visible on the front center touchscreen from the driver’s seat, is enabled even when the vehicle is being driven.”

Tesla made the software more dangerous

The 2021 Tesla Model S gets an all-new interior, a yoke-style steering wheel and the updated software being investigated by NHTSA.

The feature, known as “Passenger Play,” increases the risk of a crash. Since December 2020, the feature can be used while driving. Prior to that, it could only be used when the vehicle was in Park. The agency said that it is evaluating aspects of the feature, including how frequently it’s used and when.

NHTSA is concerned about distracted driving, an increasing risk as automakers bring increased online connectivity to infotainment touchscreens. Distracted driving caused 3,142 deaths in 2019, all of them preventable.

While Passenger Play does have a warning stating the game is meant solely for passengers. Although it asks for confirmation that the player is a passenger and not the driver, there is nothing preventing the driver from playing while driving.

Other Tesla safety issues

Consumer Reports criticized the performance of Tesla’s latest version of Autopilot.

It’s not NHTSA’s only Tesla safety investigation, nor Tesla’s only safety issue.

In August, the agency opened a formal safety investigation of 765,000 Teslas equipped with its Autopilot driver-assistance system after 11 crashes involving parked emergency vehicles killed one person and injured 17. The inquiry covers 2014-2021 Models S, X, Y and 3.

In October, Tesla had to roll back full self-driving, or FSD, with Musk revealing that the company is “seeing some issues with 10.3, so rolling back to 10.2 temporarily.”

And in November, Tesla issued a recall for 11,704 vehicles sold in the U.S. since 2017. The recall covers Model S, X, 3 and Y vehicles and came about as a result of an over-the-air firmware update of the automaker’s “Full Self-Driving Beta,” its advanced driver assistance system.

The company identified a software communication error that could cause the forward-collision warning or automatic emergency brake system to falsely activate, possibly leading to a rear-end collision.

Other OEM infotainment issues

2022 Mercedes EQS 580 4Matic black daytime — The new Mercedes-Benz EQS was recalled after it was found that its MBUX system allowed television and internet to be displayed while driving

Other automakers are far more concerned over distracted driving than Tesla. On November 29, Mercedes-Benz recalled 227 vehicles in the U.S. after the company discovered that its MBUX infotainment system allowed television and internet to be displayed while driving.

The recall affected 2021 Mercedes-Benz S580, 2022 EQS450, EQS580, and S500 models. Mercedes-Benz has already corrected the problem, and no deaths or injuries seem to have resulted from the problem.

Musk pays billions to satisfy tax bill

In other Tesla news, Reuters is reporting that Tesla CEO Elon Musk sold 10% of his own company stock, 13.5 million shares, 8.06 million of which were sold to pay taxes. The billionaire said he is paying more than $11 billion in taxes this year.

“California used to be the land of opportunity and now it is … becoming more so the land of sort of overregulation, overlitigation, overtaxation,” Musk told Reuters, adding his combined federal and state tax rate tops 50 percent.

The tax bill may explain why Musk recently relocated Tesla’s headquarters to Austin, Texas from Palo Alto, California.

But taxes aren’t Musk’s only concern.

The company has submitted all the documentation required to get its factory approved near Berlin, Germany. Approval of Tesla’s newest manufacturing facility has been delayed by environmental concerns and red tape due to Tesla’s decision to add a battery factory to the site. That has delayed the approval process. It remains unclear when the new plant is expected to open.

NHTSA Investigating Ram’s Diesel Pickups

admin • October 18, 2021

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Ram

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened an investigation into nearly 605,000 heavy-duty Ram trucks. A report from the regulator’s Office of Defects Investigation has tabulated 22 complaints from the 2019 and 2020 model years, all of which use 6.7-liter Cummins turbo diesel engines, spurring the NHTSA to launch a formal investigation. Complaints revolve around loss of motive power, with most incidents occurring above 25 mph and resulting in the “permanent disablement of the vehicle.”

While the public was not made aware of the investigation until Monday, the agency launched its probe last Thursday on October 14th. The goal will be to establish how widespread the presumed defect is, what exactly caused it, and any potential safety hazards relating to the issue. Some headway has already been made, however.

