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General Motors Deepens Partnership With Honda, Takes Stake in Nikola

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GM’s plans for the future show a company willing to take risks.

Nikola Corporation and General Motors Co. announced a strategic partnership that begins with the Nikola Badger and carries cost reductions through all of Nikola’s programs, including: Nikola Badger, Nikola Tre, Nikola One, Nikola Two and NZT. As part of the agreement, Nikola will utilize General Motors’ Ultium battery system and Hydrotec fuel cell technology, representing a key commercialization milestone for General Motors.

Within only five days, the General Motors Company changed the course of its business in ways probably not foreseen by most automotive experts.

On Sept. 3, General Motors and Honda announced that the companies signed a non-binding Memo of Understanding (MoU) whereby the two would work toward establishing a strategic alliance in North America. That alliance would explore the two automakers sharing vehicle platforms and propulsion systems in a variety of core segments.

Five days later, General Motors announced a strategic partnership with Nikola Corporation, parent of Nikola Truck Company, an emerging manufacturer of electrified vehicles. As part of the agreement, GM takes an 11-percent stake in Nikola.

GM and Honda Expand Their Relationship

GM’s MoU with Honda was especially surprising, given the latter’s long-running independent course. Even as Nissan partnered with Renault and Mitsubishi to forge an extensive alliance and Toyota took stakes in multiple small Japanese manufacturers, Honda seemed content to stay the course.

But we’ve seen a willingness on Honda’s part in recent years to soften its resistance to collaborating with other manufacturers. Indeed, Honda joined GM’s battery module initiative in 2018, then followed in April 2020 with an announcement that the two manufacturers would jointly build a pair of all-new electric vehicles for Honda. The EVs are based on GM’s highly flexible EV platform powered by proprietary Ultium batteries.

Models powered by Ultium batteries feature a range of 400 miles or longer and are designed for Level 2 and DC fast charging. The second-generation Chevrolet Bolt EV, due out in 2021 as a 2022 model will utilize the new platform and battery system. A Cadillac Lyriq SUV will follow as will models for Buick and GMC.

The Honda-GM accord is a proposal, based on a joint committee composed of senior executives from both companies. The two will hold co-development planning discussions immediately, followed by engineering work set to begin in early 2021. Under the terms of the proposal, the two automakers will collaborate on building a variety of vehicles with a shared platform, including internal combustion and electric models. None of the models will be developed to serve other markets.

The automakers say that the companies will realize extensive savings in cost, including research and development (R&D) and engineering, and collaborating on purchasing.

Making a Case for Electrification

GM’s agreement with Nikola goes well beyond taking a stake in this upstart automaker. For example, the company immediately gains a $2 billion equity stake in Nikola, named for Nikola Tesla. Further, GM will engineer, validate, homologate, and build the Nikola Badger in both its battery-electric and fuel cell electric guises. Badger production is expected to commence by the end of 2022.

As a result of the strategic partnership, Nikola estimates it will save $4 billion in battery and powertrain ghosts over 10 years and an additional $1 billion in engineering and validation costs. As for GM, the company expects to receive at least $4 billion of benefits between the shares’ equity value, Badger contract manufacturing, supply contracts covering batteries and fuel cells, and EV credits that stay in place over the contract’s term.

GM and Honda have cooperated on projects dating to the beginning of this century. Since 2013, the two automakers have stepped up their cooperation.

Looking Ahead

Although the GM-Honda agreement must yet be finalized and is non-binding, the prospect of further collaboration between the two automakers is an enticing proposition.

We have no idea what vehicles the two manufacturers might build together, although it seems possible GM might perhaps gain car models, while Honda could benefit from GM’s truck lines. This is, of course, speculation but the possibilities are intriguing and will remain one part of a wider conversation involving electrification, mobility, technology, and collaboration.

See Also — Will the Electric Vehicle Boom Create New-Found Dependencies for Foreign Minerals?

