Ford’s Canvas Car Subscription Business Gets Bigger

Ford’s Canvas Car Subscription Business Gets Bigger Ford, although a bit of a Johnny-come-lately to the “cars on demand” idea, actually seems to be making it work with their Canvas car subscription service. Ford says during the past year, Canvas has “seen significant milestones” during its initial roll out phase in the Bay Area and Los Angeles.
Essential Details
Just to get some persnickety details out of the way, Canvas is actually a division of Ford Motor Credit Company and not the car company itself. That makes sense, since the car company wants to sell cars and Ford Motor Credit Company deals with, duh, the money end of things. Canvas is a straightforward and adaptable way to have access to a car that falls somewhere between daily rentals and traditional leasing or buying. Think of Canvas as Ford’s in-house version of a longer term Zip Car and you’ll get the picture. With Canvas you don’t have to hassle with all the other stuff like insurance, warranty, maintenance, and those sorts of things.
So here we are a year later and Canvas is serving 600 customers in the San Francisco Bay and west Los Angeles areas. And not resting on their laurels, Canvas has added more features, like allowing for the addition of multiple drivers and accepting flexible mileage packages. So far Canvas drivers have driven more than 3 million miles.
Unlimited Access
This is all thanks to the way Canvas works. Canvas customers (subscribers, actually) have access to a vehicle 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, just like it were their own car. Customers pay a bundled monthly subscription fee that covers a preferred mileage package. Essentially, you tell them how much you think you’re going to be driving and they charge you accordingly. That monthly subscription fee also gets you comprehensive insurance, a warranty, maintenance, and roadside assistance.
Monthly subscription packages start at $400 depending on the vehicle you choose and other options. And you get all this through the Canvas website, where you can pick out your vehicle, mileage package, delivery location, and all that. When you’re ready to return your car, you simply give seven days notice and Canvas will actually come by pick up your vehicle at a convenient location. Neat, no?
Customer-Focused
Canvas was also smart enough to work closely with its first customers, the proverbial “early adopters,” to understand how people are using their vehicles, then refine the entire experience to better meet customer needs in the future. All of this adds up to offering a wide range of Ford Motor Company models. After launching with just two models, Canvas now gets you everything from compact cars to SUVs (handy for long trips) to trucks (handy for moving stuff, home projects, and such).
Canvas has also allowed for more personalized packages. You can now create more options to better customize your service, including the ability to add multiple drivers to an account, which half of Canvas customers have already done. There are also new mileage packages that allow you to adjust your mileage up or down as often as needed, even in the middle of a month.
“Building on our success in 2017, we plan to further expand our platform and offerings in 2018 to meet even more customer needs,” said Canvas Founder and CEO Ned Ryan. “As our product evolves over the coming year and beyond, we’ll be focused on adding more customization to the platform, implementing solutions to improve the scalability of the business, and offering bigger savings for customers who want longer terms.”
Have you used Canvas? Let us know on Twitter how it went.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He is the author of Bricks & Bones: The Endearing Legacy and Nitty-Gritty Phenomenon of The Indy 500, available in paperback or Kindle format. Follow is work on Twitter: @TonyBorroz. 
Photos & Source: Ford Motor Credit Company.



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What’s Your Car Made From? Survey Says A Lot of Things!