Back in 2019, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (now Stellantis) issued Warranty Bulletin D-19-02 to dealers. The memo requested stores participate in a campaign to “collect, monitor and correct quality issues” on certain MY 2018-2020 Ram trucks equipped with the 6.7-liter Cummins. The NHTSA’s action summary states that this resulted in FCA and an unnamed supplier collecting and inspecting high-pressure fuel pumps.

Vehicles under suspicion include all Ram 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 HD pickups from the 2019-2020 MY. The NHTSA plans on looking into the trucks to determine whether or not it needs to press Stellantis to launch a recall. That means asking the manufacturer to give its take on the situation while it compiles warranty claims, injury reports, and whatever FCA previously had on those suspect fuel pumps.

Regulators have been incredibly hard on diesel vehicles ever since Volkswagen’s emissions scandal upended the industry in 2015. While a part of me wants to believe the NHTSA just has it out for Ram’s HD lineup (since a few have asked), it seems far more plausible that this was a standard, shrug-your-shoulders defect. Selective environmental regulations have made diesels cost more as they’ve gradually amassed a bevy of pollutant controlling hardware while also complicating powertrains to a point that has lessened their overall effectiveness. But the impact this has had on their reliability is less obvious and may have nothing to do with a bunch of subpar fuel pumps.

Let’s face it, U.S. regulators haven’t been shy about hitting manufacturers with emissions-focused recalls backed by the Environmental Protection Agency and/or California Air Resources Board in the past. If they wanted to chide Cummins or FCA/Stellantis over pollution, they could have done so overtly.

Stellantis has said it plans on cooperating with the NHTSA fully, launching an investigation of its own for good measure. So we should have some answers soon, including the name of the supplier. In the meantime, you might want to keep a closer eye on how your HD Ram is running if it falls under the purview of the investigation.

[Image: Stellantis]

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Advanced Driver Assistance Systems Drive Just as Badly as Humans in the Rain

admin • October 15, 2021

If you’re driving in a downpour, the technology you rely on to make you a better driver day in, and day out is likely useless.

Connected Vehicles 2 — In ideal conditions, ADAS is very helpful, but a new study shows in moderate to heavy rain, suffered performance issues.

At least according to a new study from AAA, which tested a variety of safety technologies typically lumped together under the Advanced Driver Assistance Systems moniker and found they performed no better than humans in moderate to heavy rain.

The performance issues stem from the assistance systems inability to “see” better than a live person during those weather events — they don’t it turns out. The reason for this is pretty simple and is the same one that’s plagued these technologies from the beginning.

“Vehicle safety systems rely on sensors and cameras to see road markings, other cars, pedestrians and roadway obstacles. So naturally, they are more vulnerable to environmental factors like rain,” said Greg Brannon, AAA’s director of automotive engineering and industry relations.

“The reality is people aren’t always driving around in perfect, sunny weather so we must expand testing and take into consideration things people actually contend with in their day-to-day driving.”

The Lexus LSS+ suite of advanced driver assistance systems becomes standard for 2020.

No better than people

During closed course testing with simulated rainfall AAA researchers found test vehicles equipped with automatic emergency braking traveling at 35 mph collided with a stopped vehicle one third (33%) of the time.

Lane keeping assistance didn’t fare any better with test vehicles departing their lane 69% of the time. Vehicle safety systems, also known as advanced driver assistance systems or ADAS, are typically evaluated in ideal operating conditions. However, in order to get real world results, AAA attempts to simulate real world conditions.

Additionally, the study found automatic emergency braking engaged while approaching a stopped vehicle in the lane ahead:

In aggregate, testing conducted at 25 mph resulted in a collision for 17% of test runs
In aggregate, testing conducted at 35 mph resulted in a collision for 33% of test runs

Emergency Auto Braking — Driver assistance features like emergency auto-braking struggled in certain situations.

Meanwhile, lane–keeping assistance engaged to maintain the vehicle’s lane position “veered outside of the lane markers 69% of the time,” the results showed.

Other shortcomings and what to do

The safety technology fell short of ideal in other ways too, for example, it struggled to stay in its lane — despite markings — on curved roads as well as streets with busy intersections.

It also struggled to stop for pedestrians involved in everyday activities, such as walking in front of a vehicle, a child running out from between two parked vehicles or when people were walking at night.

