Motor News

Ford Fiesta and Focus owners are expressing how frustrated they are about long wait times for transmission repairs, via a report in the Detroit Free Press today (subscription required). Problems with Ford’s faulty PowerShift gearboxes, found in its 2011—2016 small cars, began a decade ago and led to a 2020 settlement of more than $30 million.Ford told the Free Press that service and repair delays are due to a shortage of transmission control modules, but this problem predates the supply-chain issues, making some customers express the belief that the company is indifferent.Trouble over Ford’s infamous PowerShift transmission continues to haunt the automaker. As the Detroit Free Press reported this week, many current owners of 2011–2016 Fiesta and 2012–2016 Focus models still afflicted by problems are furious. Their frustration over delays in getting a fix for their cars is understandable, given that several told the Free Press they’ve waited multiple months for their gearboxes to get fixed.2016 Ford Focus.Highlighting more than two dozen experiences, the newspaper cites months-long wait times and claims that Ford is ignoring customers seeking updates on the status of their repairs. Back in 2019, the paper also reported claims that some Ford dealerships were declining to repair their defective transmissions. A Decade-Old DebacleFord’s faulty PowerShift dual-clutch automatic transmissions gained notoriety almost as soon as they went into production in 2011, with the first lawsuit filed against the company just one year later in 2012. The transmissions were prone to rough shifts and required frequent repairs, but the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) never reported evidence that they posed a safety risk.Ford’s PowerShift ProblemsIn 2019, an investigative piece by the Detroit Free Press revealed Ford knew about the problems with the PowerShift transmissions during development and decided to continue with production anyway. The rest is history, including the company extending the powertrain warranty on affected models from five years or 60,000 miles to seven years or 100,000 miles. Ford also eventually agreed to a settlement in 2020 that required it to buy back defective Fiesta and Focus models as well as pay out at least $30 million in cash.Ford Says: Call Our Help LineWhile it makes sense that supply issues play a part in the long wait times currently facing Fiesta and Focus owners, as the Free Press points out, the problems with Ford’s PowerShift transmissions predate the scarcity of semiconductors. Combine that with owners’ personal stories of hardship, and it is not surprising that customers who are receiving poor service might start to believe the company is indifferent.The current situation, Ford says, is due to a shortage of the transmission control modules that are necessary for the fix. Speaking to the Free Press, Ford spokesman Said Deep said the company is aware of the delays and is “trying desperately” to acquire the modules. He also encouraged people who need help while their car is in for service to call Ford’s customer support line at 800–392–3673. Car and Driver reached out to Deep for more comment on this story, but we haven’t yet gotten a response. This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. More

Jeep has issued a recall of 62,909 Wrangler 4xe SUVs due to the possible unexpected loss of engine power. The root cause of the issue is not clear, but the problem can be fixed with an updated software calibration for the transmission control module and auxiliary hybrid control processor. NHTSA suggests that 100 percent of the vehicles recalled could have the issue; Jeep is aware of two accidents and one injury that could be related to the defect. Jeep is recalling just under 63,000 Wrangler 4xe SUVs due to an issue that has the potential to unexpectedly shut off the engine while driving, which could lead to a crash. The defect affects some 2021–2023 4xe models and looks to be associated with the plug-in-hybrid powertrain. However, according to documents filed by Jeep with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 100 percent of the 62,909 vehicles involved are defective. Jeep is still investigating the root cause of the problem which appears to stem from somewhere in the transmission control module and the auxiliary hybrid control processor. A fix is said to be available with a software update to both systems. According to paperwork filed on Nov. 3, 2022, Jeep is aware of two accidents and one injury that are potentially related to the 4xe’s defect. At that point in time, Jeep knew of 112 customer-assistance records, 196 warranty claims, and 65 field reports potentially linked to this issue over a two-year period between Dec. 17, 2020 and Oct. 26, 2022. As of the most recent NHTSA filing, Jeep hasn’t announced a “Stop Drive” order. The company plans to begin notifying dealers and owners on Jan. 12, 2023. Before then, owners are able to check the NHTSA recalls site for more information about the recall, and to plug in their VIN to see if their vehicle is affected. This content is imported from OpenWeb. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. More