Photos copyright General Motors Company. All rights reserved.

Michelin, GM Collaborate on Airless Tires

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In the near future, checking tire pressure may become a thing of the past thanks to innovative technology. Specifically, tire manufacturer Michelin and the General Motors Company (GM) are collaborating on updated tire technology that will eliminate the risk of flat tires and blowouts in passenger vehicles equipped with Uptis (Unique Puncture-Proof Tire System) tires. The new tires may appear as soon as 2024 on the Chevrolet Bolt EV.

A Chevrolet Bolt EV equipped with Michelin Uptis tires.

Movin’On Summit Announcement

The two manufacturers jointly announced the engineering and technology breakthrough at the Movin’On Summit for sustainable mobility in Montreal on Tuesday. Later this year, the automaker will begin real-world testing and verification of the Uptis Prototype on a Michigan test group of Chevrolet Bolt EVs. The Bolt is GM’s electric vehicle, introduced in 2017 and sporting a 238-mile electric range.

“General Motors is excited about the possibilities that Uptis presents, and we are thrilled to collaborate with Michelin on this breakthrough technology,” said Steve Kiefer, senior vice president, Global Purchasing and Supply Chain, General Motors. “Uptis is an ideal fit for propelling the automotive industry into the future and a great example of how our customers benefit when we collaborate and innovate with our supplier partners.”

Scrappage Reduction; No Replacement Tires

Flats and blowouts are no longer an issue in vehicles equipped with Uptis tires. As a result, the Michelin tires offer a significant tie-in to GM’s goal of reducing the number of raw tires used and resultant waste, which is also related to the automaker’s goal of eventually reaching zero crashes, zero emissions, and zero congestion.

In particular, the new tires will reduce the number of punctured or damaged tires that must be scrapped ahead of the end of their life cycle. Indeed, Michelin estimates that approximately 20 percent of tires are scrapped annually due to punctures or irregular wear.

Further, it also reduces the use of raw materials as the new technology eliminates the need for spare tires. Replacement tires would also not be needed early on in the life cycle.

Michelin’s Uptis tires are designed to eliminate punctures leading to blowouts.

Say Farewell to Blowouts

The Uptis tires are engineered to last longer as they also eliminate irregular wear and tear caused by improper inflation. Related car accidents caused by flats and blowouts will make driving safer for all.

Michelin says its innovative tires are composed of composite rubber and a “proprietary innovative high-strength resin with embedded fiberglass.” These tires are set within an aluminum wheel assembly.

Autonomous and Electric Vehicles

The company says its tires are specially designed for new forms of mobility, including autonomous and electric vehicles. Moreover, Uptis represents a key component of the tire manufacturer’s VISION concept, which comprises four pillars of innovation: airless, connected, 3D-printed and 100% sustainable (renewable and bio-sourced) tires.

As for the Moving’On Summit, this year’s event is the third annual meeting of sustainability. Since its inception, the summit has been backed by Michelin, which also conceived it.

This year’s summit focuses on five themes of significance:

1. Decarbonization and air quality.

2. Multimodal urban transit and society.

3. Innovative technologies.

4. Goods transportation and multimodality.

5. Circular economy.

The summit welcomes thought leaders from around the world who engage in working sessions, group discussions, and presentations. It also includes “brain dates” whereby participants are paired for 30-minute discussions to share one-to-one ideas based on common interests.

Lastly, the conference includes opportunities for participants to take a seat on zero-emission electric buses and test drive such vehicles as the Toyota Mirai, BMW I8 Roadster, and the BMW IS3 REX.

See Also — Tire Sidewall Code Deciphering 101

Photos coyright GM Company.

Chevrolet Bolt Will Beat Tesla Model 3 to Market by at Least a Year

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GM will have at least a year advantage to make a case for the Chevrolet Bolt. Will it be enough to convince EV fans?

The big automotive news since the beginning of this month has been all about the Tesla Model 3, the next vehicle coming from America’s electric car manufacturer.