What’s Your Car Made From? Survey Says A Lot of Things! Material composition always fascinates me as it relates to the automotive industry  – “material composition” being the overly academic way to say “this vehicle is made from that.” There are some materials that show up regularly in automotive manufacturing, like high-strength steel and aluminum. These materials are like marquee movies at the theater in the sense they get billed first, and are often highlighted most in an automaker’s press and marketing releases.
Trucks & Tool Boxes
A good example is when Ford switched over to aluminum for the 2015 F-150, following suit a short time later with the Super Duty. Given the sales volume of the F-150, the quantity of aluminum needed to support production, and cross town rivals GM and Ram still running steel body trucks, it’s easy to see why aluminum received so much attention, even though other materials (like steel funny enough) are used for the F-150.
Chevrolet billed their Silverado in response as the truck made with “high-strength steel for high-strength dependability.” We’ve all seen the tool box commercials right? Given the Silverado is a big seller, and with marketing pushing steel in those commercials, it’s easy to see why steel (even though Silverado uses aluminum too) gets all the attention. Ram has stayed out of this battle but reveal their strategy for the forthcoming 2019 1500 was placing materials “not just where possible but where practical.”
The reality of material composition, as it relates to the modern automobile, is much more diverse and expansive than these two materials. Even though steel and aluminum are vital, the thing to remember is that a car is really just a collection of a lot of little parts.
“Every new vehicle has thousands of parts, from individual nuts and bolts to plastic trim and body panels,” explained Sarah Porter, Marketing Manager at GMB North America. “While a lot of these parts are made from the same groups of elements, there are some surprises.”
2019 Ram 1500 high-strength steel frame materials chart. Photo: FCA US LLC.
Table of Automotive Elements
GMB North America has created a periodic table of elements but highlighted it according to automotive manufacturing. GMB is one of largest global manufacturers of OEM and aftermarket auto parts. Since 1934, the company has produced universal joints, water pumps, tensioner and idler bearings, and numerous steering and suspension parts among others. GMB’s color-coded graphic shows how different elements are used during vehicle manufacturing.
“We thought it would be fun to show how various elements are used by the auto industry in a familiar format,” Porter said. “We tried to make our periodic table a good resource for a quick glance, so we chose to highlight some elements that are frequently used in vehicles.”
Gold Diggers & Carbon Fibers
Among the not so commonly known elements is helium, used for leak testing parts during assembly. Additionally, helium is often utilized in controlled atmosphere brazing, a manufacturing process for certain automotive components. Also on the unexpected list is chlorine for moldings, trim pieces, and underbody coatings. How about gold? Yes, gold. It’s common in the circuitry responsible for deploying airbags.
I know what you’re thinking. Don’t remove your steering wheel to go mining!
Another interesting one is the chemical element bismuth. The pearl pigment of bismuth oxychloride was used in automobile paint between 1998 and 2000. Today, free-cutting or free-machining steel – or steel that is easier to machine – contains bismuth, and is used for the fabrication of automotive parts.
A not so surprising one on GMB’s table is carbon fiber, a performance car signature. Take the Corvette’s special Carbon 65 edition for example. The package marries carbon fiber elements with a new Ceramic Matrix Gray exterior color and a blue top (if it’s a convertible). Carbon fiber treatments include the ground effects, hood section, spoiler, roof (coupe), or tonneau inserts (convertible).
2018 Chevrolet Corvette Carbon 65 Edition at the 101st Running of the Indianapolis 500, May 28th 2017. Photo: Carl Anthony for Automoblog.net.
New Appreciation
We have included GMB’s graphic below. A full-size, downloadable, and shareable one is available here. It’s a cool chart and makes for something fun to share with your friends and family. After looking over GMB’s periodic table for a few minutes, you will likely have a new appreciation for cars.
“We enjoyed the research and are interested to see how these and other elements will be adapted to more automotive innovation and ideas,” Porter added.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan. He studies mechanical engineering at Wayne State University, serves on the Board of Directors for the Ally Jolie Baldwin Foundation, and is a loyal Detroit Lions fan.

Cover Photo: Volvo Car USA, LLC.



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Meet The Veemo VeloMobile: Safe, Sustainable & Simple