Occasionally, it struggled with dealing with a disabled vehicle on the road or “coming too close to other vehicles or guardrails.”

AAA’s research continues to show that vehicle safety system performance varies widely, reinforcing that they are not a replacement for a fully engaged driver.

“AAA recognizes these systems have the ability to lessen the chance of a crash and improve the overall safety of driving,” continued Brannon. “Fine-tuning their performance and providing drivers with a more consistent experience will go a long way in unlocking their true potential.”

IIHS Claims Marijuana Legalization Causes Crashes

admin • June 17, 2021

<img data-attachment-id="1766152" data-permalink="https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2021/06/iihs-claims-marijuana-legalization-causes-crashes/marijuanaanddriving-dontdrivehigh-carkeysand/" data-orig-file="http://theautomotivearchaeologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/iihs-claims-marijuana-legalization-causes-crashes-5.jpg" data-orig-size="1000,667" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"Shutterstock","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"Copyright (c) 2017 Mitch M\/Shutterstock. No use without permission.","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"Marijuana,And,Driving-,Don't,Drive,High,-,Car,Keys,And","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Marijuana car keys THC dope weed dui" data-image-description="

Mitch M/Shutterstock

It’s always nice to get a break from the endless stream of industry marketing materials about electrification, though this week’s impromptu theme still involves going green. Following news that General Motors is considering changing its drug testing policies to exclude marijuana, there has been heavy coverage of an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) study claiming states that have legalized recreational use of cannabis are seeing more crashes.

But the framing seems wildly irresponsible as it fails to highlight the problem being heavily tied to individuals operating a vehicle under the influence of marijuana and alcohol combined. It’s more or less what the IIHS attempted to do in 2018 with help from the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI). Our guess is that the duo is seeking out fresh reasons for insurance companies to raise rates in regions that have legalized pot because even their own research complicates the issue.

Their latest data suggests that legalization and retail sales of cannabis in California, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington resulted in a 6 percent increase in injury crash rates and a 4 percent increase in fatal crash rates compared with other Western states where pot was illegal at the time of the study. The IIHS and HLDI have actually conducted a series of studies since 2014, with the outcome often the same. But it’s at odds with a study released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in 2015, which came to the conclusion that THC wasn’t contributing to an increase in accidents.

Independent tests and surveys have been a mixed bag. The majority seem to agree that cannabis consumption typically slows driver reaction times and makes it harder to focus. But regular users don’t tend to suffer from these side effects and the abundance of caution THC hilariously might make some stoners better drivers. Simulations have likewise shown them to be less likely to speed or act aggressively in traffic and they typically increase following distances (something the IIHS noted). There are even instances where testing has shown subjects declining to get behind a wheel in a real-world setting, after stating they didn’t feel comfortable driving high.

There’s been no consensus on whether or not smoking pot makes you a menace behind the wheel but the early data seems to suggest not. So then why are the IIHS and HLDI claiming otherwise? Because they can incorporate alcohol on the sly.

In fact, the latest from those outlets used data collected from injured drivers visiting emergency rooms in Sacramento, California; Denver, Colorado; and Portland, Oregon — none of which represented an increased risk associated with marijuana unless it was combined with booze. Of the 1,200 people examined, none of the drivers that tested positive for smoking weed were injured at a higher rate than those who were sober. But the ones that were drinking and also decided to puff the magic dragon did see elevated numbers.

This isn’t a recommendation to get stoned and hop into a vehicle. We wouldn’t advise using any mind-altering substance to someone preparing to drive an automobile and being sober offers some pretty clear tactical advantages. However, the framing of these studies is often misleading and unhelpful in terms of deciding future legislation in a truly effective manner.

If you’re hoping for an outlet that actually seems interested in getting to the bottom of things without a lot of spin, the American Automobile Association (AAA) has frequently shown itself capable of nuance. It’s looked into the issue to and decided that the most serious issue is likely people partying themselves into oblivion using a variety of substances. The AAA Foundation’s annual Traffic Safety Culture Index found that drivers who use both marijuana and alcohol “were significantly more prone to driving under the influence of alcohol alone versus those who only drink alcohol but do not use marijuana.”