On March 31, Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveiled a prototype of the compact sedan and immediately tens of thousands of people placed $1,000 refundable deposits on a car that won’t arrive until late 2017 at the earliest.

By late last week, the so-called pre-orders (advanced orders) totaled 325,000 and included early adopters from around the world. That’s a staggering number of people demonstrating interest in a car some believe will help make electric vehicles mainstream within the next few years.

Although Tesla is receiving much-deserved press, perhaps the attention should now turn to GM and what this company is doing to bring electric vehicles to the masses.

2017 Chevrolet Bolt.
2017 Chevrolet Bolt.

2017 Chevrolet Bolt

Indeed, the Chevrolet Bolt is on its way and will arrive on the market before 2016 comes to a close — a full year before the Tesla Model 3 arrives. For this reason alone, the Bolt is worth discussing.

Furthermore, there is a very good chance the Model 3 will miss its target date — we’ve heard Musk set ambitious goals in the past, only to delay them by months, if not years. Witness the long wait for the Tesla Model X SUV, arriving on the market more than two years after Musk promised.

Mainstream Electric Vehicles

Both the Chevrolet Bolt and the Tesla Model 3 will do something that no other electric vehicle has done thus far, including the groundbreaking Nissan Leaf. Specifically, range anxiety, an important detriment to consumer consideration, will be largely alleviated thanks to improvements in battery technologies.

In fact, GM promises 200 miles of range for the Bolt or about twice the distance of the Nissan Leaf’s current limits. Similarly, the new Tesla will deliver a projected 215 miles of electric driving. That both vehicles are priced in the $35,000 to $38,000 range is important too — with federal and state incentives available to qualified buyers, the two models may parallel the cost of buying a similar gasoline-powered model.

Electric Vehicle Proviso

Before we become all giddy about electric vehicle mainstreaming it is important to note one highly significant caveat — the range numbers are realized when an electric vehicle is operated in optimum weather conditions, such as at 77 degrees Fahrenheit. At the extremes, especially in sub-freezing driving, vehicle range may fall dramatically.

For instance, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found that fuel economy for hybrid electric vehicles “…can drop about 31% to 34%…” under extreme conditions. Given that hybrids and electric vehicles share similar battery componentry, that 200-mile range may fall to 130 miles.

That’s still better than the range limits for today’s crop of mainstream electric vehicles, nevertheless it is a constitutive matter that should not be easily dismissed.

On Closer Inspection

As for the Chevrolet Bolt, what we have here is a five-passenger, front-wheel drive five-door compact electric vehicle. Its battery, motor, and drive unit will be manufactured in Incheon, Korea. Final assembly will take place in Orion Township, Michigan.

The Bolt’s battery system is composed of a rechargeable storage system comprised of multiple linked modules. The 60-kilowatt lithium-ion system contains 288 cells. As for the drive system, a single permanent magnetic drive motor and gear set will be utilized.

In all, the Bolt should provide 200 miles of electric driving range, make 200 horsepower with an output of 266 foot-pounds of torque. This model’s 0-to-60 mph time should come in at just under 7 seconds with a top speed of 91 mph.

Taking long trips with an electric vehicle means finding a public charging station and making the connection. Although a 240-volt connection adds 50 miles of range in under two hours, customers will be on the hunt for an SAE combo DC fast charge connection, what adds 90 miles in about 30 minutes. That’s long enough for most people to take a meal break before continuing on with their journey.

Tesla Model 3 Advantages

Some people have argued that the Tesla Model 3 has several advantages over the Bolt, including its slightly longer range as well as the free Tesla charging network. Certainly, an estimated 15-mile range advantage is welcome, but it isn’t significantly better than what the Bolt should deliver.

And as for connecting to the Tesla supercharger network, Model 3 owners will have access. What isn’t known yet is whether they’ll have to pay for it points out Teslarati. With far more customers queuing to tap the network, imagine the lines that may form in some places, especially in car-crazy California.