Lego released a preview of a R34 Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec slated to join its Speed Champions lineup next year. The R34 Skyline and accompanying Brian O’Conner miniature figurine (or “minifig”) are inspired by the 2003 movie 2 Fast 2 Furious, complete with Toyo Tires badge and accurate Florida license plate.Lego hasn’t given specifics yet, but assuming it follows the blueprint of other Speed Champions sets, it will include 300 to 500 pieces and be priced between $20 and $40. In other news, Lego is adding a 905-piece, $49.99 Technic version of the Bugatti Bolide starting January 1. Lego Speed Champions is adding one of the most iconic cars from the early days of the Fast and Furious franchise. The newest kit will include a figurine of Paul Walker’s character, Brian O’Conner, and a rolling representation of his famous R34 Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec. Through nine films, O’Conner’s R34 from 2 Fast 2 Furious is perhaps overshadowed by only the infamous A80 Supra from the first movie. LegoLego ManiaThankfully, the kit looks to honor the source material, and the famous blue-striped livery is immediately recognizable to fans of the franchise. Despite the small size of the Speed Champions builds, Lego didn’t skip out on some of the other recognizable themes from the car. The massive blue rear wing is fixed to the back, with a blue Toyo Tires sticker found stuck above the movie-correct Florida license plate. While You’re Waiting . . . LEGO LEGO Technic Dom’s Dodge Charger While You’re Waiting . . . LEGO LEGO Technic Dom’s Dodge Charger Now 20% OffIn addition to the smaller and cheaper R34 kit, Lego is planning to add a Technic kit of the 1578-hp Bugatti Bolide, minus the horsepower of course. That kit will go on sale the first of the year and will include 905 pieces for $49.99. It stands at three inches high, 12 inches in length, and five inches in width. The Technic kits are meant to help introduce kids to the world of engineering, but beyond that, they are plain cool. LegoLegoBugatti only made 40 versions of the track-only Bolide, with each costing roughly $5 million. Plus, Bugatti sold out of the Bolide and Chiron at the start of the year. Assuming you didn’t star in the Fast and Furious franchise and therefore cannot afford a sold-out $5 million car, $50 for a foot-long example complete with moving pistons seems about as close as the rest of us will ever get to owning a Bolide. This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. More

GM plans to expand the Escalade and Camaro names into subbrands, like the planned Corvette range of EV models.The other Escalade models could include a smaller three-row crossover and a more carlike crossover.Future Camaros could comprise a crossover, additional coupe and convertible models, and a sports car related to the Corvette.Now that we know more about Chevrolet’s plans to turn Corvette into a whole range of models, the focus turns to other high-value nameplates within the GM portfolio. The next two subbrands appear to center around the Cadillac Escalade and the Chevrolet Camaro.Escalade ExpansionAccording to our source inside GM, the automaker has looked long and hard at reinventing the Cadillac brand one more time, but management apparently came to the conclusion that it makes more sense to use the Escalade—the quintessential Cadillac—as a peg for the second Corvette-style subbrand, which stands proud in the cycle plan.More on the EscaladeA smaller version of the Escalade is a no-brainer and could take shape as a seven-seat crossover along the lines of the upcoming Porsche three-row SUV, codenamed K1. This would presumably sell well in key markets such as the U.S. and China. There is also talk of a more carlike modern-luxury segment-fusing all-terrain Escalade. Option number four is a high-end MPV that may initially only be sold in China, where the Toyota Alphard and other luxury minivans are a runaway success.Camaro SUV PossibleThe third potential GM subbrand under evaluation is Camaro. “We did look at other successful standalone products like Silverado and Suburban but found them unsuitable for various different reasons. In our view, an additional independent lineup must be compiled from three or more distinctly different offerings under the same brand umbrella.”More on the CamaroIn the case of the Camaro, these models have been provisionally defined as a fully electric 2+2-seater coupe and convertible, a decidedly sporty crossover offered in two-door and four-door body styles, and a mid-price flagship sports car loosely linked to the C9 Corvette in content but not in appearance. Substantial in-house synergies should make the all-electric Camaros a solid business case with global appeal.This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. More