The outlet also made it clear that it does not support the “legalization of recreational marijuana because of its inherent traffic safety risks and the difficulties in writing legislation that protects the public and treats drivers fairly.” It apparently just sees boozing as the bigger issue and full-on partying behind the wheel as the worst-case scenario for motorists. It’s an interesting report and well worth reading for the added context and rather clear statistical information.

But that doesn’t make the IIHS content totally worthless. Despite our criticizing the group for framing the issue in a specific manner, those who bother to read the entirety of their article still end up learning that alcohol plays a significant factor. It even references the above AAA report and eventually suggests that disparities in state and local regulations might be influencing driver behaviors and the tabulated data. We’re just annoyed that it makes these sweeping assertions using somewhat specious reasoning and limited information. No study appears to have a handle on exactly how much cannabis consumption impairs motorists and most of the data we’ve seen seems to indicate it varies wildly from person to person. Knowing that simply has not stopped the IIHS from jumping to conclusions.

“Our latest research makes it clear that legalizing marijuana for recreational use does increase overall crash rates,” IIHS-HLDI President David Harkey said in a statement. “That’s obviously something policymakers and safety professionals will need to address as more states move to liberalize their laws — even if the way marijuana affects crash risk for individual drivers remains uncertain.”

Policymakers and safety professionals have been placed on notice. Even though there are still glaring questions surrounding the matter, it’s time for them to address these issues as the scourge of hypothetical dope fiends revving their engines in a fit of refer madness is upon us.

[Image: Mitch M/Shutterstock]

Data Breach at VW of America Vendor Impacts 3.3 Million People

admin • June 11, 2021

Volkswagen of America revealed 3.3 million buyers and prospective buyers in North America were the subject of a data breach after one of its vendors left some files unprotected.

VW said only a small number of people had sensitive information, like social security numbers and dates of birth, exposed.

The automaker is offering some assistance and says the info was mostly phone numbers and email addresses. The majority of those involved were interested in Audi, a VW subsidiary. The information obtained is typically used by Audi and some of its U.S. and Canadian dealers for digital sales and marketing efforts.

According to Reuters, most of the information exposed was collected between 2014 and 2019, and largely consisted of phone numbers and email addresses; however, within the 3.3 million, about 90,000 Audi customers and potential buyers had sensitive information put at risk.

Bigger potential problems for some

VW is offering credit production to those affected by the data breach.

For the 90,000, in addition to things like the type of vehicle purchased or lease or, in the case of prospective buyers and lessees, what they were interested in, the hackers accessed data relating to purchase and lease eligibility.

Even worse, for 95% of those driver’s license numbers were collected. In a small number of cases, it included information like dates of birth, social security numbers and other account numbers. VW said none of that information was gotten from Canadian accounts.

The automaker thinks the data was secured between August 2019 and last month. VW found the problem. The company said it will offer free credit protection services to those impacted by the event.

“We recently discovered that an unauthorized third party obtained limited personal information received from or about customers and interested buyers from a vendor that Audi, Volkswagen and some authorized dealers in the United States and Canada use for digital sales and marketing activities,” the company said in a statement.

“We regret any inconvenience this may cause our current or potential customers. As always, we recommend that individuals remain alert for suspicious emails or other communications that might ask them to provide information about themselves or their vehicle.”

EV Interest on the Rise, But Purchases Coming When Prices Drop, Study Says

admin • April 12, 2021

Interest in electric vehicle ownership continues to grow, but prospective buyers want prices to drop before they commit to buying one.

While EVs have been in the news a lot lately, consumer concerns about the cost of an initial purchase are a real thing.

Those worries came to light as part of a survey by OC&C Strategy Consultants, Reuters reported. Consumers around the world are much more interested in purchasing EVs than ever before, the study showed, but remain wary about the price of battery-powered cars, which are generally more expensive than their internal combustion engine counterparts.

The report shows that more than half of potential new-car buyers in Italy and France are interested in purchasing an EV. Numbers in the U.K. and the U.S. are even higher — 81% and 61%, respectively.

This problem is nothing new. U.S. News & World Report reported last year EVs are frequently more expensive up front than comparable gas-powered vehicles. “Sticker shock” can turn shoppers away from EVs, especially since initial prices are more widely considered than the overall cost to own.