Fully Revealed Bolt

Another matter not settled with the Model 3 is what the interior will look like. Tesla’s introduction focused on the vehicle’s exterior (sans grille) and provided only a cursory examination of the cabin. Musk took to Twitter in the days following the big unveiling and addressed those concerns, noting that a followup reveal will show what the automaker has in mind.

As for the Bolt, GM has revealed several things about this EV, especially from a technology standpoint.

Specifically, the Bolt will feature a 10.2-inch Chevrolet MyLink color touchscreen display. GM describes it as a customizable, widget-based with a flip-board style operation.

A rear view camera will be standard, but what may be most fascinating is “surround vision” providing a bird’s-eye view of what’s around the Bolt, a safety advantage realized when driving at low speeds as well as when parking.

App, Navigation, and Gamification

Chevrolet Bolt owners will also have access to the MyChevrolet Mobile App, proving owner and vehicle information and functions, including remote start, vehicle charge status, cabin pre-conditioning, and other features.

To aid drivers as they search for charging stations, the Bolt’s navigation system will be geared toward finding the most efficient routes and provide locations of nearby charging stations, if needed. And in acknowledging the growth of vehicle connectivity and “gamification,” Bolt owners will eventually be able to “compete” with each other by comparing driving styles, including identifying who is the most efficient. That feature won’t become available until sometime after the Bolt arrives.

Chevrolet v. Tesla

GM is a pioneer in electric vehicles, although its 1990s EV-1 never made it into full production. Introducing its plug-in hybrid electric Chevrolet Volt in 2011 has given this automaker an important advantage over most other traditional automakers.

On the other hand, Tesla Motors is the industry’s disruptive force and so far is winning the hearts and minds of the media, the people who plan to buy the Model 3, as well as individuals who might never have considered an EV in the past, but are intrigued by all things Tesla. GM will have at least a year’s lead time to make a case for the Chevrolet Bolt for what may very well be the most important product introduction of our day.

See Also — Give Me a “B” for Chevrolet Bolt

Photos courtesy of General Motors Company and Tesla Motors.

Ford Announces $4.5 Billion Electrification Initiative

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The Ford Motor Company is about to embrace electric vehicles in a big way. On Thursday, the automaker announced plans to invest $4.5 billion over the next five years to bring 13 new or updated EV nameplates to the market. By 2020, at least 40 percent of Ford’s nameplates will have an electrification option.

The announcement comes as fuel prices are among the lowest we have seen this century. Indeed, a gallon of regular fuel will cost you less than $2 in most states, approaching levels last seen in 2009. Nevertheless, the long-term trend for fuel prices has it rising gradually over the next five years, with some analysts forecasting $5 per gallon gasoline come 2020. At that price, interest in EVs may intensify, particularly for standard (HEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs).

2017 Ford Fusion Energi.
2017 Ford Fusion Energi.

New Battery Electric Ford Focus

Speaking at a press event, Raj Nair, executive vice president, Product Development explained that Ford’s investment will include a $2.1 million contribution for a battery lab at the University of Michigan in a bid to advance research and development. Moreover, the automaker plans to roll out the first of its 13 new or updated products next year, when the battery electric Ford Focus hits the market.

Ford says the next-generation BEV Focus will have a range of approximately 100 miles and offer DC fast-charge capability, enabling it to be recharged to 80 percent of its capacity in about 30 minutes.

However, most of the vehicles included in the initiative will be HEVs and PHEVs, a more sensible decision given the range anxiety inherent in pure electric vehicles. Typically, electric vehicles have a 100-mile average range, but weather and travel conditions can significantly reduce that number according to a 2014 AAA study. Although most consumer trips fall within those limits, an electric vehicle is simply too restrictive for most vehicle owners.

