Every week we compile recent industry news and interesting reads that shouldn’t be missed. Here’s the digest for November 5th to November 11th.
Tesla Buys German Engineering Company to Speed Production
Chevrolet full-size pickup trucks remained essentially unchanged from 1973 to 1987. The Ford Ranger was left untouched from 1993 to 2012. Now, Dodge is competing for the long-in-the-tooth record with its Challenger and Charger muscle cars.
Originally introduced in 2008, the manufacturer had originally planned to release new models of both in 2018, but that idea was nixed in favor of keeping the existing models until 2021 – blame the FCA group’s slumping sales figures.
When they make their debut, the new duo will be based on the Alfa Romeo Giulia chassis. Until then, we imagine the aged Dodges will have a hard time keeping up with the contemporary Camaro and Mustang.
Dodge fans can read more about the Challenger and Charger’s extended stay at Road & Track.
Nissan Introduces New Series Hybrid Design
Nissan has some pretty dull names for its hybrid and electric vehicles, such as Leaf and Note. However, there’s some great technology behind these mundane monikers. Case in point: the new series hybrid system in the 2017 Note.
Nissan claims the design is the world’s first series hybrid propulsion system in a compact automobile. The name of the design is e-Power, and like all series hybrids, it has only one electric transmission path between the power source and the driven wheels.
However, this system is very similar to the hybrid drivetrain in the also compact BMW i3, so it’s unclear if Nissan’s “world first claim” is all smoke and mirrors. Regardless, you’ll want to take note of the the Note when it begins hitting showrooms. Pun intended.
Read more about the new Note hybrid over at SAE.
Women in Auto Care Recognizes YourMechanic
Not to toot our own horn, but we’re really proud of this one: YourMechanic has received an Automotive Communications Award from the Women in Auto Care at the AAPEX show in Las Vegas. The award celebrates YourMechanic as the best business-to-consumer website for car advice, and a comprehensive resource for car owners.
“YourMechanic Advice is a natural extension of our mission to make car care easy, convenient and affordable,” said YourMechanic's Maddy Martin. “When we found that there wasn’t an easy-to-understand and comprehensive car care resource available online, our goal was clear. We teamed up with experts to address topics that concern every driver, from tire-changing tips to the dashboard lights you should never ignore. We’re now able to serve many more drivers in need with this information, which is available for free, at their fingertips, 24/7. It’s about giving people confidence and peace of mind.”
Based on this recognition, it seems that people appreciate the knowledge we so readily share with them. We’re committed to keeping up the good work.
You can find out more about YourMechanic’s award over at Ratchet and Wrench.