But concerns about initial cost remain a barrier.

Automakers are preparing an overwhelming number of electric vehicles for U.S. consumers.

Of the consumers likely to buy an EV, 69% said they would not pay more than a $500 premium compared to a gasoline-powered car — an unlikely scenario without government subsidies.

Countries with purchase incentives have seen a faster uptick in EV sales and European countries have introduced several generous incentives.

Help might be on the way in the U.S.

President Joe Biden recently unveiled a $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan for the country. Included is a proposed $174 billion to promote U.S. EV manufacturing, sales and the development of infrastructure.

Part of the sales promotion part is to give EV buyers “point of sale” rebates and tax incentives to buy American-made EVs. This reflects the reality that consumers are still worrying about purchase costs.

And OEMs are also aware of the cost problem. One solution is to reduce the cost of EVs, and some are moving in that direction. GM spokesman Phil Lienert said that GM sees a lot of promising technological improvements that will really help reduce EV costs to the consumer.

GM showed of its third-generation global electric vehicle platform with its Ultium battery technology.

“Our third-generation EVs will use the Ultium platform,” Lienert said. “This is about 40% less expensive than the Bolt EV platform. We are working to get that number closer to 60% less expensive.”

And as production of EVs ramp up, economies of scale kick in, further reducing EV prices. But despite the dropping costs of batteries and EVs, it is believed that consumers still need incentives to buy more expensive electric cars.

To help with that, Biden plans to extend the current $7,500 federal tax credit, an amount that diminishes for vehicles built by automakers including Tesla and General Motors that already have sold more than 200,000 electric vehicles. Biden could eliminate that 200,000 ceiling as well as enhance incentives for EV buyers in disadvantaged communities.

Incentives matter

“EV buyers love their cars, even there are challenges along the way,” said Joel Levin, executive director of Plug In America, an EV owners advocacy group in February.

Already the top seller of EVs in the world, Tesla would definitely benefit from the reinstatement of the $7,500 tax credit for buying a battery-powered car.

The phase out of federal tax credits, said Levin. Both Tesla and General Motors no longer can offer the $7,500 incentives after hitting a Congressionally mandated sales threshold. Nissan and Ford are approaching the phase-out point, as well.

“It certainly hurts the market, especially for those who want to buy American,” said Levin.

While the upfront cost of purchasing an EV might be higher than an ICE car, there are other cost factors to consider.

Throughout a vehicle’s lifetime, the cost maintaining the typical vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine will add up to around 6.1 cents per mile, according to research by Consumer Reports. By comparison, BEV owners can expect to spend about 3.1 cents per mile. Surprisingly, the study found that maintaining a plug-in hybrid, such as the Toyota Prius Prime, can be even slightly less expensive, at 3 cents per mile.

“Electric vehicle owners don’t need a coupon to get half-off typical maintenance and repair costs from their dealer, it comes standard,” said Senior Transportation Policy Analyst Chris Harto, author of the study which is based on real-world data from Consumer Reports. “These savings are going a long way to offset the upfront costs for consumers.”

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E Premium is part of the wave of new EVs coming available.

Sell the concept, not individual concerns

GM spokesman Stuart Fowle said the company’s goal is to reach beyond early adaptors and tech nerds. To do that GM plans to launch 30 new EV models by 2025.

“I have two children,” Fowle said. “I need a car bigger than a Bolt but I don’t need one as big as a Hummer. Once you get a line-up that matches consumer needs, you can sell EVs.”

But selling EVs is not about going line by line and saying they are cheaper in the long run or easier to maintain or improving range, Fowle said. It’s about getting the public comfortable with the tech.

As more consumers see friends and neighbors drive EVs, a tipping point will be reached where people will feel left out if they don’t buy an EV.

“That day is coming sooner than many people think,” Fowle said.

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Krafcik Leaves Waymo After Five Years as CEO

admin • April 2, 2021

Waymo CEO John Krafcik is way gone, announcing his departure and the company’s plans to move the current COO and CTO into the role of co-CEO.

Add “former” to the title of Waymo CEO John Krafcik, who announced today he’s left the company.