A Truly Global Initiative

Ford’s initiative is global too, as the company will allocate a portion of those funds to battery development in a bid to expand into Asia and Europe. The automaker has targeted China, Korea, and Taiwan as its prime markets for growth.

The automaker isn’t looking solely at electric vehicles as it plans for its growth. Ford also has autonomous vehicles in mind, part of its Ford Smart Mobility plan whereby it will also field a host of products.

“As both an auto and a mobility company, we at Ford are going further than just designing the product to move people from point A to point B,” said Raj Nair, executive vice president, Product Development. “We are considering the way customers interact with our vehicles as a unified experience, looking for ways to excite and delight customers and make their lives better.”

Competing Manufacturers and Vehicle Electrification

Ford, of course, is not the only major manufacturer investing billions of dollars in vehicle electrification. Toyota, a pioneer in all things hybrid, has a new Prius to show for it and has plans to expand production of its Mirai hydrogen-powered car. GM recently released the second-generation Chevrolet Volt and will also have an all-electric Chevrolet Bolt arriving in 2017.

Other manufacturers are certain to release new or improved products over the coming years. For example, the second-generation Hyundai Sonata Hybrid is here and now includes a PHEV variant. Hyundai is also a pioneer in all things hydrogen.

Fuel Price Trends

As for the lower fuel prices, they’re putting the hurt on EV sales. Instead, consumers are buying pickup trucks and SUVs in greater numbers, vehicles that are much less efficient than gas-powered sedans, but much more profitable for manufacturers too. Likely, some of those profits will fuel EV development with automakers such as Ford hoping that a robust market awaits come 2020.

See Also — Energized by the 2017 Ford Fusion Energi

Give Me a Chevrolet “B” as in Bolt

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Naming conventions aside, the Chevrolet Bolt brings a more reasonably priced electric vehicle to the market for the 2017 model year. Gas prices are expected to trend higher, possibly increasing demand for all electric vehicles with it.

General Motors has decided to embrace controversy after all. In January, at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the automaker unveiled the Chevrolet Bolt concept. That pure electric vehicle was well received by journalists and show visitors alike. And within just weeks of the show, GM announced that it intends to bring this small EV to market.

What was assumed by some is that GM would throw out the Bolt’s name for the production model, as it sounds too much like the Chevrolet Volt, its established, plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. However, Chevrolet’s marketing boss, Tim Mahoney, confirmed last week that the brand is sticking with the Bolt nomenclature when the diminutive EV is released for the 2017 model year. Mahoney confirmed same at a press event held by the Washington Automotive Press Association on Wed. and in a related interview with USA TODAY.

B as in Bolt

So, that will be “B” as in boy or “V” as in Victor when potential buyers inquire with dealer sales staff about the Chevrolet Bolt or Volt, me thinks. Hopefully, any confusion at the dealership level will be eliminated immediately.

GM surprised everyone with the concept Bolt’s release. This vehicle, with a final price of about $30,000, has a 200-mile electric range. That range more than triples the capacity of some models, such as the Mitsubishi i-MiEV. Extended range is critical to EV acceptance and at present only Tesla Motors offers models that meet the higher threshold.

2017 Chevrolet Bolt

Renewed Electric Vehicle Commitment

That GM is pushing forward with the Chevrolet Bolt comes as it renews its commitment to two other EV models — the Chevrolet Volt and the Cadillac ELR. The Volt hit the market for the 2011 model year and the second generation model will debut this summer. The Cadillac ELR, based on the Volt platform, has its first full year in 2014, barely cracking the 1,000-unit sold mark. Nevertheless, an updated version of that model is scheduled, and its price has been slashed by $10,000.

Low gas prices are not keeping GM from moving forward with its long-range plans. Most analysts believe that the current gas prices, averaging just below $2.50 per gallon as of this writing, will not hold. Indeed, some have forecast $4 per gallon gasoline will return within the next two or three years. Therefore, product timing means vehicles like the Bolt, Volt and ELR may receive additional scrutiny from potential buyers.