Meet The Veemo VeloMobile: Safe, Sustainable & Simple
In 2013, VeloMetro’s founders had a series of “aha moments” that lead them to create an entirely new way to travel. In their native Canada, the team saw the success of one-way car-sharing networks and the increasing interest in electrified vehicles. At the same time, they noticed how station-based bike shares were rarely profitable and, in some cases, city governments were picking up the tab.
These “aha moments” inspired VeloMetro’s founders to devise something that would keep the ride-sharing model intact, but at a lower cost with greater accessibility.
Electric Avenue
Enter the Veemo VeloMobile, an enclosed electric-assisted bicycle that provides car-like functionality for urban travel. Through the Veemo app, users reserve the next available VeloMobile, and pay for the time they use. Need to run a million errands across town? Veemo. Meeting friends at that great sushi spot? Veemo. Not sold on the idea of owing a car? Veemo.
“VeloMobiles have been around for a 100 years – they were really popular in France when there was a fuel scarcity,” explained Kody Baker, Chief Executive Officer, VeloMetro Mobility Inc. “Automobiles took over but VeloMobiles became a niche product for any enthusiast who wanted a really aerodynamic human-bike vehicle.”
The Veemo model reflects what many budget-minded and environmentally-conscious consumers are looking for. It’s simple, sustainable, and riders pay as needed, versus having a reoccurring monthly payment. Although there are multiple factors, research continues to emerge that shows younger demographics are more open to alternative forms of transportation versus car ownership. Veemo is ideal for someone like this, particularly someone who hangs their hat in a densely populated area. And a driver’s licence is not required to operate one.
“We think our initial target market is people 18 to 28-years-old that live, work, or play in a city or a campus area,” Baker said. “We can reduce congestion in the city but still add another layer of mobility for people that live or work there.”
Photo: VeloMetro Mobility Inc.
Engineering & Design
The VeloMobile is constructed from aerospace-grade aluminum and other lightweight composite materials for high tensile strength and rigidity. The rear suspension allows for 100mm of travel, while the front suspension accommodates 110mm of travel with its carbon fiber connecting rods. The 2.2 kWh lithium-ion battery pack provides over sixty miles of range, and can be easily swapped for a fresh one so the VeloMobiles are always charged.
Regenerative braking and an 80-watt solar panel extend range, while 10 small LED headlights and one central LED headlight provide nighttime visibility. There’s plenty of cargo space inside, power locks and windows, and even navigation in case a rider needs a little assistance.
Photo: VeloMetro Mobility Inc.
Olympic Performance
The VeloMobile’s patented electric drivetrain utilizes a torque sensing system that measures a rider’s pedaling, then amplifies it. The dual motor design employs an automatic transmission and a special power sensor positioned on the crank. This allows the rider to easily manage the available power in a variety of situations.
“We detect whether the person just wants to slowly maneuver a parking lot or whether they are accelerating from a stop sign,” Baker explained. “We integrate that into our control system and really launch the vehicle forward from there.”
Top speed is around 20 mph, although it’s likely to feel faster.
“The vehicle goes forward with the power of three Olympic athletes behind you,” Baker continued. “We determined that an Olympic-level cyclist can put out a consistent 250 watts of power, but we are allowed 750 to 1000 watts, so you could say you have three or four of them pushing that vehicle.”
 
 
Photo: VeloMetro Mobility Inc.
Testing & Expansion
VeloMetro’s pilot program is underway at the University of British Columbia where five vehicles are in service. The university’s large campus is ideal for collecting use case scenarios and evaluating future strategies. So far, over 250 students have signed up.
“They use it for getting coffee, getting to class, or back into downtown,” Baker said. “They use it for groceries, getting to their residence or visiting a professor’s office.”
The team hopes the pilot program yields a larger investment that would allow them a commercial expansion into metro Vancouver. The company has built eight prototypes already, each of them in Vancouver. With an expansion, final assembly and maintenance facilities would be placed near where the fleet is operating. Baker believes a larger scale platform would be profitable, and has even entertained the idea of expanding into the United States, Seattle and Portland specifically.
“We think the Pacific Northwest shares a lot of the same things that Vancouver does,” he said. “There is lots of rain, lots of hills, a strong cycling community, and the desire for being green.”
The Veemo VeloMobile may find another niche as a corporate fleet vehicle, especially for companies with a larger campus, like Google, Apple or Microsoft. It’s likely employees at such places would benefit from having a few of them around. Any college per the pilot program would benefit naturally, but also governments and municipalities for security patrol and parking enforcement.
“It is quiet too, so you could sneak up on perpetrators,” Baker joked.
The Veemo pilot fleet at the University of British Columbia has the potential to serve up to 65,000 students, residents, and UBC affiliates. Veemo VeloMobiles have plenty of space for bags and heavy books, and are fully enclosed to keep the rider and cargo protected from the elements. Photo: VeloMetro Mobility Inc.
Simple & Effective
One of the biggest questions is what the future of transportation will actually look like. After sorting through the Jetson-ish headline claims – only a handful of which might be possible – there is no single answer to that question. The common theme, however, is the desire to increase safety and mobility among the population and decrease any hindrances to that end. There are many players, but smaller entries like VeloMetro hold a tremendous advantage, even against manufacturers with massive budgets and sprawling production footprints.
VeloMetro is uniquely personal with a sustainable idea that speaks well not only to Millennials, but Generation Z, the next cohort we must consider as future leaders of the world. If there is a curve, VeloMetro might be ahead of it. The Veemo concept is George Jetson with a Fred Flintstone appeal. It’s futuristic but it’s simple. And considering how complex the future of transportation really is, simple gets the job done.
“We’ve got a lot of safety and a lot of storage in the back,” Baker said. “It’s a fun service and very utilitarian.”
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan. He studies mechanical engineering at Wayne State University, serves on the Board of Directors for the Ally Jolie Baldwin Foundation, and is a loyal Detroit Lions fan.
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Letter From The UK: Car Production In Crisis