The former Hyundai Motor America chief spent five years heading up the autonomous vehicle subsidiary of Google, which, according to his farewell on LinkedIn, “was called ‘Chauffeur’ internally.”

Tekedra Mawakana and Dmitri Dolgov, of whom Krafcik said “having seen their brilliance, vision, and commitment in play for years — I assure you they are very well suited for this,” take over as co-CEOs of the Mountain View, Calif.-based AI-focused company. As is often the case with senior executives, Krafcik will stay on in an advisory capacity.

“So now, with the fully autonomous Waymo One ride-hailing service open to all in our launch area of Metro Phoenix, and with the fifth generation of the Waymo Driver being prepared for deployment in ride-hailing and goods delivery, it’s a wonderful opportunity for me to pass the baton to Tekedra and Dmitri as Waymo’s co-CEOs,” he wrote.

Next steps

Waymo named former COO Tekedra Mawakana as its new co-CEO to replace Krafcik.

Krafcik didn’t offer many details what the future holds, although it could be that he’s uncertain himself. He said he and his wife, Leila, will take a “coupbatical,” which he described as “a refresh period where we look forward to reconnecting with old friends & family, and discovering new parts of the world.

“After that, we’ve got a few ideas for focus and contribution that we’ll flesh out together and share when the time is right. We’ve already relocated to Austin, Texas, and we look forward to seeing some of you there, or on our travels.”

Krafcik once headed up Hyundai’s U.S. operations, helping lead the brand through an image renaissance and a period of rapid growth. He even earned the “Automotive Executive of the Year” in 2013. However, his run there ended in late 2013 after the South Korean automaker declined to renew his contract — despite the accolade.

However, he quickly landed on his feet, taking over as CEO of TrueCar just as the automotive sales and data website was readying to go public. His tenure there was short, however, as he moved on to Waymo, then-Google’s self-driving car project, just a little more than a year later in September 2015.

Dynamic duo

Waymo CTO Dmitri Dolgov joins Mawakana as co-CEO with Krafcik’s departure.

As for the company, Mawakana and Dolgov now step into new roles. Previously the COO and CTO respectively, they are described as having “complementary skill sets and experiences.” Due to the nature of their roles, they’re already accustomed to working together.

Dolgov, who started in autonomy as part of Stanford’s DARPA Urban Challenge team, joined the company in 2009, when it was still referred to as Google’s self-driving car project. Over time, his influence and responsibility grew. He became CTO late in 2016.

Mawakana, joined Waymo as a policy lead. Prior to joining the company in 2017, she led global policy teams at eBay, AOL, Startec and Yahoo, after beginning her career as Washington, D.C.-based law firm Steptoe & Johnson LLP.

A Week With: 2021 Lincoln Corsair Reserve AWD

admin • March 25, 2021

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair Reserve is powered by a 2.3-liter turbo delivering 280 horsepower.

Since its introduction for the 2020 model year, Lincoln’s compact crossover SUV is its most popular model, much like the unmemorable MKC that it replaced. Now in its second season, the Corsair gets a new plug-in-hybrid model dubbed the Corsair Grand Touring.

Other updates for 2021 are cosmetic. There’s a Monochromatic Package with black wheels, and exterior trim, while the Sport Appearance adds polished wheels, body-colored bumpers, a black mesh grille insert, and illuminated scuff plates. Finally, Lincoln is adding a towing package, so you can yank your favorite lifestyle plaything behind you.

Overview

Corsair is Lincoln’s most refined vision of where the brand is heading, designed by the same team that created the Navigator and the Aviator. Its personality is distinctly American, with a quiet ride, powerful – yet fuel efficient – engines and beautifully lush interiors. Lincoln calls its approach Quiet Flight.

The Corsair is the Lincoln brand’s best-selling model.

The Corsair shares its architecture with the Ford Escape, but there’s far more differentiation than there was between the Escape and MKC. Longer and wider than its Ford cousin, the Corsair is the sportiest interpretation of Lincoln’s new SUV style, offered in Standard and Reserve trim levels. Lincoln supplied a Reserve for a week-long test.

Exterior

If you’ve seen its larger siblings, the Corsair’s exterior style will strike a familiar chord. Yet this is not merely an Aviator that’s been left in the dryer too long.