Polestar 2 owners in North America can now add more power via an over-the-air software update for a one-time fee of $1195. The OTA update is for all 402-hp dual-motor models, and it adds 67 horses (469 total) and 15 pound-feet of torque (502 total). While it has been available in Europe since last year, Polestar said the power increase was delayed due to CARB and EPA approval in the U.S. and Canada.The wait is finally over. People who own a Polestar 2 in North America can now purchase additional horsepower and torque over the air. It took almost a year since the over-the-air software update became available in Europe, but Polestar has now announced that owners of eligible models who live in the U.S. and Canada can now buy the OTA power increase for a one-time fee of $1195—no annual subscription necessary.When asked why it took so long for the update to become available here, a Polestar spokesperson told Car and Driver the delay was due to pending approval by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).Behind the Wheel of the Polestar 2Now that the OTA update is available on our shores, anyone who owns a 402-hp dual-motor Polestar 2 (regardless of the model year) can have more power. The software unlocks an extra 67 horses and 15 pound-feet of torque from the quirky-looking sedan’s electric motors, pushing its total output to 469 and 502, respectively. Those figures are identical to Polestar 2 models equipped with the optional Performance pack as well as the low-volume BST Edition.As people might expect, opting for the OTA power increase is said to improve acceleration times. Polestar claims the added oomph will shave a couple of tenths off the car’s time to 60 mph. The company also says accelerating at highway speeds is quicker than before. However, we’ll have to wait to test one ourselves to confirm how much its performance numbers have improved.This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. More

BMW’s “M Mixed Reality” puts the user in a real car in a real environment and lets them drive on a digital racetrack.Wearing a virtual reality (VR) headset and driving a real BMW M2, I got to try the brand’s mixed-reality creation. BMW debuted M Mixed Reality earlier this year, and the technology has huge potential as a driver-training device.Driving a real car while wearing a virtual reality (VR) headset is almost always a terrible idea. I say almost always because there’s a time when not only is it okay, but it’s also a totally great (if surreal) experience. And I have the receipts—in the form of this video—to prove it.BMW’s Version of The MatrixBMW calls its mind-bending creation “M Mixed Reality.” It’s basically a driving simulator, but instead of the typical stationary devices that display virtual racetracks and mimic real-world feedback, the mixed-reality experience lets users drive on a virtual racetrack in a real car in a real environment. In this case, it’s the recently revealed 2023 BMW M2 at the brand’s M Driving Academy in Maisach, Germany.BMWWearing the VR headset while driving might look like a scene from the Sandra Bullock flick Bird Box, but I wasn’t actually driving blind. The headset allowed me to see reality until the virtual part was mixed in. I also had BMW M engineer Alexander Kuttner riding shotgun, providing directions and guidance. Fortunately for Kuttner, he had a brake pedal on his side in case things went off the rails. Virtual Track, Real Car, Real ConsequencesWhat admittedly sounds like a questionable concept is actually super entertaining and largely accessible, as long as you’re like me and don’t suffer from motion sickness. Having logged countless hours playing racing video games as well as having prior VR experience also helped. Despite those advantages, it still took me a moment to get my bearings. Never before had I found myself wearing a bulky VR headset when sitting behind the wheel of a real car with 453 horsepower at the disposal of my right foot.BMWOnce I was strapped into the safety harness in the M2’s driver’s seat and the VR headset was strapped to my skull, Kuttner directed me to follow a set of cones toward a designated spot on the runway of the old U.S. military base that BMW now uses for its driving academy. The flat asphalt surface and clear surroundings provided a perfect closed course, which is a necessity for this type of thing.When I reached the loading zone, Kuttner activated the mixed-reality sequence, and like Neo in The Matrix I was transported into a new kind of reality where what I did in the virtual world had real-life consequences. However, I didn’t just survive this experience, I thrived as soon as the virtual environment appeared before my eyes and a disembodied female voice began giving orders. Mario Kart Meets Forza MotorsportThe rules were simple: It’s a time-trial race where the fastest lap wins (although I had no clue what times I was competing against). The digital racetrack I drove on featured a simple figure-eight configuration. For an extra challenge, holographic walls popped up on either side of the track and had to be avoided to receive a time bonus. There were also floating “time coins” with BMW roundels inside that were scattered around the course like item boxes in Mario Kart. Unfortunately, driving through them only unlocked a time bonus rather than a shootable shell or a slippery banana.BMWBMWAs soon as the game said “GO!” I kicked the M2’s throttle and felt the familiar sensation of acceleration, yet in front of me was a road with glowing barriers and floating coins. I could also hear the car’s tires actually scrambling over loose debris on the road surface and the twin-turbo 3.0-liter straight-six snarling up the rev range. Despite the unmistakably digital world in front of me, the feedback I received from the car made it all feel so incredibly real. Almost instantly, I felt comfortable in the driver’s seat and wanted to set the quickest lap time possible, forgetting that poor Kuttner was still sitting next to me.With the VR headset tracking my vision and head movements, I was able to see my surroundings whenever I wanted just like in a real car. While I saw the M2’s real dashboard and my hands on the real steering wheel, everything else I saw was a virtual perspective. The technology also captures the car’s actual movements and transmits them into what I was seeing. It’s this blending of digital visual cues with real-life gravitational forces that makes M Mixed Reality feel so surreal, and it’s something I’ve never experienced in a driving simulator before. I hope to get another chance someday, because I only had the opportunity to do one warmup lap and one hot lap before I had to head back to the makeshift pits. Still, it was easily the coolest thing I’ve done in a while and something that I hope BMW will take from mixed reality to actuality.The Future of Driving Simulators? Earlier this year, BMW debuted its M Mixed Reality technology, but it was only last week during a trip to Germany with the automaker that I had the opportunity to try it. There, BMW M CEO Frank van Meel told me the mixed-reality tech is ideal for training racing drivers because of how much more immersive it can be compared with even the most advanced driving simulators. This content is imported from youTube. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.Experience ///M Mixed Reality in the New BMW M2Watch onOf course, I can think of much broader uses for BMW’s innovative tech than simply a tool to teach professional drivers. How about a training method for first responders or even first-time drivers? The possibilities seem endless. On a more philosophical level, M Mixed Reality effectively showcases how the digital world and real world can be successfully merged. This content is imported from youTube. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.This content is imported from youTube. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. More

