Porsche Mission E Driven By Mark Webber Because He's Mark Webber

Life's good when you're a former F1 and Porsche driver.

Guys like Mark Webber don’t have to work hard to have exciting car related opportunities. Webber, for those who don’t recall, bolted Formula 1 back in 2013 for a racing career that just ended with Porsche. The latter saw him serving as one of Porsche’s drivers for the 919 Hybrid in the 2014-2016 World Endurance Championships. Today he works as a Porsche brand representative, which is a pretty awesome gig by anyone’s standards.

One of the many perks is the opportunity to drive Porsche’s very best, including models that haven’t even been revealed, such as the Mission E. Webber’s day job, as shown in this latest Porsche video, has some very, very serious tasks, like getting behind the wheel of an advanced prototype of the all-electric sedan at Porsche’s test track in Weissach.

Combined with his 919 motorsport driving experiences and his racing career in general, Webber’s opinions on what Porsche has done here matter. They definitely listen to the guy and take seriously and often apply any suggestions he may have. As for the Mission E, well, we don’t even know what its official production name will be. What we do know, and which Webber confirms, is that it’ll make at least 600 hp. While there’s no such thing as the “Mark Webber Test,” his seal of approval and input, especially for something as radical as Porsche’s first EV, are certainly good to have. The Porsche Mission E (name change to come) is set to happen next year.

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Porsche 911 EV Is Definitely Not Happening Because It's Not Necessary

But what about a 718 Boxster/Cayman EV instead?

There’ve been rumors for quite some time regarding a fully electric Porsche 911. Let’s put things to rest right here, right now: it’s not happening. Automotive News Europe was on hand at Porsche’s annual results conference in Stuttgart earlier this month where CEO Oliver Blume clarified plans for a plug-in hybrid 911, but not a fully electric version. "We are waiting for the further evolution in battery technology so you should not expect a plug-in version in the coming years. It’s currently planned when the 992 (set to debut this fall in Paris-ED) is refreshed,” he said.

The production-spec Mission E, due in 2019, will serve as the German automaker’s first ever EV. However, Blume will not rule out the possibility of fully electrifying the brand’s two other sports cars, the 718 Boxster and Cayman. “We launched the 718 Boxster and Cayman in 2016,” he said. “We are not yet at the point where we have to decide how things will progress,” Blume said. Considering the pair are already mid-engined, this setup would make things easier, as opposed to the 911, for engineers who would need to stick the large and heavy battery pack in the vehicles’ center. If there ever will be a 911 EV, it’s still a long ways off. How come? Basically because it’s not necessary at the moment, or in the near future.

A plug-in hybrid 911, promised to be the most powerful 911 to date with a potential of up to 700 hp, will fill the need for an efficient Porsche sports car. However, Porsche’s parent company, Volkswagen Group, has tasked it to develop a new electric-vehicle architecture specifically for the purpose of underpinning sports cars and supercars. Eventually, this platform could be used by Audi and Lamborghini, as well as Porsche. For the next several years though, no 911 EV will happen. We also previously heard the 992’s platform was not designed for pure electric power only. So that ought to settle things (for the next decade or so).

View the original article here

Acura In Trouble Because Infiniti Is Now Selling More Cars

Infiniti wisely expanded and updated its lineup. Acura did not. This is the result.

This isn’t the first time we’ve said Acura is in desperate need of exciting and, for that matter, competitive product. We’re not alone in our thinking and Acura has to realize the NSX alone isn’t good enough. And now it’s learning the hard way. The Truth About Cars did the math and discovered that Infiniti is set to take Acura’s place as America’s second-best-selling Japanese luxury brand this year. Lexus, of course, remains at number one.

Infiniti, to its full credit, achieved record US sales last year and is now experiencing a sales increase faster than any other car brand sold in the US, exception being "niche-market luxury contenders." All told, Infiniti achieved a 22 percent year-over-year sales increase, and new product, specifically the QX30 compact crossover, has played a huge role. Heck, it even outsold its direct Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz competition in February and March. Other key players in the Infiniti lineup, including the Q60 and Q70, have also made their contributions. Acura, however, is down seven percent so far this year in sales, while Infiniti is up by 19 percent.