While boasting familial styling cues, they’re executed appropriately for the Corsair’s smaller scale, lending it a sportier appearance. But it retains its allure of modern classic style, capped by Lincolns distinctive new grille and horizontal tail lamps — a Lincoln hallmark.

“… Corsair indulges its occupants with a resplendent lavishness … a rebuke of the European austerity design aesthetic that automakers use as an excuse to cut costs …”

Interior

The interior of the Corsair Reserve is a luxurious and comfortable place to spend some time.

Given the parsimonious starkness that defined the MKC’s interior, the Corsair’s cabin is a revelation. Like its larger Navigator and Aviator siblings, the Corsair indulges its occupants with a resplendent lavishness, lined in soft leather.

It evokes a modern classicism, one that’s up-to-date yet timeless. It’s a rebuke of the European austerity design aesthetic that automakers use as an excuse to cut costs.

The front seats are roomy and comfortable, being soft enough to coddle, yet firm enough to offer support. The rear seat is surprisingly comfy as well, and able to slide forward or back six inches, so you can prioritize room for people or stuff.

Other indulgences include 24-way power-adjustable massaging front seats, a heated steering wheel, panoramic sunroof, ventilated front seats and rain sensing wipers.

Powertrain

New Lincoln interiors debut with the all-new Corsair including Beyond Blue with its vivid blue and white palette.

Corsair is powered by a turbocharged 250-horsepower 2.0-liter inline-4, or a turbocharged 280-hp 2.3-liter inline-4 powerplant. Both mate to an 8-speed automatic transmission. Front- or all-wheel drive is offered on 2.0-liter models; all-wheel drive is standard with the 2.3-liter engine.

Five driving modes are standard, including Normal, Excite, Slippery, Deep Conditions, and Conserve. Lincoln also offers the Grand Touring plug-in hybrid, with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with an electric motor, a continuously variable automatic transmission, all-wheel drive and an all-electric driving range of 28 miles.

It’s rated by the EPA at 33 mpg in combined city/highway driving, as compared to 24-25 mpg in combined fuel economy for the other models.

Safety and Technology

The 2.3-liter inline-4 is authoritative and refined, appropriate for the vehicle’s class.

All Corsairs come with such driver assistance safety systems such as forward-collision warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot alert, cross-traffic alert, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, a rearview camera and automatic high beams.

It can be upgraded with optional adaptive cruise control with lane centering and speed sign recognition, 360-degree camera with front washer, front sensing system, evasive steering assist, reverse braking assist, and active parking assist, all of which are offered in an option package. The Corsair scored a five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA, and it earned a Top Safety Pick designation from Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Better yet, Lincoln has packed the Corsair with true high-tech touches. An 8-inch touchscreen with Sync 3, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is standard; a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster is optional.

2021 Lincoln Corsair Reserve touchscreen

The Corsair has an 8-inch touchscreen with Sync 3.

The Reserve test vehicle indulged its driver with a head-up display, an impressive 14-speaker Revel audio system, 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, and a vertical wireless charging pad tucked inside the center console, which keeps your smartphone hidden and out of the way. Smart? This is even smarter: Lincoln’s new app lets you use your smartphone instead of the vehicle’s key fob.

Driving Impressions

Driving a Reserve with the Corsair’s larger 2.3-liter engine, you’ll find it furnishes effortless yet graceful power. Authoritative yet refined, it seems appropriate given this vehicle’s class.

However, the 2.0-liter seems more than sufficient at moving the Corsair with authority, particularly with front-wheel drive.

The all-wheel-drive system is rear biased, and can send 100% of the engine’s power to the rear wheels if needed, adding an element of sportiness to its character.

Trading some sportiness for serenity, the Corsair’s ambience is best described by their marketing slogan: quiet flight. This is very much the grand tourer, with a quiet, composed driving experience that’s sporty enough to keep things interesting, with accurate steering and little body roll in corners, although that’s not its milieu. Be sure to try the optional adaptive damping package; it significantly improves the Corsair’s overall deportment.

Wrap Up

Unlike every diminutive Lincoln that preceded it, the 2021 Lincoln Corsair lives large despite its small size. Its technology, safety, performance and interiors deliver a different driving experience.