Letter From The UK: Car Production In Crisis As production thins from an ongoing Brexit debate, the future looks uncertain.
How will the auto industry in the UK weather the current storm; is there a silver lining?     
Geoff Maxted of DriveWrite Automotive Magazine examines in this Letter From The UK.
With the industrial problems of the 20th Century long forgotten, it seemed as if Great Britain had secured a strong and burgeoning future for the car industry with the likes of Nissan, Toyota, and Honda among the foreign brands building cars in the UK. Alongside them are Mini, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Jaguar Land Rover and Vauxhall, despite this latter group being original British brands but now all foreign owned these days; but the cars are at least still made in Britain. Things were looking good and jobs seemed secure.
Then we had the Brexit vote.
Drop In Production: The Brexit Quagmire
Sadly our politicians and their European counterparts had other ideas. We are, like a man trapped in quicksand, now firmly stuck in the gloopy Brexit quagmire of confusion and uncertainty. It’s had a knock-on effect too: Official figures show UK car output fell 14 percent in March of this year. Only 126,195 cars were made. That’s the 10th consecutive monthly drop, thanks to the combined issues of a slowdown in foreign markets like China, and of course the Brexit insecurity, whether justified or not.
Not for the first time, the industry has repeated its warning that the sector stands to suffer a lot more if the country leaves the European Union without a deal, pointing to exports which account for nearly four out of every five cars made in Britain, being down by 13 percent. Further they predict output would fall in 2019 to 1.36 million vehicles from 1.52 million last year and that’s assuming, in their view – and, for balance, it is an opinion that is not universal – that some form of transitional deal with the EU is done.
Bentley employs over 4000 people at its Pyms Lane headquarters in Crewe, Cheshire. On average, it takes 130 hours to build a Bentley Bentayga (pictured here) and every vehicle on the production line undergoes a 500 to 650 point checklist before the final sign off. The Pyms Lane factory in Crewe has been the home of Bentley since 1946. Photo: Bentley Motors.
Continued Slowdown: One Hard April
April figures continued to show a decline across most sectors with registrations of the ever popular super-mini and small family car segments surprisingly low. Even zero-emission, plug-in hybrids experienced a significant decline. It has to be serious when the most popular vehicle types take a hit.
It wasn’t that long ago the motor industry was on track to produce two million new vehicles annually by 2020. That aim now seems impossible with our international reputation as a stable and attractive business environment undermined. Thus the forecast, should we rely on World Trade Organization rules which may include import tariffs when trading with the EU, is grim: a strong reduction in builds and the added consequence of damage to employment.
Of course, nobody really knows which way the pendulum will swing; the industry may ride out the storm, but from the cheap seats, it is not looking good.
Photo: Jaguar Land Rover.
Related: The Brexit debate is causing confusion for the automotive industry.
Waiting With Bated Breath
And so we wait, making sure not to hold our breath for a speedy resolution. The UK government has delayed the Brexit deadline until October to try and resolve this thorny issue. If our dithering politicians and the negotiators on the other side of the channel are to sort this out, then they need to pull a rabbit from the hat a bit sharpish. It is after all a matter of economics when you come down to it, and we can but hope they see it because it affects us all.
Questioning The Future
The British people have lost faith in their leaders. Major government sponsored projects like the North-South High-Speed Railway (known as HS2), the Crossrail metro in London, and even a new emergency radio system are delayed and way over budget. The level of incompetence at the top is staggering, yet they are blind to it all. No wonder the motor industry doesn’t know what to do next.
Geoff Maxted is a motoring writer, photographer, and author of our Letter From The UK series. Follow his work on Twitter: @DriveWrite

Cover Photo: Jaguar Land Rover.