Only the RDX and MDX crossovers can be credited with keeping Acura afloat. Furthermore, Acura doesn’t even offer competitors to the Infiniti QX30, QX70 and QX80. While Infiniti has consistently been adding new product done right, Acura depends on the aforementioned crossovers, as well as the upcoming facelifted 2018 TLX sedan. The previous generation Honda Civic-based Acura ILX and RLX large sedan are nearly irrelevant in their respective segments. In other words, Acura is being kept afloat with the RDX and MDX while Infiniti has done due diligence and is now beginning to reap the benefits.

View the original article here

Porsche 911 EV Is Definitely Not Happening Because It's Not Necessary

But what about a 718 Boxster/Cayman EV instead?

There’ve been rumors for quite some time regarding a fully electric Porsche 911. Let’s put things to rest right here, right now: it’s not happening. Automotive News Europe was on hand at Porsche’s annual results conference in Stuttgart earlier this month where CEO Oliver Blume clarified plans for a plug-in hybrid 911, but not a fully electric version. "We are waiting for the further evolution in battery technology so you should not expect a plug-in version in the coming years. It’s currently planned when the 992 (set to debut this fall in Paris-ED) is refreshed,” he said.

The production-spec Mission E, due in 2019, will serve as the German automaker’s first ever EV. However, Blume will not rule out the possibility of fully electrifying the brand’s two other sports cars, the 718 Boxster and Cayman. “We launched the 718 Boxster and Cayman in 2016,” he said. “We are not yet at the point where we have to decide how things will progress,” Blume said. Considering the pair are already mid-engined, this setup would make things easier, as opposed to the 911, for engineers who would need to stick the large and heavy battery pack in the vehicles’ center. If there ever will be a 911 EV, it’s still a long ways off. How come? Basically because it’s not necessary at the moment, or in the near future.

A plug-in hybrid 911, promised to be the most powerful 911 to date with a potential of up to 700 hp, will fill the need for an efficient Porsche sports car. However, Porsche’s parent company, Volkswagen Group, has tasked it to develop a new electric-vehicle architecture specifically for the purpose of underpinning sports cars and supercars. Eventually, this platform could be used by Audi and Lamborghini, as well as Porsche. For the next several years though, no 911 EV will happen. We also previously heard the 992’s platform was not designed for pure electric power only. So that ought to settle things (for the next decade or so).

View the original article here

Acura In Trouble Because Infiniti Is Now Selling More Cars

Infiniti wisely expanded and updated its lineup. Acura did not. This is the result.

This isn’t the first time we’ve said Acura is in desperate need of exciting and, for that matter, competitive product. We’re not alone in our thinking and Acura has to realize the NSX alone isn’t good enough. And now it’s learning the hard way. The Truth About Cars did the math and discovered that Infiniti is set to take Acura’s place as America’s second-best-selling Japanese luxury brand this year. Lexus, of course, remains at number one.

Infiniti, to its full credit, achieved record US sales last year and is now experiencing a sales increase faster than any other car brand sold in the US, exception being "niche-market luxury contenders." All told, Infiniti achieved a 22 percent year-over-year sales increase, and new product, specifically the QX30 compact crossover, has played a huge role. Heck, it even outsold its direct Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz competition in February and March. Other key players in the Infiniti lineup, including the Q60 and Q70, have also made their contributions. Acura, however, is down seven percent so far this year in sales, while Infiniti is up by 19 percent.

Only the RDX and MDX crossovers can be credited with keeping Acura afloat. Furthermore, Acura doesn’t even offer competitors to the Infiniti QX30, QX70 and QX80. While Infiniti has consistently been adding new product done right, Acura depends on the aforementioned crossovers, as well as the upcoming facelifted 2018 TLX sedan. The previous generation Honda Civic-based Acura ILX and RLX large sedan are nearly irrelevant in their respective segments. In other words, Acura is being kept afloat with the RDX and MDX while Infiniti has done due diligence and is now beginning to reap the benefits.

View the original article here