The Chevrolet Bolt will be the brand’s second pure electric vehicle. It currently retails the Spark EV, an A-class variant to the gasoline-only model that is itself selling reasonably well. For 2016, GM has reduced the Spark’s price by 6 percent.

Reducing Range Anxiety

The two factors that are inhibiting electric vehicle acceptance — price and range — are being aggressively attacked by the manufacturers. Certainly, the $7,500 tax credit offered for pure EVs continues to help, what will allow GM to sell the Chevrolet Bolt for less. Range anxiety, a huge detriment for many buyers, will shrink. Indeed, the second generation Nissan LEAF may also broach the 200-mile range just as Tesla Motors ups the range of its base Model S to 240 miles.

Manufacturers and suppliers have also been touting quicker recharging alternatives, including 240-volt charging units in the home and DC fast charging stations designed to provide a full charge in fewer than 30 minutes. Thus, if drivers time their trips correctly, they can stop for a break, recharge their vehicles, and continue with their extended journey. The 2017 Chevrolet Bolt would be one such vehicle that will benefit from this service.

See Also — This Time, GM Aims to Get the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid Right

Chevrolet Bolt Concept to Production Reality?

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At the North American International Auto Show in Detroit this past Jan., General Motors took the wraps off of a concept vehicle called the Chevrolet Bolt. Unlike the Chevy Volt, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, the Bolt is a pure electric vehicle and one with a projected 200-mile range.

Chevrolet will continue to tease the Bolt at major auto shows in Chicago and New York over the coming few months to gauge customer reactions. GM, however, may not wait that long to move this vehicle from concept to production reality as Auto Trends has learned that the tiny EV allurement may soon become the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt.

Chevrolet Bolt

Here is what is moving or at least is not impeding GM from building the Chevrolet Bolt:

1. Low gas prices are not a factor.

Consider today’s low fuel prices a blip, one that will soon be forgotten. Sure, prices may stay below $3 per gallon through the summer, but the long-term forecast has prices rising above $4 to about $5 per gallon in about five years.

Demand for the Chevrolet Bolt would be lower if it were sold now, but by the time it goes into production the market should change.

2. EPA fuel standards march on.

The move towards a 54.5 mpg fleet average continues apace. As it stands right now, no car manufacturer can possibly meet that average without a line of EV or hydrogen models to offset the Silverados, Suburbans and Traverses that consumers are buying — and the lion’s share of the profitable vehicles at that.

In the odd world of EPA fuel estimating, just one Bolt sale can offset two or three large pickup truck or utility vehicle sales.

3. In the Bolt, GM has the perfect Tesla fighter.

Each of the larger manufacturers is keeping a close watch on the fortunes of Tesla Motors. Tesla has promised a low-cost EV — the Model 3 — that they say is expected to retail for around $35,000. If Tesla can reach a price point that is half the cost of the Model S, then it expects to avail EV buying to far more consumers.

GM’s approach has the Bolt priced around $30,000. With a $7,500 federal tax credit, a net cost of $22,500 would be possible for some consumers. That’s close to the cost of a Chevrolet Cruze.

4. Tesla may not be around for long anyway.

News about Tesla Motors far outstrips what this EV manufacturer produces. Clearly, Tesla is the darling of EV enthusiasts and all who embrace environmental sustainability. Yet, the company is not an ideal business model unless its reliance on government handouts and its strange accounting practices makes it so.

Tesla is valued between $25 and $30 billion, or about half the worth of GM. Tesla, however, produces fewer than 30,000 vehicles per year, while GM is closing in on assembling 10 million vehicles in 2015. The promised Model X crossover is still not out and we have yet to behold the Model 3 in concept form. Meanwhile, Tesla’s competitors are each building or planning new models that may squeeze the life out of Tesla (e.g., Toyota Mirai, Hyundai Tucson FCEV, and a host of newer and more efficient hybrids).