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2015 Aston Martin Vantage GT Texas Direct Auto 2015 GT Used 4.7L V8 32V Manual RWD Convertible Premium

2015 Aston Martin Vantage GT Texas Direct Auto 2015 GT Used 4.7L V8 32V Manual RWD Convertible Premium

$5,100.00 (2 Bids) End Date: Tuesday May-21-2019 10:02:17 PDT Buy It Now for only: $76,630.00 Buy It Now | Bid now | Add to watch list

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AutoSens Detroit 2019 Begins This Week With Major Announcement

AutoSens Detroit 2019 Begins This Week With Major Announcement AutoSens, a leading and influential global summit on autonomous driving, is returning to Detroit.
Technical sessions and presentations from from Microsoft, Sony, General Motors, and MIT are planned.
AutoSens takes aim at the biggest challenges facing autonomous driving by encouraging collaboration. 
As AutoSens Detroit 2019 begins, conference organizers say they are now expanding to a third location.
The Michigan Science Center will host AutoSens Detroit 2019 as the global conference on autonomous driving returns to the Motor City starting today, May 14th. Attendees, speakers, sponsors, and participants leverage each other’s expertise during the event, which examines the biggest challenges facing self-driving and vehicle perception technology. AutoSens serves as a venue for engineers, researchers, and other experts in the field, and provides them a detailed picture of what is happening across the industry.
“The challenge of the automotive industry is to design computers and robots that can perform tasks better than humans can, while also causing minimal disruption to a system that will include human-driven vehicles for many decades to come,” said Robert Stead, Managing Director, Sense Media, the parent company of AutoSens. “It’s no easy task.”
Auto Sens Detroit 2019 Agenda
AutoSens Detroit returns with another robust agenda for conference attendees. Highlights include the opening plenary with presentations from the U.S. Highway Loss Data Institute on the impact of current ADAS technologies on road safety. Technical workshops include a session from Osram about infra-red sensing and a hands-on demonstration from 3M regarding material-sensor interaction systems. Microsoft will host a tutorial on the Robot Operating System, while DeepScale will present energy-efficient approaches to autonomous driving.
“The technical presentations focus on these topics, but we also cover the wider issues facing development of ADAS and autonomous vehicles in the conference plenary sessions that open and close the event,” Stead explained. “This might include the regulatory, financial, or legal context for the development of vehicle perception systems.”
Keynote for AutoSens Detroit this year is Ed Bernardon, VP of Strategic Automotive Initiatives at Siemens. Bernardon will examine how autonomous technology will impact the future of transportation. In preparation, he and his team interviewed experts working on 3D-printed autonomous shuttles, intelligent traffic systems, and even flying cars. In addition, technical presentations from General Motors, Changan, Aptiv, Daimler, NVIDIA, Valeo, Sony, and TomTom are planned. Academic sessions include those hosted by Wayne State University, University of South Carolina, and MIT.
AutoSens Detroit attendees prepare for a self-driving vehicle demonstration as part of the event last year. A track was set up on the campus of Wayne State University where attendees could experience the technology firsthand. Photo: Alex Hartman for Sense Media.
For Engineers, By Engineers
Different than other conferences and events on autonomous driving, AutoSens keeps its focus on the engineering community. By combining cutting-edge academic research, industry R&D, and OEM insights, AutoSens is an invaluable resource for those in the field, and why it remains the world’s most influential summit on autonomous driving.
“Engineers can ‘take the boxing gloves off’ and just be engineers and scientists working on shared challenges and pursuing high-quality technical work,” Stead said. “We strive for high-quality technical presentations at AutoSens every year, so all attendees will go back to their office or lab with some new solutions, food for thought, or novel information.”
Between two yearly events (Detroit, Michigan and Brussels, Belgium), AutoSens draws in over 1,000 engineers and technical experts throughout the world to network, collaborate, and ultimately address the biggest challenges facing autonomous driving.
“AutoSens exists simply to support and help engineers and scientists, and when we hear stories from attendees about the new people they met, the things they learned, the business connections made – that’s what keeps us motivated,” Stead continued. “It’s about creating a meeting place and community that can be a catalyst for others, in their pursuit of good science.”
Attendees sit in during one of the many technical presentations that took place at AutoSens Detroit last year. The conference will return to the Michigan Science Center beginning on May 14th. Photo: Alex Hartman for Sense Media.
AutoSens Hong Kong 2020
With the success of AutoSens in both Europe and North America, the conference is now seeing increased demand from the automotive industry and corresponding technology sectors. As a result, a third conference in Hong Kong is set to join Detroit and Brussels next year. Organizers say Asia is an important market for autonomous technology, and an international hub for engineers, researchers, and other automotive experts. Hong Kong, with its accessible transport links, allows visitors from across the Asian continent; as well as international attendees the chance to examine autonomous vehicle technology and its impact on the Asian market.
“AutoSens has quickly established itself as the event in this space to see, hear and meet the key companies and people that matter in the autonomous vehicle sector,” said Rudy Burger, Managing Partner, Woodside Capital Partners, and frequent AutoSens speaker. “Launching a third edition in Hong Kong is an exciting and valuable proposition for the industry.”
“I can’t think of a better combination,” added Abhay Rai, VP of Product Marketing, Visteon. “The latest innovations from Asia, the backdrop of one of the world’s most famous cities, and the global AutoSens community convening for the latest addition to the world-class event series.”

