A collaboration between Ford and Webasto, Mustang Lithium project vehicle generates more than 1000 ft.-lbs. of instant torque and more than 900 horsepower.
Blue and white shades of a corporate dilemma are on display at SEMA today as Ford and Webasto revealed the Mustang Lithium, a battery electric Mustang fastback prototype. Ford initially backed the Trump’s administration’s plan to seize states’ rights from California and a dozen other states by backing a dirtier emission standard that will exacerbate global warming. Then it agreed to meet revised California standards,
Why the standards are a problem to Ford, and other automakers, involves the cost of cleaning up its vehicles as it continues to profitably sell thirsty CO-producing large pickup trucks and SUVS while ceding the more efficient car business to offshore competitors. But in a breath of fresh air for air quality, a consortium of automakers and California have agreed on a voluntary framework to reduce emissions that can serve as an alternative path forward for clean vehicle standards nationwide. Automakers who agreed to the framework are Ford, Honda, BMW of North America and Volkswagen Group of America.
Electrification can be a boon to performance enthusiasts as witnessed by a so-called Phi-Power dual-core electric motor and dual power inverters – fueled by an 800-volt Webasto battery system that can discharge a mega-watt of electrical energy. At 800 volts, that’s twice the voltage of most electric cars on the road today. Continue reading →
FCA-PSA Merger – Surviving Platforms and Powertrains
Click to Enlarge. Courtesy Auto Forecast Solutions.
If the proposed FCA-PSA merger goes forward it’s a complicated way to spread costs as a consolation would result in FCA-PSA group emerging as the fourth-largest Global Automaker. Its annual production volume would be +8 million Light Vehicles per year. It would be larger than Hyundai Group, General Motors, Ford and Honda. It could compete with the current Global Big Three – Volkswagen Group, Toyota and Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi.
Consultancy AutoForecast Solutions says that right now FCA primarily uses four global front-drive platforms for passenger cars and crossovers. (autoforecastsolutions.com) Continue reading →