5. Politics may loom large.

Not a few of the changes that have benefited Tesla since its inception have come under Obama’s watch. The president’s term is up in Jan. 2017, just ahead of when production of the Bolt will commence. The Tesla Model 3 will come to the market a year or more later and by then the political pendulum may swing to the right regardless who wins the presidency. That doesn’t portend a Republican president ditching EV support, but it could mean that the federal tax credit for EVs could be muzzled.

Further, the 54.5 mpg fleet average might be postponed. And not that either political party is looking to slash the defense budget or allocate additional funds for green engineering and transportation infrastructure. Also, there is the matter of the national debt, what rose by 71 percent under President George W. Bush and has soared by more than 100 percent under President Barack Obama. The day of economic reckoning has long been delayed — when it arrives the smaller and weaker industry players may be swept to the side.

About the Chevrolet Bolt

So, what is it about the Chevrolet Bolt that has it a potential player in the EV market? Of course, price is an obvious factor, but reaching a 200-mile driving range should bring in buyers that otherwise would never consider an EV.

Then again, GM would need to execute the build process to meet or exceed the concept’s design. In the concept, GM made use of lightweight materials, advanced technologies, including a 10-inch capacity-touch screen, and a roomy, utility vehicle matching layout that may have this model competing closer to the Tesla Model X than the Model 3.

To sum up, the Chevrolet Bolt is one concept that is easy on the eyes, a potential game changer with its EV range and affordable option that could very extend EV ownership to the masses.

See Also — Highlights of the 2015 Detroit Auto Show: Media Day 2, Part 1

Photos courtesy of General Motors Company.

Highlights of the 2015 Detroit Auto Show: Media Day 2, Part 1

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Hyundai Santa Cruz

The concept Hyundai Santa Cruz pickup truck.

The first day of the 2015 North American International Auto Show was replete with numerous releases ranging from the expected to the extraordinary. There was so much material distributed that we’ve added a few of those stories to our initial synopsis of the second media day.

Hyundai Pickup Truck

Hyundai-Kia is the fourth largest automobile manufacturer in the world, but like the Volkswagen Group its US presence is smaller than many of its competitors. Both manufacturers have something in common that explains, in part, why their respective market shares are smaller: a lack of a pickup truck offering.

Pickup trucks are popular with consumers, highly profitable for manufacturers and help amplify a brand. Imagine Dodge never having Ram — that Fiat Chrysler (FCA) brand would have disappeared long ago. Instead, Ram is such a strong seller that it is now a brand unto itself.

Hyundai, in the all-wheel drive Santa Cruz Concept, is taking a stab at a market that few are covering today. And that would be a small, unibody pickup truck along the lines of the retired Subaru Brat. Its a niche market that Hyundai identifies as for “Urban Adventurers” or millennial-type buyers who aspire to the utility of a pickup truck along with the ride and handling of a small car.

The Santa Cruz is essentially a car-truck, what the Chevrolet El Camino and Ford Ranchero once were and the Subaru Brat best articulated in modern days. Unlike some models, this one has a rear seat, accessible with is rear-hinged, rear doors. These doors are fully integrated with the front door design, enabling this truck to retain its two-door look.

Hyundai Santa Cruz

Would Subaru Brat fans embrace the Hyundai Santa Cruz?

To the rear, the Santa Cruz showcases an expandable bed for extra utility. The longer cargo space is attained by making use of a special drawer-like sliding function.

Hyundai proposes using a turbocharged 2.0-liter diesel engine, making 190 horsepower and 300 foot-pounds of torque. Theoretically, this truck could achieve 30 mpg, an important efficiency threshold that not one of today’s truck models attains.

Although many concepts are never built, you have to think that Hyundai is seriously weighing its options in a bid to serve a segment it doesn’t currently reach in North America. Certainly, the Santa Cruz is far different from traditional body-on-frame pickup trucks, but it has the potential to fill a void that some people see as having been left open since Subaru ended production of the Brat more than 20 years ago.