Continued Industry Support For Hong Kong
More than a year and a half out, AutoSens Hong Kong already has a number of highly invested stakeholders. Expert advisory board members include representation from Aptiv, Byton, Valeo, Visteon, and Robert Bosch with founding partners from top companies such as Visteon, IAV Automotive Engineering, Siemens, OmniVision, Kalray, ON Semiconductor, Viavi, Woodside Capital Partners, and XenomatiX.
“We are incredibly proud to announce 13 founding partners and advisory supporters,” Stead said. “It’s very encouraging to see the level of support that’s been shown upon sharing our vision for the next phase of the AutoSens journey.”
Organizers will take the rest of the year to develop the agenda for AutoSens Hong Kong, but say attendees can expect sessions on sensor hardware, image processing, driver monitoring, computer vision, and regulatory challenges among others. AutoSens Hong Kong will feature over 300 delegates, 45 speakers, and nearly 12 hours of networking. The conference is set for November 2020.
“We are already dedicating significant resources to building momentum in Asia, and to see the recognition of these efforts by such a high level of early support is testament to our brand, achievements, and reputation to deliver,” Stead continued. “We place a high value on the confidence shown to us by our customers, and we are committed to delivering above and beyond.”

Tickets, Location & More Information for AutoSens Detroit 2019
AutoSens Detroit 2019 begins today Tuesday, May 14th at the Michigan Science Center and runs through the 16th. Organizers say they are happy to see so many returning exhibitors alongside plenty of new brands. A demonstration event is also planned for the 14th, where attendees can take laps in vehicles equipped with autonomous technology.
Tickets, including discount packages for females in the engineering community, are available now.
“AutoSens is all about nurturing the global community of bright minds who are driving forward this revolution in automotive,” Stead said. “A truly international audience will assemble in downtown Detroit to collaborate and learn from each other’s experiences, meet new people, and catch up with old friends.”



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Titan & Titan XD: Nissan Lifts ‘Em Up