McLaren is selling some of its vast collection of historical sports cars and Formula 1 cars to raise capital, as Bloomberg reported and Car and Driver confirmed with a McLaren spokesperson.The additional capital is needed to fund “certain technical upgrades” for the Artura supercar that have led to delivery delays, the automaker said.The Artura features a hybrid V-6 powertrain and is being produced on an all-new platform called MCLA. McLaren is taking a creative move to deal with a looming financial burden that appears to be closing in. As first reported by Bloomberg, the British sports-car manufacturer has sold cars from its own collection of heritage vehicles to help it fund the upcoming Artura hybrid supercar—but without losing custody of them.More on McLaren and the ArturaA McLaren spokesperson declined to provide Car and Driver with a list of which vehicles were sold but confirmed that the cars are not going away. In fact, they’re being licensed back to McLaren and are staying at the Woking headquarters. McLaren is hoping to buy the entire collection back as part of recapitalization plan involving shareholders, which it hopes to have finalized in Q1 next year according to the spokesperson.It’s no secret that McLaren has been strapped for cash for a few years now. In 2020, after pausing production and cutting 1200 employees from its workforce, the Woking, England, based outfit was bailed out by the National Bank of Bahrain. No surprise there, given that the Bahrain Sovereign Wealth Fund (Mumtalakat) is the primary shareholder of both the bank and McLaren. In that same year, the company was denied a line of credit with the British government worth roughly $160 million. One year later, McLaren agreed to a deal wherin the company would sell its Woking headquarters to a real estate investment trust for slightly over $200 million and stay on as a tenant on a 20-year lease. McLaren has been trying to sell from its collection for at least two years, but the company received pushback from holders of pre-existing debt. McLaren’s 2021 annual report states that there are about 54 vehicles in the collection and notes: “There is a market for these assets, and the Group may determine as appropriate to sell a specific and limited number of these cars to specialist collectors from around the world.” As of December 31, 2021, the heritage collection was worth the equivalent of about $42 million, according to the same annual report. That’s no surprise for a collection that includes Formula 1 cars driven by Niki Lauda, Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna, and Mika Häkkinen plus the car that brought Lewis Hamilton his maiden World Championship. This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. More