Will the Chevrolet Bolt EV Concept become a production reality?

Will the Chevrolet Bolt EV Concept become a production reality?

Chevrolet Bolt EV Concept

With gas prices falling below $2 per gallon in many places, talk about electric vehicles seems almost absurd. Yet, the current price plummet simply will not last — more than likely we will see prices return above $4 per gallon some day.

Car manufacturers cannot afford to be sentimental when it comes to prices at the pump. Indeed, federal fuel regulations require manufacturers to achieve a 54.5 mpg average in 2025 — that’s just 10 years away. Electric vehicles will play no small part in helping manufacturers attain those averages, though the challenge to convince you to purchase an EV is a significant one at that.

General Motors has been busy doing its part in advancing vehicle electrification, chiefly with its hybrid Chevrolet Volt. But it also is knee deep in pure electrification as it has a smattering of EV products of its own.

One of those products is currently in concept form and was introduced at the Detroit auto show on Monday. The Chevrolet Bolt EV concept could be just the vehicle to cajole people to making a switch, especially given its proposed $30,000 price tag and 200-mile range.

Chevrolet Bolt

Bolt + Volt = Chevrolet Vehicle Electrification

What sets the Chevrolet Bolt EV Concept apart from the pack is its mini minivan-like layout, with very little front and rear overhang. It has been designed to maximize interior space and offers seating for four. GM’s designers looked to amplify its interior space for maximum comfort and in the concept, it appears that they have succeeded.

Using glass all around makes this model seem large, even commodious compared to other small vehicles. A high belt line sweeps upward to the D-pillar, what gives this vehicle a look that is at once sporty as it is elegant. In its design, GM made good use of such lightweight materials as magnesium, aluminum, carbon fiber and woven mesh. Moreover, its aerodynamic design plays a significant role in helping this model maximize its efficiency.

In GM’s presentation, the company was big on its conceptual homily, but small on its engineering application. We know nothing about the battery system that allegedly enables this vehicle to attain its 200-mile range, a number that is approximately three times longer than what most current EVs deliver, although it does align with basic Tesla models. Therefore, the only thing we can surmise is that the enhanced battery system is something that GM would like to attain and at a price point consumers would embrace.

Jaguar F-PACE

A full reveal of the Jaguar F-PACE is on its way.

Keeping Pace with the Jaguar F-PACE

You will be forgiven if the name Jaguar F-PACE does not easily roll off your tongue. Not that the pronunciation is difficult, rather that it is one of those names that may bewilder the big cat enthusiast.

The British marque, along with its LandRover consort, have been making great strides in recent years in a bid for relevance. Jaguar LandRover sales are up around the world as parent Tata Motors gives the dynamic duo much room and independence to grow.

In the Jaguar F-PACE we have a model that will go on sale early in 2016, a five-passenger crossover utility vehicle underpinned by the brand’s innovational aluminum architecture and state-of-the-art suspension system.

Based on the Ian Callum’s C-X17 concept car, the F-PACE maximizes cabin space and provides the types of on-road dynamics that luxury utility vehicle buyers prefer. Jaguar offered scant details beyond the show and tell, but we know that the upcoming “performance crossover” will be based on the same platform driving the XE sedan.

Jaguar may seem as if it is crossing into LandRover territory with the utility vehicle, but there is a difference that should be noted. Whereas LandRover’s are designed with off-roading in mind, the F-PACE is designed solely for advancing its on-road antics.

A full reveal is likely this spring at the New York International Auto Show.

Related 2015 Detroit Auto Show Articles

Highlights of the 2015 Detroit Auto Show: Media Day 2, Part 2

Highlights of the 2015 Detroit Auto Show: Media Day 1, Part 2

Highlights of the 2015 Detroit Auto Show: Media Day 1, Part 1

Photos and news details supplied by the car manufacturers.