Titan & Titan XD: Nissan Lifts ‘Em Up Okay, the short story here is that Nissan now features a line of factory-approved lift kits for their Titan and Titan XD trucks. Manufacturers have done this – approved certain aftermarket bits and pieces – since Henry Ford was messing around with tractors. That’s nothing new. Lift kits, on the other hand, are new(er) as far as we can tell, but is it a good thing?
Solid Approach
On the one hand, the business hand, this makes nothing but sense: One, customers are already adding lift kits to their trucks. Two, if you don’t take advantage of customer desires, you’re leaving money on the table. And three, partnering with a well-known aftermarket provider of lift kits allows Nissan to objectively evolve on-demand niches, while credibly procrastinating adaptive communities, all while compellingly synthesizing robust materials . . . or something. You know how these press releases read but who cares! The bottom line is, as always, the bottom line. People buy trucks and lift kits, and if they don’t buy them from Nissan, they’ll send their money to someone else.
So, for the first time ever, Nissan is offering a factory-authorized suspension lift kit. And I think this might be the first factory-approved lift kit of all time, and not just for Nissans. I’ve never heard of another truck maker doing this (although there have been special trucks like the Dodge Power Wagon and stuff like that). The only other example we could think of in recent times is this one for the F-150 in 2016.
This Nissan Titan on display at the 2018 Chicago Auto Show features the new ICON suspension lift kit package. Photo: Nissan North America.
Some (But Not Much) Assembly Required
The Nissan lift kits are a fully bolt-on affair, which is great. There’ll be no cutting or drilling required, which makes installation both a snap and less likely to result in some dingus screwing things up with a die grinder or rotary saw.
The lift kits were created by California-based ICON Vehicle Dynamics. In case you are wondering, this is not the same crew that makes nut and bolt restorations of vintage Land Cruisers and such. That’s ICON 4×4. ICON Vehicle Dynamics is a purveyor of all things off-road for a wide range of applications. From looking cool to crawling over big piles of rocks, that’s what ICON Vehicle Dynamics is here for.
The package includes adjustable-height coil-over shock absorbers specifically tuned for both the Titan and larger Titan XD; custom rod end bearings, and patent-pending Delta Joints. And everything just bolts right in or on. No cutting. No drilling. Everything should go in easy-peasy and the whole shootin’ match installs in under four hours at your Nissan dealership.
Photo: Nissan North America.
Functionality & Availability
The new Titan kit offers a more hard-hitting exterior look, with a total suspension lift of up to three inches. The kit is fabricated for Crew Cab 4×4 models and will be available this spring.
“We worked with ICON, a proven name in suspension lift kit engineering, to develop the first kits to be offered through our Nissan dealer network,” explained Billy Hayes, Division Vice President, LCV and Trucks, Nissan North America, Inc. “With the suspension lift kit’s increased wheel travel and damping ability, ride quality should be enhanced both off-road and on.”
If you deck your Titan out with one of these kits, send us a photo so we can retweet it for you.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He is the author of Bricks & Bones: The Endearing Legacy and Nitty-Gritty Phenomenon of The Indy 500, available in paperback or Kindle format. 
Photos & Source: Nissan North America.



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2018 Chevy Cruze LT Diesel Hatch Review

2018 Chevy Cruze LT Diesel Hatch Review There are other affordable high-mileage compact cars out there, but how does a diesel-powered model fit in your plans? It competes in Toyota Prius territory, making it one of the most fuel-efficient compacts on the planet. This week we found the Chevy Cruze diesel variant to be easy-going, surprisingly quiet, comfortable, and composed on the road. The Cruze comes as a sedan or hatchback, with an automatic or manual, and as either a diesel or gas.
This week, we drove the 2018 Chevy Cruze LT Diesel Hatch.
What’s New For 2018
Both the 2018 Cruz Hatch and sedan are now available with the 1.6-liter turbodiesel engine. The vehicle was unveiled in 2016 at the North American International Auto Show.
Features & Options
The 2018 Chevy Cruze LT Diesel Hatch ($25,865) comes standard with cloth upholstery, a seven-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 60/40 split folding rear seat, and a rearview camera. Cruze LT Hatch adds a six-speaker sound system with available satellite radio, steering wheel controls, 16-inch wheels, fog lamps, and a space-saver spare tire rather than a tire repair kit.
It also features upgraded headlights with LED running lights, heated mirrors, and a rear center armrest with cupholders. Hatchback models also get a cargo cover and rear spoiler. A charge-only USB port is added to models equipped with the automatic transmission.
This Cruze LT tester came with the optional Driver Confidence and Sun and Sound package ($2,260), adding rear parking sensors and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. It also came with a sunroof, a color driver information center, ambient interior lighting, a larger eight-inch center touchscreen display, and a nine-speaker Bose audio system. It also came with the Leather package ($1,125). That gave us a heated and leather-wrapped steering wheel, leather upholstery, and a height-adjustable front passenger seat.
Total MSRP including destination: $30,125.