Yes, it can hustle, but that’s not its intent. The Corsair delivers the quiet, comfortable, opulent experience one demands of a luxury vehicle regardless of size. And it does to in a very American fashion, something that seems to be foreign to other domestic automakers, and a few foreign ones as well.

Land Rover Embellishing 2022 V8 Defender Portfolio

admin • February 26, 2021

Land Rover is bringing out the newest iterations of its Defender, the V8 series.

Starting next summer, Land Rover is bringing on new versions of the Defender V8 for the 2022 model year as part of an enhanced Defender 90 and 110 line-up.

Earlier this month, Jaguar Land Rover Chief Executive Thierry Bollore said the company’s new “Reimagine” strategy calls for the Land Rover brand to introduce six BEVs by mid-decade. The first all-electric model is scheduled to reach the market by 2024. The all-electric models are expected to generate 60% of Land Rover’s volume by 2030, according to the company’s planning projections.

“It’s time to re-imagine the next chapter for both brands,” Bollore said in a statement revealing the company’s BEV strategy.

Nonetheless, Land Rover is not about to turn away from wealthy buyers looking for power from a bit engine.

Gas power lives on a bit longer

The new Land Rover Defender 90 V8 should hit the U.S. this summer.

The 5.0-liter, supercharged V-8 in the 2022 Defender 90 and Defender 110, which will be available next summer, will produce 518 horsepower, JLR said.

In addition, the new Defender V8 and flagship Defender V8 Carpathian Edition will offer performance and capability, with bespoke chassis settings capable of delivering new levels of driver engagement and agility both on and off-road, JLR executives said.

The new V8 models also are engineered specifically to be the fastest and most engaging production Defenders with unrivalled agility and driver appeal, they added.

The exclusive Carpathian Edition based on the Defender V8 is described as representing the ultimate expression of Defender design, performance, and capability, while a new XS Edition replaces the successful First Edition and combines bespoke exterior and interior design elements, according to JLR officials.

New vehicle performance

“The introduction of our V-8 powertrain adds a new dimension of driving engagement and off-road capability to Defender. Fast and fun to drive, it represents the pinnacle of the Defender family and is as rewarding on the road as it is capable off it,” said David Hemming, chief product engineer, Jaguar Land Rover.

Land Rover pricing for the Defender V8 series begins at $97,200 and tops out at $107,200.

“We’ve also broadened the appeal of the entire Defender lineup with new derivatives, option packs and enhanced connectivity, so there really is a Defender for everyone,” he added.

The Defender 90 V8 accelerates from 0-60 miles per hour in 4.9 with a top speed of 149 mph, according to specification released by the company.

The Defender V8s also come with an additional layer of driver appeal, through the introduction of a new Dynamic program within the Terrain Response system, which is available only on V-8-powered Defender vehicles. It allows drivers to exploit the more dynamic character and handling balance of the V8 model on tarmac and loose surfaces, according to Land Rover engineers.

Larger-diameter solid anti-roll bars are designed to help reduce body roll in cornering, while the unique Electronic Active Rear Differential introduces a Yaw Controller that allows fine control of the cornering attitude of the Defender V8, they said.

The Defender V8 also features several exterior enhancements such as unique exterior badging, distinctive quad exhaust tailpipes and unique 22-inch alloy wheels combine to set the most powerful model in the line-up apart.

Design and technology

Ready for the rugged world outside, nothing but comfort and opulence inside.

The Defender V8 also is set apart by its Xenon Blue front brake calipers and 15-inch from brake discs.

Land Rover also is expanding the personalization potential with the introduction of new optional exterior design packs. The Bright Pack, Extended Bright Pack and Extended Black Pack boast unique exterior features that will enhance the silhouette of the Defender, Land Rover’s announcement said.

Heightened connectivity is also part of the updates for 2022 with the Pivi Pro infotainment system making available new features, including an 11.4-inch touchscreen. Wireless device charging with integrated signal booster is now as standard for improved convenience and call quality also is included for 2022.

The new models go on sale this summer starting at $47,700 for the Defender 90. The Defender 90 V8 begins at $97,200 and works its way up to $107,200 for the Defender 110 V8 Carpathian Edition.

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