Interior Highlights
The cabin is modern, clean, and sharp, featuring an all-black layout with light contrast stitching. The soft-touch materials nicely offset some of the hard plastic. There’s simple instrumentation in a pod, outlined in chrome, and the controls are intuitive. In the center of the dash, our tester had the larger, easier-to-read eight-inch touchscreen. The leather front seats are comfortable, with additional bolstering for extra support.
For a compact car, we think the Cruze Hatch is spacious, and it felt bigger inside than its size would dictate. It will carry four adults comfortably, with a surprising amount of leg and hip room in the rear, more than rivals like the Ford Focus or Hyundai Elantra have. 
The Cruze Hatch offers up 23.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat, not as much as the Honda Civic or Ford Focus hatchbacks. However, with the rear seat folded flat, the hatch has a competitive 47 cubic feet of cargo carrying ability.
Engine & Fuel Mileage Specs
Our Cruze LT tester came with the new 1.6-liter turbodiesel, producing 137 horsepower and 240 lb-ft. of torque. It comes mated to a sophisticated nine-speed automatic transmission. The turbodiesel fuel mileage competes with the stingy Toyota Prius with an EPA rating of 30/45 city/highway and 35 combined mpg.

Driving Dynamics
The Cruze Hatch is quiet on the road – you can’t tell it’s a diesel – and it rides comfortably on the highway with excellent stability. We were surprised at the way the Cruze rode in fact. It offers one of the most comfortable rides for a compact car.
So how does the 1.6-liter diesel perform? It’s a strong point for the Cruze. If you don’t mind wearing a plastic glove while filling it at the pump, the engine is worth the small discomfort. When Volkswagen left the compact diesel market because of their their emissions fiasco, it left a void now filled by the Cruze.
We thought the 137 horsepower would be woefully inadequate, especially in the mountains of Colorado, but when you add in that massive 240 lb-ft. of torque, it turns into a race car. If you are worried about hearing a noisy diesel sound, or black smoke belching from the tailpipe, both are non-existent.
The nine-speed automatic shifts with little hesitation and pairs well with the small diesel powerplant. In the city, the Cruze is an ideal size for commuting. It also fits into small parking spaces with ease.
Conclusion
In a crowded compact hatch class, there’s lots of choices, but only one with a diesel engine. It stands out for its excellent power and fuel economy. The interior will carry four adults comfortably, while the Hatchback with its rear seat folded offers good utility and cargo space.
Denis Flierl has invested over 25 years in the automotive industry in a variety of roles. Follow his work on Twitter: @CarReviewGuy
2018 Chevy Cruze Hatchback Gallery














2018 Chevy Cruze Official Site.
Photos & Source: Chevrolet. (2017 models and Redline Edition also shown).



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2019 Ram 1500 Lone Star Edition Debuts In Dallas

2019 Ram 1500 Lone Star Edition Debuts In Dallas Ram has unveiled the Lone Star edition at the DFW Auto Show, a fitting location indeed for a model Ram deems as the original “Texas Truck.” Lone Star trims receive bright front and rear bumpers, chrome door handle centers, a special grille surround with billet inserts, and 18-inch aluminum wheels. Monochromatic Sport and Black appearance packages are also available.
Technology & Packages
The 2019 Ram 1500 was unveiled last month at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan. The truck was one of the most technologically significant vehicles at the event. For example, the eTorque mild hybrid system, which adds up to 90 lb-ft. of torque to the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6, and up to 130 lb-ft. to the 5.7-liter Hemi, is the first of its kind in the truck segment.
As the year moves on, it is common for Ram to release new trim levels at auto shows around the country. With the Lone Star, several different packages – called “groups” in Ram-speak – are available to increase the truck’s functionality: Bed Utility Group, 4×4 Off-Road Group, Protection Group, Trailer Tow Mirrors and Brake Group, Max Towing Package Group, and the Premium Lighting Group.
Inside the cab, Lone Star offers four different interior themes and either a front, six-passenger bench seat, or five-passenger bucket seats. Other options include Ram’s class-exclusive Active Level Air Suspension, an electric-locking rear axle, a Blind-Spot Monitoring system, and 20-inch aluminum wheels.





Availability
The Lone Star is available in either a 4×2 or 4×4 layout in Crew and Quad Cab configurations. The Lone Star will initially be offered with the 5.7-liter HEMI; the Pentastar V6 joins later this year. The only downfall (although understandable) is how the truck is only available in Texas. Expect them at Texas Ram dealers during the first quarter of this year.
In the meantime, the 2019 Ram 1500 Lone Star is on display at the DFW Auto Show at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, Texas.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan. He studies mechanical engineering at Wayne State University, serves on the Board of Directors for the Ally Jolie Baldwin Foundation, and is a loyal Detroit Lions fan.
Photos & Source: FCA US LLC.



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